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An Australian firm has been selected by Lockheed Martin subsidiary Sikorsky to undergo a testing and development program.
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Lockheed Martin subsidiary Sikorsky has awarded a contract to Melbourne-based firm Sentient Vision Systems’ (Sentient), for the further testing and development its ISR system, ViDAR (Visual Detection and Ranging).
If successful, the system could be integrated with the sensor suites on the Sikorsky-built MH-60R Seahawk.
Lockheed Martin has committed to working with Sentient to enhance the capability of the ViDAR system — a persistent wide area motion imaging (WAMI) system designed to autonomously detect, geo-locate, track and classify objects over vast areas of terrain below an aircraft or UAS.
Joe North, chief executive of Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand, said the system illustrates the strength and resilience of Australia’s sovereign defence industry capability.
“Lockheed Martin Australia’s approach of incubating innovation and growing SME capability is helping to create the conditions and the opportunities to build both capability and operational resilience needed for companies like Sentient to be able to compete on the world stage, and in this case with the world’s most advanced maritime helicopter,” North said.
“Sentient Vision Systems is a global leader in ISR technology solutions and we are proud to have had a long association, initially through R&D integration and testing of their Kestrel detection software for future rotary capability and potentially now with ViDAR as well.”
Paul Boxer, managing director of Sentient Vision Systems, welcomed the opportunity to work alongside Lockheed Martin to explore the potential for the ViDAR system.
“We are excited about the potential for ViDAR to be integrated with sensor suites across Lockheed Martin’s MH-60R Seahawk platforms globally as this represents a significant opportunity for Sentient,” he said.
“We look forward to working closely with their engineers to complete the testing, development and integration validation phases for the system.
“Australia has world-class innovators, but it is through partnerships with global technology companies like Lockheed Martin that Australian industry can realise global export opportunities for cutting-edge solutions.”
Sentient Vision Systems has previously worked with Lockheed Martin to support the prime’s Kestrel detection software, which has been trialled in the MH-60R Software Integration Lab for consideration of future MH-60R capability enhancements.
The ViDAR is currently used by several defence forces and agencies, including the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Royal Australian Navy and the US Coast Guard for a broad range of search missions.
[Related: Lockheed Martin awards F-35 subcontract to Northrop Grumman]
