Sydney-based long-range drone maker Kite Aero has begun serial production of its KITE autonomous logistics unmanned aircraft in Geelong, Victoria, on September 14, 2026 — a milestone that anchors the platform inside a Five Eyes supply chain and unlocks larger orders from allied government and enterprise customers.
Sykes Advanced Manufacturing Runs The Line
Production runs from the Sykes Advanced Manufacturing facility in Geelong — previously operated by aerospace supplier Quickstep — which combines aerospace-grade composite tooling, large-format 3D printing and 5-axis CNC machining under one roof. Sykes will build KITE at rate for Kite Aero, allowing the company to hold intellectual property onshore and deliver procurement assurance to buyers in the U.S., Europe and other allied markets.
240 km Range, 4 kg Payload, Many-To-One Operations
The KITE is a modular fixed-wing VTOL that flies 240 km one-way or 115 km return with a 2.5 kg payload — up to 4 kg total — powered by AXIOM, Kite Aero's flight operating system for many-to-one pilot-to-aircraft BVLOS operations. Customers and partners already include UNICEF, UPS, the World Economic Forum, Skyports Drone Services and Astral Aviation. In Malawi, Kite Aero's cold-chain drone service now carries vaccines and lab samples between clinics and central labs, cutting sample turnaround from days to hours across 6 countries and more than 3,300 flight hours.
Australia's Growing Drone Ecosystem
The Geelong line lands as allied governments push harder on onshore drone manufacturing. It mirrors similar production expansions at Matternet and complements the Air Force's new CCA production commitments, as well as recent partnership deals like AVI-SPL and Matternet.
Reporting based on coverage from DRONELIFE, Yes Press and Kite Aero's official announcement.