Lockheed Martin has agreed to acquire Ultra Maritime, a specialist in undersea warfare and naval defense technologies, from private equity firm Advent. The deal marks a significant expansion of the American defense giant’s portfolio into the maritime domain, responding to growing global demand for military technology.
Once completed, Ultra Maritime will become part of Lockheed Martin’s operations, which reported revenues of $17.3 billion in 2025 and employs 35,000 people worldwide, according to Reuters. The transaction comes as ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, along with President Donald Trump’s request for a $1.5 trillion defense budget for fiscal year 2027, drive up demand for weapons and military capabilities.
Ultra Maritime, a unit of Cobham Ultra – created after Advent acquired Britain’s Cobham in 2020 and merged it with Ultra Electronics – focuses on anti-submarine warfare, underwater defense systems, and marine sonar technologies. Lockheed Martin said the acquisition will complement and broaden its existing sonar solutions, especially through Ultra Maritime’s international presence and export portfolio.
Deepening capabilities in undersea warfare
Ultra Maritime has been working on advanced naval projects, including a contract from the U.S. Navy earlier this year to develop an underwater acoustic decoy designed to protect ships and submarines from torpedoes. The company also partnered with Anduril Industries in 2025 to advance autonomous ocean detection, and with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems to develop unmanned anti-submarine warfare systems.
– Ultra Maritime’s technology and expertise in undersea warfare are a perfect fit for our growing maritime portfolio – said a spokesperson for Lockheed Martin. – This acquisition will allow us to offer more integrated solutions to our customers worldwide.
Strategic shift in a growing market
The deal reflects a broader trend among defense contractors to expand into naval and underwater domains as military budgets increase. Lockheed Martin, traditionally strong in air and missile defense, space, and cyber, is now positioning itself more prominently in naval warfare. The move also strengthens its ability to compete with other giants like Raytheon and BAE Systems in maritime contracts.
Advent, which acquired Ultra Maritime as part of the Cobham deal, is selling the unit as part of its strategy to focus on other portfolio companies. The financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed, but analysts estimate it could be valued at several billion dollars.
For Lockheed Martin, the acquisition is expected to close in the coming months, subject to regulatory approvals. The company’s entry into naval defense comes at a time when NATO allies and other nations are rapidly modernizing their fleets, reinforcing the strategic importance of undersea capabilities.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. Joseph Kelly / Shutterstock
