Kite Aero begins KITE UAV manufacturing in Geelong

Kite Aero has commenced manufacturing its KITE uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) in Geelong, Australia, through a partnership with Sykes Advanced Manufacturing. The production facility, located at the former Quickstep site, utilizes aerospace-grade composite manufacturing, large-format 3D printing, and 5-axis CNC machining.

By establishing this production base, Kite Aero aims to integrate the KITE aircraft into an Australian and Five Eyes-aligned supply chain while keeping all intellectual property onshore. This structure is intended to provide procurement and supply chain assurance for government and enterprise customers in the United States, Europe, and other allied markets.

The KITE is an autonomous logistics aircraft designed to transport critical supplies to remote communities and personnel. The company reports a current pipeline of more than 100 units and notes that the airframe has logged significant flight history, with fleet-wide operations exceeding 41,000 flights and 20,000 hours.