SYDNEY, Australia, 12 May 2022 – Australia’s sovereign industrial base capability continues to grow with Lockheed Martin Australia announcing small-to-medium passive surveillance leader Silentium Defence is proudly joining the Lockheed Martin Mentor Protégé Program (MPP).

Silentium Defence, only the second company outside of the US to embark on the MPP, will participate in an intensive 12-month mentoring program gaining access to Lockheed Martin’s leading subject matter experts across Australia and the US.

During the program, Silentium Defence will receive extensive business development coaching, along with strategies and tools to accelerate their business growth and maturation across ethics, contracting, quality, cyber security and understanding ITAR.

Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand Chief Executive Warren McDonald congratulated Silentium Defence on being hand-picked to participate in the global mentoring opportunity.

“Lockheed Martin Australia actively identifies and supports homegrown ‘best of breed’ companies to join our global supply chains to bolster Australia’s Defence industry’s sovereign industrial capability, grow the local workforce as well as help support companies to compete on the international stage.”

“A robust, resilient and internationally competitive Defence industry is vital to Australia’s security and economic interests, and we are proud to support this national endeavour,” Mr McDonald said.

Silentium Defence’s Chief Technology Officer, Simon Palumbo welcomed the opportunity to join Lockheed Martin’s mentor program. We are executing on a ten-year technology roadmap that will see Silentium passive radars integrated into the evolving doctrine of how Defence achieves situational awareness, locally and globally,” Mr Palumbo said.

“Key to achieving that mission is a deep understanding of the mechanisms for scale, engagement, and export into priority international markets. We are grateful to leverage Lockheed Martin’s more than 70 years of experience in this area alongside key knowledge and relationships through the Mentor Protégé Program, to help accelerate the achievement of that goal.  

“Passive radar is at a critical junction for Defence, recognised as a sovereign industrial capability priority. All three Services have demonstrated the value of passive radar, and now is the time to expedite delivery into the hands of the people who can use it the most, our ADF and its allies. 

Lockheed Martin Australia’s Head of Industrial Development, Christopher Hess, highlighted that, “In parallel to the mentoring program, Lockheed Martin Australia’s Office of Australian Industrial Participation (OAIP) leads a national strategy to match world-class solutions with business opportunities globally.”

“We are proud to have provided unprecedented opportunities to Australian industry meeting with over 3,500 companies, introducing some 400 new companies to the Defence industry space as well as facilitating over 100+ export contracts since 2012.” He said, “The MPP is our flagship training program among many that help to grow Australia’s sovereign industrial capability, nurture innovation, and take Australia to the world.”

For more information about our Australian Industrial Participation programs, and supply chain opportunities, visit www.lockheedmartin.com.au

About Lockheed Martin Australia

Headquartered in Canberra, Lockheed Martin Australia is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation. The company employs more than 1,200 people in Australia working on a wide range of major programs spanning the aerospace, Defence and civil sectors.

About the Mentor Protégé Program

Launched in the United States as a federal supplier development program in 1990, MPP enables Lockheed Martin to establish successful long-term relationships with eligible small, innovative businesses while helping them to develop technical and business capabilities that will enable them to compete more effectively for future prime and subcontractor contracts in both local and global supply chains.

While in the US MPP participation is funded by the federal government, Lockheed Martin Australia’s Office of Australian Industrial Participation will sponsor Silentium Defence’s participation in the program.

Media Contact Lockheed Martin Australia:

Jo Hon, Head of Communications Lockheed Martin Australia & New Zealand, +61 458 175 404

About Silentium Defence

Silentium Defence is a global leader in the design and deployment of complex passive radar systems for high-end customers. We provide the products and solutions that deliver improved situational awareness and increase survivability for Australia’s Defence Forces, its allies and civil surveillance customers. Our unique products allow customers to detect without compromise and act with confidence. To learn more visit https://www.silentiumdefence.com.au/

Media Contact Silentium Defence:

Kate Hines, Communications Manager, Silentium Defence, +61 413 070 925