MDA Space has officially opened a new 185,000-square-foot high-volume satellite manufacturing facility in Montreal.

The project was completed in less than two years, doubles the company’s manufacturing floor space and supports production of up to 400 satellites annually, said the company

The facility is designed to assemble, integrate and test multiple MDA Aurora satellites simultaneously and is aimed at meeting growing global demand for satellite constellations serving commercial, civil and military customers. MDA Space said the plant is among the world’s largest and most advanced satellite manufacturing facilities in its class.

The company said the Montreal facility incorporates augmented reality and automated equipment to improve manufacturing efficiency, along with a proprietary test chamber and advanced validation technologies intended to reduce testing times and improve quality assurance.

The building has also been designed to meet LEED certification standards and includes a green roof, rainwater collection system and solar panels expected to generate 78,000 kilowatts of energy annually.

“This new high-volume manufacturing facility is a key part of our strategy to establish MDA Space as a leading prime contractor for satellite constellations.,” said Mike Greenley, CEO of MDA Space. “With connectivity needs and the geopolitical climate evolving, we now have the cutting-edge talent, technology and capacity to deliver reliable, secure solutions for commercial, civil and military customers rapidly,.”

Federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said the project strengthens Canada’s position in the global space sector.

“The fact that MDA Space is today inaugurating one of the largest satellite manufacturing facilities in the world highlights and reinforces Canada’s place at the leading edge of the space sector,” she said. “This investment also means good jobs for Canadians, a stronger, more sovereign economy, and growing our world-class advanced manufacturing capacity here at home.”.

MDA Space said the expansion marks a new phase in the company’s operations, with new engineering and manufacturing processes established to improve efficiency and support large-scale constellation programs. The company traces its involvement in Canada’s space industry back to the country’s first satellite programs in the 1960s.

Pictured: Worker at the new MDA Space satellite manufacturing facility in Montreal.

Rendering: Courtesy of MDA Space