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Passive surveillance technology company Silentium Defence has been announced as the second Australian company to graduate the Lockheed Martin Mentor Protégé Program.
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The small-to-medium passive surveillance technology company follows the lead of inaugural international graduate Clearbox Systems as the second company outside of the United States to complete the MPP in efforts to bolster Australian sovereign capability.
Over an intensive 12-month mentoring period, Silentium Defence received guidance and support from Lockheed Martin subject matter experts across the US and Australia, covering business areas such as ethics, contracting, quality, cyber security readiness, and international regulatory compliance.
The program is designed to enhance domestic organisational maturity, accelerate local business growth, and contribute to the strength of Australia’s industrial defence capability.
Silentium Defence co-founder and chief technology officer Simon Palumbo said the company thanks Lockheed Martin for the invaluable access the business had been provided as part of the program.
“As we execute our 10-year technology roadmap, integrating Silentium passive radars into the evolving doctrine of defence situational awareness, locally and globally, a deep understanding of scaling mechanisms, engagement, and export into priority international markets is crucial,” Palumbo said.
“We are thankful for the support and guidance of Lockheed Martin Australia, with its more than 70 years of experience contributing to the security of Australia, and for the knowledge and relationships gained through the Mentor Protégé Program, which has already proven beneficial in accelerating our success.”
Silentium’s participation in the Mentor Protégé Program was sponsored by Lockheed Martin Australia’s Office of Australian Industrial Participation through the Australian government’s Global Supply Chain Program.
Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand chief executive Warren McDonald congratulated Silentium Defence on completing the MPP.
“Silentium Defence is a valued industry partner to Lockheed Martin Australia and their advanced technologies play a crucial role as part of our AIR 6500 solution and ‘Agile Shield’ improvised threat detection system,” McDonald said.
“The Mentor Protégé Program is a rigorous and extensive initiative and we applaud Silentium Defence for becoming the program’s second international industry graduate.
“Our commitment to Australia’s sovereign defence capability remains unwavering, and the Mentor Protégé Program offers additional avenues to collaborate with local industry, enhance skills, create jobs, and increase access to global supply chains.”
Lockheed Martin Australia’s head of industrial development, Christopher Hess, underlined Lockheed Martin Australia’s dedication to industry development and expressed a commitment to enabling more Australian companies to benefit from the MPP.
“Lockheed Martin invests significantly in enhancing the capabilities of innovative companies, as evidenced by Silentium Defence’s success,” said Hess.
“Initiatives like the MPP will continue to upskill small-to-medium enterprises, ensuring their competitiveness on the global stage and fortifying Australia’s position as a hub for cutting-edge defence technologies.”
