What Roke Manor Research does

Roke Manor Research Limited is a UK defence and national security technology specialist founded in 1956 and headquartered in Romsey, Hampshire. Operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chemring Group PLC, the company serves UK and allied defence forces, British national security agencies, central government, law enforcement and selected commercial clients through four integrated capability areas: Advanced AI and Analytics, Autonomy and Robotics, Cyber and Secure Communications, Electromagnetic Spectrum, Intelligence and Insight, and Specialised Sensors and Effectors. Its installed base spans products such as CORTEXA GUARDIAN (counter-UAS), the EM-Vis family of electronic warfare systems (Resolve, Perceive, Locate, Locate-T, Deceive, Review), the Nav-Sync family of resilient PNT solutions (MRA, MRA LP, Armour CRPA, Pulse eLoran), Project ZODIAC (sovereign data fabric for British Army ISTAR), CC1 tactical device, SPROCKET autonomous operations software and the Roke Intelligence portfolio (Geollect, Centri, Crucible, Vigil AI).

The technology backbone is built on 40+ years of CRPA heritage, adaptive digital beamforming and super-resolution direction finding, software-defined radio (post-Landguard Systems acquisition), and SOSA/STICS-aligned modular open architectures. AI capabilities include natural language processing and anomaly detection applied to geopolitical risk and CSAM detection, with proprietary training data via the UK Government Child Abuse Image Database (Vigil AI) and 250+ open-source datasets (Geollect). Recent product cadence includes EM-Vis Deceive (May 2025), Nav-Sync Armour CRPA-8 (June 2026) and the commercial extension of Vigil AI (May 2026).

Revenue is generated primarily through multi-year government framework contracts (UK MoD, British Army, UK Missile Defence Centre, DSIT, JEF nations, AUKUS), prime contracting and systems integration (notably Project ZODIAC), sovereign product sales to international customers (including via the Kaigai Corporation channel in Japan), and subscription-based intelligence platforms (Geollect). Recently disclosed contract values include £251m STORM (6 years), £40m ZODIAC Phase 2, £20m ZODIAC continuation, £16m Remote Sensor Network (7 years), and £4.7m Project BESTLA, with an international sales pipeline exceeding £300m.

Name

Roke Manor Research

Legal name

Roke Manor Research Limited

Website

https://roke.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Roke Manor Research is a UK defence and national security technology specialist, wholly-owned by Chemring Group PLC, delivering AI-enabled electronic warfare, resilient PNT, counter-UAS, ISTAR and intelligence products to the British Army, UK MoD, allied governments and selected commercial clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defence and Security Technology

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), National Security (928110)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)

akta.pro primary industry

IFF/Identification, Beaconing & Cooperative Surveillance Systems (IMABAGAF)

Keywords

• Electronic warfare systems
• Resilient PNT technology
• Counter-UAS solutions
• Defence sensor systems
• Intelligence analytics platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

Romsey

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Defence and Security Technology Sales: Roke generates revenue primarily through the sale of proprietary defence and security technology products and systems to government defence clients, national security agencies, and allied international defence customers. Products include electronic warfare systems, sensors, resilient PNT solutions, C-UAS platforms, and intelligence software. Revenue is typically contract-based with multi-year frameworks.
2. Prime Contract and Systems Integration: As a prime contractor (e.g., Project ZODIAC for British Army), Roke acts as systems integrator managing consortium partners to deliver complex ISTAR programmes. Revenue flows from large-scale government defence contracts.
3. Mission Partner Services: Roke provides ongoing mission partner services including consultancy, development and rapid prototyping, science and research, support services, and technology partner engagements, generating recurring revenue from long-term government relationships.
4. International Sales Pipeline: Roke serves international defence markets through partnerships (e.g., Kaigai Corporation in Japan, JEF nations) and direct exports. The company references an international sales pipeline exceeding £300 million.
5. Intelligence Subscriptions: Geollect operates on a subscription-based model providing open-source geospatial intelligence platforms (Geollect, Centri, Crucible) to commercial and defence clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Roke Manor Research designs, develops and manufactures sovereign UK defence and security technology products and systems for national security, defence and selected commercial clients. Its portfolio includes electronic warfare sensors, resilient positioning/navigation/timing (PNT) systems, counter-UAS platforms, AI-driven intelligence software, specialised sensors, and tactical end-user devices. Roke also acts as prime contractor and systems integrator for major UK defence programmes such as Project ZODIAC and the STORM missile defence framework.

Product overview

Roke Manor Research is a UK defence and national security specialist offering a comprehensive portfolio of intelligence, electronic warfare, sensor, navigation, and counter-UAS products and services. The foundational platform is Roke Intelligence, combining human expertise with AI and machine learning across geospatial and open-source intelligence domains, integrating products including Geollect (maritime/shipping intelligence), Centri (data-to-intelligence transformation), Crucible (geopolitical risk and OSINT analysis), and Intelligence Services. The counter-UAS portfolio includes CORTEXA GUARDIAN (modular detection/tracking) and CORTEXA COMMAND (situational awareness). Electronic warfare products span from person-borne (EM-Vis Deceive, EM-Vis Resolve) to vehicle-integrated systems (EM-Vis Perceive, EM-Vis Locate-T) and strategic fixed installations (EM-Vis Locate), all managed via EM-Vis Review software. The sensor and navigation portfolio includes miniaturised radar altimeters (Nav-Sync MRA), controlled reception pattern antennas (Nav-Sync Armour), and eLoran systems (Nav-Sync Pulse). Additional products include CC1 tactical battlespace ecosystem, SPROCKET autonomous operations software, and Vigil AI for child safety.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CC1: AI-enabled tactical device and battlespace ecosystem delivering enhanced situational awareness through scalable, secure applications designed for battlefield environments
• CORTEXA GUARDIAN
• CORTEXA COMMAND
• EM-Vis Deceive®
• EM-Vis Perceive
• EM-Vis Locate
• EM-Vis Locate-T
• EM-Vis Resolve
• EM-Vis Review
• Nav-Sync Armour
• Nav-Sync MRA
• Nav-Sync MRA LP
• Nav-Sync Pulse
• Crucible®
• Geollect
• Halo
• SPROCKET
• Vigil AI
• Roke Intelligence
• Centri

Products and services

• CC1 (Charlie Charlie One) AI-enabled tactical device and battlespace ecosystem delivering enhanced situational awareness through scalable, secure applications designed for battlefield environments. Built on a hardened Samsung Galaxy S22 smartphone with hardware-backed encryption, intuitive App Console, Network Manager for mesh radio connectivity, and field-configurable Config Tool with QR code provisioning. For dismounted soldiers and tactical operators.
• CORTEXA GUARDIAN Modular, mast-mounted counter-UAS system combining RADAR and PTZ sensor inputs to detect, track and identify multiple targets autonomously. Designed to minimise threats posed by small UAS to units across the battlespace and at civilian critical national infrastructure. Capable of detecting and tracking 20 targets and identifying 10 concurrently.
• CORTEXA COMMAND Modular, open standards-based situational awareness software platform enabling seamless interoperability across applicable defence standards for counter-UAS and force protection operations.
• Crucible Information operations platform providing automated geopolitical risk assessments and open-source intelligence analysis for decision-makers in defence, government, commodities, mining and energy sectors.
• EM-Vis Deceive First fully integrated person-borne, modular SOSA/STICS-aligned electromagnetic attack platform. Lightweight enough for a single soldier to carry, enables detection, tracking and disruption of enemy communications, drones and electronic signals. Upgradable via software-defined radio modules.
• EM-Vis Locate Strategic HF signals intelligence system achieving persistent 24/7 global HF spectrum monitoring with high-precision direction finding within 1 degree RMS accuracy across elevation and azimuth planes. Uses proprietary Super Resolution Direction Finding (SRDF) and Adaptive Digital Beam Forming (ADBF).
• EM-Vis Locate-T Tactical, rapidly deployable HF direction finding system providing immediate intelligence and intercept capability in any location. Proprietary SRDF and ADBF technology.
• EM-Vis Perceive (PERCEIVE Multi-Role) First tactical wideband integrated antenna head combining Adaptive Digital Beamforming (ADBF) and Super Resolution Direction Finding (SRDF) from 30MHz to 6GHz, with intercept from 2MHz to 30MHz. Targets frequency hopping sources at over 10,000 hops/second and intercepts Digital Mobile Radio even in privacy mode.
• EM-Vis Resolve Field-proven electronic warfare sensor for dismounted operations providing flexible find, fix and intercept capabilities against peer threats.
• EM-Vis Review (VIPER-PREFIX) Electromagnetic Environment command software providing mission planning, execution and exploitation with minimised operator burden through intuitive workflows driven by advanced algorithms. Single integrated tool for EME visualisation and management.
• Geollect Maritime geospatial intelligence suite that uncovers hidden threats through data, machine learning and expert analysis for shipping, insurance and commodities. Ingests over 250 open-source datasets, combining human expertise with AI and machine learning to provide real-time situational awareness.
• Halo Advanced acoustic sensor system providing assured detection and geolocation of artillery fire, protecting troops against modern threats.
• Nav-Sync MRA LP Slim miniature radar altimeter providing precision altitude sensing in a lower profile form factor for compact unmanned systems and SWaP-critical platforms. Designed for tight envelopes and flush integration on micro-UAS.
• Nav-Sync MRA Compact precise fast low-power miniature radar altimeter providing 2cm precision altitude sensing for UAVs and aircraft. Variants support ground speeds up to 300 m/s within 700m range and altitudes down to 20cm. Includes high-speed variants for precision controlled landings.
• Nav-Sync Armour Scalable CRPA-8 (Controlled Reception Pattern Antenna) actively protecting GNSS signals in contested environments. Uses multiple receiver channels and advanced digital processing to distinguish genuine satellite signals from interference and suppress jamming sources in real time. Built on 40+ years of CRPA heritage with a compact low-SWaP design affordable for autonomous platforms.
• Nav-Sync Pulse (eLoran) World's smallest eLoran antenna and receiver at just 55mm, providing resilient positioning, navigation and timing when GNSS cannot be trusted. Purpose-built with four decades of eLoran experience and test facilities.
• SPROCKET Modular software ecosystem enabling autonomous operations with minimised threat to life.
• Vigil AI AI-powered CSAM detection and categorisation system using the UK Government's Child Abuse Image Database. The Roke Vigil AI CAID Classifier detects, classifies and categorises CSAM by severity, now extended from law enforcement-exclusive use to commercial platforms via partners such as Resolver (Kroll).
• Project ZODIAC Sovereign data fabric platform integrating sensors, decision-makers and effectors into a single network for British Army ISTAR command and control. Uses spiral development 'software factory' model delivering updates in weeks rather than years. Achieved US Army's first Digital Interoperable Partner status during Warfighter 25-4 exercise. Delivered under £40m Phase 2 and £20m continuation contracts.

Quantifiable outcome

• ZODIAC enabled software update deployment from request to deployed in under 72 hours during Warfighter 25-4 exercise, accelerating the kill chain by 20 seconds
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature15 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kaigai CorporationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 21 May 2025Roke and Kaigai Corporation expanded their strategic partnership to significantly increase availability of Roke's cutting-edge products and services in the Japanese defence market. The expanded agreement covers a broader portfolio including Electromagnetic Warfare systems, Resilient PNT, Cyber, AI-enabled surveillance technologies, and secure communications platforms, distributed through Kaigai's extensive defence and security network in Japan. The partnership includes knowledge exchange programmes and enhanced technical support for seamless integration into Japan's defence infrastructure.
• UK Government / DSITcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 January 2025Roke was awarded a major contract as part of the UK government's £155 million investment in national PNT resilience, working with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) to deliver resilient eLoran-based PNT capabilities. This supports sectors including civil, military, emergency services, maritime, telecoms, transport and financial services. Roke's Nav-Sync Pulse is part of this national infrastructure programme.
• 6point6, General Dynamics Mission Systems – UK, Nexor, QinetiQ, Sierra Nevada Corporation Mission Systems UKcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 September 2023Roke serves as prime contractor and system integrator for Project ZODIAC, supported by a trusted consortium of industry partners: 6point6, General Dynamics Mission Systems – UK, Nexor, QinetiQ, and Sierra Nevada Corporation Mission Systems UK. The consortium advances ZODIAC ensuring the British Army benefits from industry's foremost technical capabilities on a continuous and enduring basis. The consortium combines expertise across software, systems integration, electronic warfare, and mission systems.
• GeollectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Geollect, acquired by Chemring Group PLC as part of Roke's IP-led growth strategy, operates as a new business unit — Roke Intelligence — providing open-source intelligence capabilities. Geollect provides a subscription-based platform ingesting over 250 open-source datasets, combining human expertise with AI and machine learning. Its capabilities (Geollect, Centri, Crucible) complement Roke's existing data ingestion, AI and data science offerings and can be immediately deployed to existing Roke customer projects.
• Soteria Defence and Security LimitedminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 10 November 2022Roke partnered with Soteria Defence and Security Limited on Project BESTLA, where Soteria provides ex-military personnel with extensive army training exercise experience to deliver specialised consultancy services. Roke contributes RESOLVE and PERCEIVE electronic warfare products combined with Soteria's EO/IR surveillance capabilities for the British Army Land Warfare Centre's training assessment programme.
• Landguard SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoke completed the strategic acquisition of Landguard Systems, a company designing, manufacturing and supporting Software Defined Radio (SDR) systems and associated security products for defence, government and law enforcement customers. Landguard's high-performance tracking products across satellite communications, cellular networks and RF technologies, combined with SDR transceivers, enhance Roke's Cyber and Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA) portfolio and sovereign product range. The combination creates a unique UK sovereign portfolio and enhances Roke's international sales pipeline exceeding £300 million.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Chemring Group: Roke's parent company and LSE-listed defence conglomerate. Adjacent portfolio overlap (sensors, countermeasures, energetics) and shared UK sovereign positioning, but primarily an industrial parent rather than direct product competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Northrop Grumman: US defence prime with leading EW, radar, and C5ISR portfolios. Competes with Roke for allied programmes and is the dominant Western supplier for many of the same mission sets (EW, PNT, ISTAR) where Roke positions as ITAR-free alternative.
• L3Harris Technologies: US defence prime formed from L3 Technologies and Harris Corporation, with significant EW, communications, and intelligence portfolios. Direct competitor on EW, SDR (post-Landguard acquisition) and tactical communications for Five Eyes and allied customers.
• Thales: Global defence and aerospace prime with substantial UK presence (Thales UK). Competes directly with Roke across EW, ISTAR, sensors, and resilient communications for UK and allied customers, but operates at much larger scale and broader portfolio breadth.
• Leonardo: Italian-headquartered global defence prime with significant UK operations (Leonardo UK). Direct competitor across EW, sensors, and helicopter-borne ISR; comparable as a European sovereign alternative competing for NATO, JEF, and Five Eyes programme share.
• BAE Systems: UK's largest defence prime, with overlapping EW, electronic systems, and C5ISR capabilities. BAE's Air sector (Electronic Systems) directly competes with Roke on sensors, EW and integrated ISTAR, though BAE operates at vastly greater scale across air, land, sea, and cyber.
• Saab: Swedish defence and aerospace company with comparable EW, sensor, and ISTAR capabilities. Comparable as a non-US, sovereign European alternative competing for JEF, AUKUS-adjacent, and NATO-aligned procurement.

Direct peers

• QinetiQ: UK-listed defence technology specialist with comparable focus on EW, sensors, autonomy, and C5ISR for UK MoD and allied customers. Both companies operate as UK sovereign alternatives to US primes, compete on similar programmes (e.g., DSTL/DES frameworks), and serve AUKUS/JEF nations.
• Hensoldt: German-headquartered defence electronics specialist focused on sensors, EW, and radar. Closest continental European analogue to Roke in product mix and sovereign positioning, particularly for German, NATO, and European allied tenders.
• Ultra Electronics (now part of Advent International / Ultra Maritime): UK-headquartered defence electronics specialist historically focused on EW, sonar, and integrated ISTAR for UK and allied navies and armies. Direct overlap with Roke in EW systems and underwater acoustics (Halo) before its 2024 restructuring into Ultra Maritime.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rokemanor
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@rokeuk
• Facebookfacebook.com/rokemanor
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/roke-manor-research
• Instagraminstagram.com/roke_uk

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Roke Manor Research