MELBOURNE, Australia, 10 June 2026 – AW Bell, a leading Australian advanced manufacturing and precision casting specialist, has officially graduated from the Lockheed Martin Australia Mentor Protégé Program (MPP). The 12‑month initiative, designed to accelerate capability development for small‑to‑medium enterprises (SMEs), has now seen AW Bell reach the final milestone, positioning the company for growth both domestically and internationally.

“As a key part of Australia’s industrial future, the MPP brings world‑class expertise to SMEs that are pivotal to our defence ecosystem,” said Toni Marzulli, Vice President Operations, Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand. “AW Bell’s successful completion of the MPP demonstrates the company’s dedication to delivering a world-class advanced manufacturing capability in defence and aerospace.”

During the year‑long program, AW Bell benefitted from hands‑on guidance in critical areas including environmental, social, governance practices, supply chain strategy, business development, cost management/cost principles, and procurement engineering. Lockheed Martin experts from both Australia and the United States facilitated workshops, on‑site reviews, and coaching sessions, enabling AW Bell to adopt best‑practice processes and align with global defence supply‑chain requirements.

“We have been truly privileged to be part of this Mentor Protégé Program.  Through this program we have gained invaluable insight into how Lockheed Martin operate, what they need and where they are headed – placing us in a far stronger position to support them in the years ahead,” said Sam Bell, Chief Executive Officer, AW Bell.

“Perhaps more impacting for our team, were the mentors themselves. The mentors who guided us were exceptional, giving their time and encouragement freely, and leaving us with a network of contacts within Lockheed Martin we know we can genuinely lean on – something we did not expect but are deeply grateful for.”

Christopher Hess, Head of Industrial Development at Lockheed Martin Australia highlighted the broader industry impact: “The Mentor Protégé Program is a flagship initiative that underpins Australia’s sovereign defence capabilities. AW Bell’s completion reinforces our commitment to nurturing domestic SMEs, ensuring they are equipped to compete for prime and subcontractor roles in both local and global supply chains.”

AW Bell’s graduation follows a successful 12‑month program originally launched in the United States in 1990 and later adapted for the Australian market to support the Australian Defence Force’s procurement and supply‑chain resilience goals. The MPP has already graduated three other Australian companies – Clearbox Systems, Silentium Defence, and Inovor Technologies – and will continue to identify high‑potential SMEs for future cohorts.

AW Bell’s participation in the MPP was sponsored by Lockheed Martin Australia’s Office of Australian Industrial Participation through the Global Supply Chain Program.

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About Lockheed Martin Australia
Headquartered in Canberra, Lockheed Martin Australia is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation. The company employs more than 1,800 people in Australia working on a wide range of major programs spanning the aerospace, Defence and civil sectors.

About AW Bell

AW Bell is an Australian advance manufacturing company that specialises in casting solutions. Their capabilities include investment, sand and prototype casting production, precision machining, engineering, tooling, metallurgical servicing, Non-Destructive Testing, inspection, finishing and assembly. 

In 2023, AW Bell became the first Australian investment casting foundry for titanium.  AW Bell supplies to industries such as aerospace, defence, biomedical, mining and rail, both locally and internationally. For more information visit www.awbell.com.au

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Media Contacts
Lockheed Martin Australia - Joanne Hon joanne.hon@lmco.com +61 458 175 404

AW Bell - Jo Murtagh jo@awbell.com.au +61 402 410 949