Kite Aero partners with Sykes Advanced Manufacturing for KITE production

GEELONG & SYDNEY, Australia, 14 September 2026 - Kite Aerospace Pty Ltd has commenced production of its KITE uncrewed aerial vehicle in partnership with Sykes Advanced Manufacturing, the advanced manufacturing division of Jeff Sykes & Associates.

Production will be based in Sykes' Geelong facility (previously operated by Quickstep). The site brings aerospace-grade composite capability, large-format 3D printing and 5-axis CNC machining under one roof, giving Kite Aero a sovereign, Australian-owned manufacturing base for KITE.

Manufacturing in Australia places KITE production within a Five Eyes supply chain. The KITE is built by an allied manufacturer, with IP held onshore. For enterprise and government customers across the United States, Europe and allied markets, this delivers the supply chain assurance and procurement confidence that offshore manufacturing cannot match.

The KITE is a purpose-built autonomous logistics aircraft designed to deliver critical supplies more reliably and effectively to communities and personnel beyond the reach of conventional transport. The aircraft has already proven itself in the field, having flown over 2,000 flights and 800 hours under the Kite Aero flag (in addition to the 11,000 flights and 2,500 hours under previous ownership) and has a pipeline of more than 100 units.

"Moving the KITE production to Geelong is a decisive step in scaling Kite Aero," said Philip van der Burg, CEO of Kite Aero. "Sykes brings nearly 60 years of composite manufacturing discipline and one of the most capable advanced manufacturing facilities in the country. That gives us a scalable sovereign Australian production capability, able to meet capacity as demand in our pipeline grows. Producing locally at rate also means we keep our customers' aircraft flying, with the responsiveness and high utilisation operators depend on."

Sykes Advanced Manufacturing draws on a heritage that includes four Olympic gold medals and more than 30 world championship medals in rowing, applying the same composite expertise and quality discipline to aerospace-grade components. Operating from two facilities together providing 6,500m² of high quality composites manufacturing capability in Geelong, Victoria, the division combines composite tooling and production, large-format additive and subtractive manufacturing including Australia's largest 5-axis CNC capability.

"The opportunity to partner with Kite Aero brings our composite and advanced manufacturing capability to a proven Australian aerospace program," said Mark Nothnagel, Managing Director, Jeff Sykes & Associates, the parent company of Sykes Advanced Manufacturing. "Building advanced composite products for the KITE locally, to aerospace standards, is exactly what our Geelong facility was made for and we are excited to demonstrate our extensive composite manufacturing capabilities in this industry."

The KITE, powered by AXIOM, delivers proven operational capability for long range drone logistics. With production now running in Geelong, Kite Aero is positioned to scale manufacturing in step with its commercial and defence pipeline while keeping build, IP and quality onshore within a trusted, Five Eyes supply chain.