Thales and Underwood Innovation Labs to Create Advanced Air Mobility Centre in Queensland

Thales and Underwood Innovation Labs to Create Advanced Air Mobility Centre in Queensland

(IN BRIEF) Thales Australia and Underwood Innovation Labs have partnered to establish an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Centre of Excellence in Queensland. This facility aims to support the development of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems by providing access to cutting-edge technology, testing facilities, and innovation resources. The initiative is modeled after a successful drone center in France and aligns with Australia’s goal of advancing the AAM sector. The center is expected to create high-skilled jobs, attract investment, and contribute to the decarbonization of aviation.

(PRESS RELEASE) LA DÉFENSE, 18-Sep-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — Thales Australia has partnered with Underwood Innovation Labs to establish a cutting-edge Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Centre of Excellence (COE) in Queensland, Australia. This initiative, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aims to foster innovation and development in the emerging field of AAM, focusing on the design, testing, and deployment of Remote Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) in a safe and scalable ecosystem.

The AAM COE will be a membership-based, open-ecosystem facility, enabling organizations to leverage state-of-the-art technology, innovation, and resources to accelerate advancements in the UAV sector. Located in South East Queensland, one of Australia’s fastest-growing regions, the center aims to create high-skilled jobs and provide access to indoor, virtual, and physical airspace for advanced drone operations. With the region’s population projected to grow significantly by 2041, the COE will serve as an economic hub for advanced technology and workforce development, directly contributing to the decarbonization of the aviation industry.

The AAM COE draws inspiration from the Centre d’Excellence Drones Ile De France (CEDIF) in Paris, which has successfully developed an airspace corridor for drone activities. The Australian initiative aims to replicate and build on this model, fostering collaboration between innovators, government agencies, and industry leaders.

Bobby Pavlickovski, Head of Uncrewed Services at Thales Australia, stated, “We are excited to partner with Underwood Innovation Lab and Logan City to build this Center of Excellence. Our goal is to safely integrate drones and advanced air mobility systems into daily life while advancing the decarbonization of the aviation sector.”

Dr. Paul Mathiesen, Chief Innovation Officer at Underwood Innovation Labs, emphasized the importance of this collaboration, saying, “This project will significantly boost the Advanced Air Mobility sector in Queensland, creating jobs, attracting investment, and enhancing national productivity.”

By aligning with the Australian Government’s priorities in the Aviation White Paper, the AAM COE will play a vital role in advancing Australia’s position in the global aviation landscape.

About Thales

Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies specialized in three business domains: Defence & Security, Aeronautics & Space, and Cybersecurity & Digital identity.

It develops products and solutions that help make the world safer, greener and more inclusive.

The Group invests close to €4 billion a year in Research & Development, particularly in key innovation areas such as AI, cybersecurity, quantum technologies, cloud technologies and 6G.

Thales has close to 81,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2023, the Group generated sales of €18.4 billion.

Media Contact:

Alice Pruvot
Head of Media Relations, Aeronautics & Defense
+33 7 70 27 11 37
alice.pruvot@thalesgroup.com

Australia & New Zealand Press Enquiries:
MediaEnquiries@thalesgroup.com.au

SOURCE: Thales