The company has confirmed that Australia is the preferred location for the next launch and landing site of its Zephyr solar-powered stratospheric aircraft, as the company moves to build a domestic payload and research ecosystem to support future operations.
Northern Australia is being targeted as the second global operating base known as an “AALTOPORT” for Zephyr, following the opening of AALTO’s first site in Kenya in 2024. The move would place Australia at the centre of a new “stratospace” domain, operating above conventional aviation but below satellites.
Alongside the site selection process, AALTO has issued a call to Australian payload developers, research institutions and education providers to help establish a national stratospheric technology ecosystem, with potential applications across communications, Earth observation and defence.
Working with the Northern Territory government, AALTO will host initial bilateral discussions with selected payload companies at NT Defence Week in Darwin in April 2026. These sessions will focus on both commercial and technical opportunities for operating from the territory.
The company formally outlined its plans at NT Defence Week, unveiling its payload interface specifications and commercial roadmap through closed “industry engagement and dialogue” sessions. AALTO said it is seeking Australian partners to co-design payloads and services that could be delivered from near space to government and commercial customers.
Beyond initial engagements, AALTO plans to work with public and private stakeholders to assess feasibility studies and funding pathways, with the aim of building sovereign Australian capability and global competitiveness in stratospace, a region around 60,000 feet and above that is largely untapped by commercial operators.
Zephyr is a lightweight, solar-powered aircraft weighing about 75 kilograms with a 25-metre wingspan. Powered entirely by solar energy, it is designed to loiter in the stratosphere for weeks or months at a time. In 2025, Zephyr achieved a record 67 days of continuous flight, including operations in Australian airspace and successful connectivity payload testing.
AALTO said northern Australia’s proximity to the equator, wide open airspace and favourable operating conditions make it well suited to support launch and recovery operations, complementing the company’s existing African base.
The platform is being positioned as a cost-effective and flexible capability for mobile network operators and government agencies with potential applications, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, connectivity on-demand, direct-to-device services and high-resolution imagery and mapping.
AALTO said Zephyr could be particularly valuable during natural disasters and for monitoring climate impacts such as floods, fires, drought and deforestation.
Over coming months, the company will continue engagement with Australian regulatory authorities as it works through site selection and approval pathways.
AALTO chief executive Hughes Boulnois said Australia was emerging as a strategic growth market for the company.
“AALTO is at the forefront of stratospace – a new aerospace domain that bridges space and ground technology,” he said. “By kickstarting a network of homegrown Australian payload technologies, there is real potential to create value for both commercial and government customers as we explore establishing an operational AALTOPORT in Australia.”
Stephen Forshaw, chief representative for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific at Airbus, said Zephyr could address unique regional challenges.
“Australia’s vast distances make new solutions like Zephyr highly attractive, whether interoperating with satellites or delivering capability without the cost of a traditional space platform,” he said.
“This is a genuine opportunity for Australian universities and innovators to lead in a new aerospace domain, deepening Airbus’ already significant commitment to Australia.”
Northern Territory Minister for Trade, Business and Asian Relations Robyn Cahill said the announcement reinforced the territory’s growing role in national aerospace and defence projects.
“The Northern Territory is fast becoming a globally connected hub for aerospace and defence innovation,” she said. “AALTO’s interest reflects confidence in the territory’s strengths and its ability to deliver jobs and long-term opportunities for Territorians.”