SISDEF

In the volatile defense market of the LATAM region, SISDEF has painted its success story. CEO Francisco Hederra describes the company’s four-decade journey as “a resilient and adaptive story of customer mission support.”

SISDEF’s strength is rooted in its ability to prove its value to clients in spite of difficulties and unpredictability of the market. The LATAM defense sector has historically experienced frequent budget fluctuations—expanding for a few years before contracting again— along with frequent natural calamities, amid political crises and other factors. These challenges have continually tested the defense sector’s ability to keep up with technological advancements.

In this dynamic environment, SISDEF was founded, 40 years ago, with the mission to address technological obsolescence of the Armada de Chile and complement the capabilities of Astilleros y Maestranzas de la Armada (ASMAR).

Over the years, the company’s resilient nature has shone through in the evolution of its solutions, which initially focused on simple electronic systems for combat suites and have since developed into advanced solutions for comprehensive mission systems.

The secret behind its efficacy is its deep well of expertise and willingness to embrace new technologies, fortified by a knowledge management system that ensures the hard-won lessons and experiences of team members are never lost.

Many team members have been with the company since its inception, accumulating valuable experience that allows SISDEF to effectively support both new and legacy systems.

This deep reservoir of expertise is powerfully illustrated in the development of integrated solutions for decision-makers, particularly in high-stress scenarios, integrating information from tactical to political-strategic levels into a common operational picture specifically designed for operations within the armed forces. This provides decision-makers with full situation awareness, significantly increasing the likelihood of making accurate decisions during mission-critical situations.

Hederra also highlights its pivotal role in the common operational picture.

“We found it crucial not only for defense but equally viable in effectively managing operations other than war such as emergencies and crises, border control and smuggling, which involve the armed forces and other organizations that demand reliable and innovative dual solutions. —a testament of it is the successful use of our systems during peacetime,” Hederra states.

The capability to adapt to both military and non-military requirements has enabled SISDEF to venture into the civilian sector, applying its defense expertise to industries such as mining, fishing farms, agriculture, retail, forestry, and electric companies among others, achieving excellent results through the dual use of its solutions.

SISDEF’s success lies in its partnership philosophy. The company offers customized solutions that align with the operational doctrine and cultural contexts of each client, providing technology transfer and support to help clients develop their own solutions and achieve greater autonomy. This approach has positioned SISDEF as a strategic partner for defense organizations in at least four LATAM countries.

This commitment remains strong as SISDEF continues to push boundaries and redefine possibilities in LATAM’s dynamic market. Success in this challenging region is neither easy nor stable—a reality that SISDEF has confronted head-on to reach its current market position. Yet its dedication to maintaining strong partnerships with clients and the legacy of resilience will continue to sustain and propel the company forward.

“Partnering with us means confronting every challenge, seizing every opportunity, and consistently emerging victorious together; that’s the way we like to do business in SISDEF,” says Hederra.