Lockheed Martin to Acquire Anti-Submarine Warfare Firm Ultra Maritime for $5.3 Trillion Won

▲ Lockheed Martin logo

U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin announced on July 6 (local time) that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Ultra Maritime for $3.45 billion (approximately 5.3 trillion won).

Ultra Maritime is a defense firm specializing in advanced undersea warfare and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) technology, and its sale has been pursued by private equity firm Advent International.

"By working with Ultra Maritime, we will provide the most advanced undersea and anti-submarine warfare capabilities to the United States and our allied partners," said Stephanie C. Hill, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems.

Lockheed explained that Ultra Maritime's global footprint and its ASW product portfolio—which includes sonobuoys, towed sonar arrays, and hull-mounted sonar systems—will complement and expand Lockheed Martin's ability to provide sonar solutions across next-generation maritime platforms.

Advent International acquired British defense firm Cobham for 4 billion pounds in 2019 and Ultra Electronics for 2.6 billion pounds in 2021, subsequently merging the two to launch "Cobham Ultra."

Ultra Maritime is the core naval division of Cobham Ultra.

Ultra Maritime's revenue is projected to surge from $494 million in 2023 to $784 million in 2026.

Last year, Ultra Maritime signed a partnership with U.S. defense firm Anduril to develop next-generation anti-submarine technology.

The plan is to develop technology that combines Anduril's autonomous underwater vehicles with Ultra Maritime's sensors.

Ultra Maritime has approximately 2,000 employees across "Five Eyes" alliance nations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

(Photo: Getty Images)

※