Silentium Defence delivers first passive sensors for AIR6500

Adelaide-based Silentium Defence Pty Ltd has delivered the first tranche of five passive radar systems to Lockheed Martin Australia for Australia’s Joint Air Battle Management System (JABMS) under Project AIR6500. Passive radars do not emit radio signals so are extremely difficult to locate and jam.

The Defence MAVERICK Fortress-3D passive radars delivered by Silentium provide a new 3D capability that enables instantaneous, wide-field-of-view surveillance across all domains – surface, air and space, out to an altitude of about 1,500km. It also supports tracking of targets with high fidelity and accuracy for cross-cueing of complimentary sensors and effectors.

This first drop of passive radars comes just five months after Silentium received its order from Lockheed Martin Australia, which will make its first deliveries to the RAAF before the end of this calendar year. Silentium Defence is the only company in the world delivering passive radar for surveillance of sea, air, land, and space.  The company has grown to more than 60 staff across three facilities, with exports now to allied nations.

“The rate and complexity with which threats are evolving in today’s battlespace is unlike anything we’ve seen before,” said Dr James Palmer, CEO and co-founder of Silentium Defence.

“Asymmetric advantage requires access to innovative technologies delivered at pace, and accurate, real-time data for more informed decision making.  With handover of our MAVERICK Fortress-3D passive radar systems, Silentium Defence has delivered both technology faster and an edge for Defence, and we’re immensely proud of that achievement.”

The MAVERICK Fortress-3D passive radar is a new dimension in passive sensing, says Silentium, bringing 3D covert surveillance to the battlefield. Deployed as a compact, cabin-based solution, the system can be operated either independently as a stand-alone-asset or networked into a common operating picture.

Designed and developed in Australia, MAVERICK Fortress-3D has a low electromagnetic signature, making it extremely difficult to geolocate and eliminate, and is the ideal expeditionary surveillance system for land, sea, and air targets, says Silentium.

“I commend Silentium Defence on its early delivery of the first sensors under the AIR6500 Tranche 2A contract,” said Warren McDonald, Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand’s Chief Executive. “This is an important milestone that shows Australian industry can and has stepped up to deliver accelerated sovereign capability to meet Defence’s mission. We are delighted to partner with Silentium Defence on AIR6500 since 2017.”

Silentium Defence secured its first US contract in October 2023 and this week posted co-founder Simon Palumbo to Washington DC as Executive Vice President, Silentium Defense Corporation, a direct response to increased demand for its MAVERICK passive radar systems across the defence and government markets.