Australian War Memorial director Brendan Nelson has defended donations to the memorial from weapons manufacturers and called out companies that do not financially support the memorial.

Under questioning at Senate estimates, Dr Nelson said the memorial had recently signed a partnership deal worth $375,000 with Lockheed Martin, had a $30,000 donation from Thales for the Napier Waller art prize, and $450,000 from Leidos Australia to develop a virtual reality tour of five large technology objects. He also detailed $100,000 of in-kind support from Kinetic Australia for engineering and scoping services on a project.

Boeing provided $500,000 for an exhibition about the Afghanistan war, Dr Nelson said.

"I actively seek [donations from weapons companies]," he said.

Weapons companies had a responsibility to support the memorial he said. "I worry about the ones that don't."