Lockheed expands naval defense business with Ultra acquisition

Anabelle Colaco
08 Jul 2026, 01:02 GMT+10

Lockheed Martin has agreed to acquire naval defense company Ultra Maritime from private equity firm Advent for US$3.45 billion
The deal, announced July 6, will add Ultra Maritime to Lockheed's Rotary and Mission Systems division, which generated $17.3 billion in revenue in 2025 and employs about 35,000 people worldwide
Defense companies have seen increased demand as conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East continue

BETHESDA, Maryland: Lockheed Martin has agreed to acquire naval defense company Ultra Maritime from private equity firm Advent for US$3.45 billion, expanding its undersea warfare capabilities amid rising global demand for advanced military technology.

The deal, announced on Monday, will add Ultra Maritime to Lockheed's Rotary and Mission Systems division, which generated $17.3 billion in revenue in 2025 and employs about 35,000 people worldwide.

Defense companies have seen increased demand as conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East continue, while U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget for 2027 has further fueled spending on military equipment and technology.

Ultra Maritime specializes in anti-submarine warfare and undersea defense technologies. It is part of Cobham Ultra, which was formed after Advent acquired British aerospace company Cobham in 2020 and later combined it with Ultra Electronics following its 2022 acquisition.

Lockheed said Ultra Maritime's international operations and portfolio of exportable anti-submarine warfare technologies, including naval sonar sensing systems, will strengthen and expand its existing sonar capabilities.

Earlier this year, Ultra Maritime secured a U.S. Navy development contract for its underwater acoustic decoy, a system designed to protect ships and submarines from incoming torpedoes.

In 2025, the company also announced partnerships with Anduril Industries to advance autonomous ocean sensing technology and with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems to develop unmanned airborne anti-submarine warfare capabilities.