Cohort
- Company typePublic
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersReading, United Kingdom
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
Cohort firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cohort
- Legal name
- Cohort plc
- Website
- https://cohortplc.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cohort industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Defence Technology Systems
- NAICS
- Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing (33429)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Naval C4ISR, Communications & Electronic Warfare (IMABAKAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Military ISR, EW & SIGINT Payloads (Airborne) (IMABAMAF), Integrated Air & Missile Defense (IAMD) Systems (IMABAOAD)
Keywords
Where Cohort is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Reading
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices8 records
Markets served
Cohort business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Defence Technology Products and Services: Cohort generates revenue through seven subsidiaries providing advanced technology products and services to defence and security markets. Revenue is derived from long-term defence contracts, system deliveries, and support services, primarily from government and military customers in the UK, Germany, Portugal, and internationally. FY26 revenue was £303m with adjusted operating profit of ~£36m.
- Systems Integration and Through-life Support: Revenue includes the design, manufacture, delivery and through-life support of advanced defence systems, with the order book extending to the mid-2030s indicating long-term revenue visibility from committed contracts.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Cohort product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cohort plc is the parent of seven defence technology subsidiaries (CHESS, EID, ELAC SONAR, EM Solutions, MASS, MCL, SEA) that design, manufacture and support advanced systems for naval, military and security customers. Its offering spans naval and tactical communications, sonar and underwater communications, satellite communications terminals, electro-optic surveillance and fire control, electronic warfare, signals intelligence, and training services. Primary customers are UK, German, Portuguese and allied government defence ministries and armed forces.
Product overview
Cohort plc is an AIM-listed defence technology holding company operating seven subsidiary businesses as a unified group advancing defence technology for national and international security. The portfolio comprises: CHESS (electro-optic surveillance and fire control), EID (naval and tactical communications), ELAC SONAR (sonar and underwater communications), EM Solutions (satellite communications terminals), MASS (electronic warfare, digital services and training), MCL (electronic surveillance and C4IS technology), and SEA (maritime systems, training and transport enforcement). These subsidiaries operate with operational autonomy while sharing Group resources, serving UK, German, Portuguese and international defence customers across combat systems, C4ISTAR, digital services, training and simulation, and research/advice markets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CHESS electro-optic surveillance, targeting and fire control systems Electro-optic surveillance, targeting and fire control systems for land and maritime domains, including counter-unmanned air systems, gun fire control systems, multi-sensor surveillance systems, stabilised sensor platforms, and AI-driven video/image processing for threat detection at extended ranges. Sold to defence ministries, navies and prime contractors.
- EID naval and tactical communications systems Integrated command, control and communications (C3) systems for naval warships and submarines (Naval Communications), plus tactical radios, vehicle intercoms, field communications and networking software (Tactical Communications). EID products equip over 145 vessels across navies including Portugal, the Netherlands, Spain and Belgium.
- ELAC SONAR sonar and underwater communications systems Hydro-acoustic systems for navies including submarine combat sonars, anti-submarine warfare sonars, submarine rescue sonars, the UT3000 digital underwater communications system, the KaleidoScope open-architecture sonar processing platform, transducers, hydrophones, surveillance systems, and mine and collision avoidance systems.
- EM Solutions satellite communications terminals and microwave components High-end satellite communications terminals for global navy and maritime customers, including Cobra and King Cobra satcom terminals, low noise amplifiers, filters, oscillators, mixers, solid-state linear power amplifiers, LNBs, BUCs, and bespoke on-the-move satellite terminals for broadband telecommunications and radar applications.
- MASS electronic warfare, digital services and training support Electronic warfare operational support, countermeasures development, mission data management, specialist software toolsets, expert manpower provision, cyber security/information assurance services, digital forensics, and training services (EW, cyber and ASW training) for defence and security organisations, including the EW Training Academy in Lincolnshire.
- MCL advanced electronic communications, signals intelligence and ISTAR technology C4IS portfolio (hearing protection, communication headsets, radios) and ISTAR capabilities (signals intelligence, electronic warfare, UAV and UGV technologies). Sells advanced electronic communications, information systems and signals intelligence technology to UK MOD, government agencies and defence prime contractors.
- SEA maritime mission systems, training and transport enforcement systems Maritime products include autonomous systems, torpedo and decoy launching systems, sonar systems, communications and communications infrastructure, and synthetic environment training. Also provides research management, capability development, technical and doctrinal support for defence customers, and intelligent transport systems, traffic and parking enforcement systems for civil transport authorities.
Quantifiable outcome
- Revenue growth from £202.5m (FY2024) to £303m (FY2026), a ~50% increase over two years, driven by acquisitions and organic growth.
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Cohort
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Cohort technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Feature6 records
Cohort partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Hanwha OceanminorHanwha Ocean forged partnerships with European defence firms including Naval Group, MBDA and Cohort for Thailand's Royal Thai Navy frigate procurement project. Cohort's role involves providing technology as part of Hanwha's competitive offering for this ~$580m (potentially $2.17bn) defence shipbuilding programme.
- HD Hyundai Heavy IndustriesminorHD Hyundai Heavy Industries partnered with LIG Nex1 D&A for Thailand's frigate programme, competing separately from the Hanwha Ocean group (which includes Cohort, Naval Group and MBDA). Both Korean shipbuilders had previously pledged a 'One Team' approach.
- OSHENminorSEA, a Cohort subsidiary, partnered with marine autonomy specialist OSHEN to provide hydrophones for integration into the C-STARS uncrewed surface system as part of a ZeroUSV-led project exploring autonomous underwater acoustic sensing networks, supported by UK Defence Innovation (DASA) and Dstl.
- ZeroUSVminorZeroUSV leads a project deploying C-STARS micro-drones from its Oceanus12 vessel to create a distributed acoustic monitoring network, with SEA providing hydrophones and OSHEN integrating the C-STARS system. The project is supported by UK Defence Innovation (DASA) and Dstl.
- Lumut Naval Shipyard (LUNAS)minorSEA was awarded a contract with Lumut Naval Shipyard (LUNAS) in Malaysia to provide in-country training and support to the Royal Malaysian Navy, including ship spares, Train the Trainer courses at SEA's UK facility, and Operator & Maintainer Training with recertification planned for 2028.
- SkydiocoreMCL, a Cohort subsidiary, partnered with Skydio to win a £14m UK government defence contract for uncrewed air systems. Skydio provides autonomous drone technology integrated into MCL's ISTAR and C4ISR portfolio for UK MOD and government customers.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Cohort competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cohort social profiles
Digital presenceCohort compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Cohort financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cohort leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Cohort subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries7 records
Cohort funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cohort M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A6 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cohort
What does Cohort do?
Cohort plc is the parent of seven defence technology subsidiaries (CHESS, EID, ELAC SONAR, EM Solutions, MASS, MCL, SEA) that design, manufacture and support advanced systems for naval, military and security customers. Its offering spans naval and tactical communications, sonar and underwater communications, satellite communications terminals, electro-optic surveillance and fire control, electronic warfare, signals intelligence, and training services. Primary customers are UK, German, Portuguese and allied government defence ministries and armed forces.
Is Cohort a public or private company?
Cohort is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Cohort founded?
Cohort was founded in 2006. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Cohort based?
Cohort is headquartered in Reading, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Cohort make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Defence Technology Products and Services are the primary driver. The others are systems Integration and Through-life Support.
Does Cohort have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cohort.
What industry is Cohort in?
Cohort's product category is Defence Technology Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAKAE, Naval C4ISR, Communications & Electronic Warfare, with a secondary code of IMABAMAF, Military ISR, EW & SIGINT Payloads (Airborne). Its NAICS code is 334511 and its SIC code is 3812.