While visiting Australia in late August, Lockheed Martin’s Vice President and General Manager for Military Space Johnathon Caldwell sat down with ADM Editor Nigel Pittaway to discuss his company’s vision for a sovereign space capability and industry in Australia.
When asked what his vision for Lockheed Martin’s involvement in a sovereign space capability might look like, Caldwell said that he’d like to see the same enduring partnership the company has with the United States military.
“The ADF has a really deep history, and I’m always impressed with the depth and degree of partnership that exists among partners and allies,” he said. “With Australia and the US, it is readily apparent that that friendship – and that partnership – has endured over many, many, years [and] over many, many, conflicts.
“We have worked closely with the US Air Force, US Navy and US Army – and now the Space Force – to bring space into the fight, not just as an enabler, but integrated as a critical domain in joint operations. And so that partnership that we have with the US is something that we want to see expanded and grown with the ADF."
Lockheed Martin is bidding for Defence’s Joint Project 9102 (Australian Defence Satellite Communications System) and Space Domain Awareness (JP9360) programs, but irrespective of the outcomes of these, Caldwell says that Lockheed Martin wants to establish a sustainable space business in Australia.
“Space has become such a large ecosystem that, whether it’s defence, civil space or space exploration, there is an enormous marketplace,” Caldwell said.
Caldwell added that Australian-built components are already incorporated into Lockheed Martin's spacecraft supply chain.
“One of the things I’m impressed about is the great workforce that exists in Australia. There are a lot of companies doing really great, cutting-edge technological things that might be aimed towards other industries, but they have direct applicability to the space marketplace,” he adds. “And one of the things that Lockheed Martin always seeks is a robust and secure supply chain.”
Besides the potential involvement of local industry, the company’s Regional Director Space for Australia & New Zealand David Ball says he wants to encourage the next generation of the workforce to engage in STEM subjects.
“The images coming back from the James Webb telescope, for which Lockheed Martin built the primary infrared camera, are just phenomenal and that really excites people,” he says. “We really want to encourage the next generation workforce to come through. The government has set some very significant goals for the Australian Space Agency, in terms of growing the industrial and employment base here, and we’re part of that. We want to help give content back to this market and show people there’s a real career path to be had in the space industry.”
Johnathon Caldwell says he sees space as an enabler of the more effective use of defence forces.
“Australia is at the forefront in the Indo-Pacific region and is on the front line of the great power competition here,” he says. “I think there’s a tremendous opportunity for Australia to remain that leader among allied nations and space is going to be a key element in delivering Australia that decisive advantage that they need.”