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US-based national defence company York Space Systems has announced intent to acquire Australian uncrewed systems developer Outlook Industries.
Outlook Industries produces the Ground Uncrewed System (GUS) used by the Australian Defence Force, and trialled across multiple exercises and demonstrations. It’s understood that the acquisition would not impact GUS manufacturing and supply to the ADF within Australia.
The planned acquisition is expected to establish the foundation for York Terrestrial Systems, uniting unmanned platforms with York’s space, ground, and communications infrastructure.
Shadow, the initial platform planned for York Terrestrial Systems and understood to be based off the GUS design, is a long-endurance unmanned ground system designed for persistent intelligence and mobile communications in demanding operational environments.
Upon closing, Outlook will form the foundation of York Terrestrial Systems, marking York’s entry into terrestrial systems and extending its capabilities to include unmanned platforms connected by its proven space, ground, and communications infrastructure.
The acquisition represents the next step in completing York’s integrated ecosystem for unmanned operations, from flight-proven spacecraft and global ground infrastructure to mobile communications terminals and systems operating in the field.
York estimates the planned acquisition will open access to an additional addressable market estimated to be US$3.08 billion for unmanned ground systems.
Combined with ALL.SPACE’s mobile satellite communications terminals and ATLAS’ global ground network, the acquisition also positions York to expand into the estimated US$10.31 billion unmanned surface and underwater vessel markets.
York’s integrated architecture is designed to connect operators with distributed fleets across domains, sustain mission-critical communications in contested environments, and keep warfighters farther from the fight.
“The future of national defence will be defined by the ability to deploy and coordinate large fleets of unmanned systems while keeping the people commanding them farther from danger,” said Dirk Wallinger, CEO of York.
“York has been building the architecture that makes that possible, from proven spacecraft and global ground infrastructure to mobile terminals and mission software.
“With Outlook, we intend to deliver the unmanned systems operating at the edge of that network as well. This is a defining step in our ability to provide the integrated systems our customers will need to fight and win.”
York plans to integrate the initial Shadow uncrewed vehicle with ALL.SPACE’s multi-link, multi-orbit terminal technology, connecting the platform to its broader space and ground architecture through multiple satellite communications paths that reduce reliance on a single link. Shadow will be manufactured by York in the United States.
York’s existing ecosystem provides the infrastructure to connect and enable Outlook’s unmanned platforms, linking flight-proven spacecraft with approximately 50 ATLAS ground antennas across a global network and ALL.SPACE terminals designed to maintain resilient satellite connectivity for mobile assets across domains, including in contested environments. York currently operates five missions across three constellations through three operations centres, bringing proven experience in managing distributed assets to its expanding unmanned systems portfolio. York intends to integrate these capabilities to support distributed unmanned missions, with resilient communications and software connecting platforms, operators, and mission data.
“Unmanned systems at scale will change military operations as profoundly as industrialization changed warfare a century ago,” Wallinger said.
“Success will depend on how effectively those systems work together and how far we can separate the operator from the threat. York is bringing together the platforms, connectivity, and operational infrastructure to make that possible.”
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