Cobham Aerospace Communications

What Cobham Aerospace Communications does

Cobham Aerospace Communications designs and manufactures antennas, aircraft avionics systems, and external aircraft lighting for the aerospace sector. Headquartered in Rungis, France, and founded in 1923, the company serves global aerospace and defense customers with hardware products that are typically embedded on long-life airframe platforms. Its core product categories — communications antennas, avionics subsystems, and exterior aircraft lighting — are safety-critical components subject to stringent airworthiness certification and OEM qualification requirements, which structurally favor incumbent qualified suppliers.

In April 2024, Cobham Aerospace Communications was acquired by Thales Group, a France-based aerospace and defense conglomerate that reported €22.14 billion in 2024 annual sales with 8% year-over-year growth driven by record defense orders. The acquisition was explicitly positioned to strengthen Thales' avionics portfolio in communications and connectivity, making Cobham a wholly-owned subsidiary within the Thales group. Post-acquisition, Cobham's product roadmap and go-to-market are expected to align with Thales' broader aerospace strategy, though specific named products, pricing models, and revenue mechanics are not detailed in publicly available source material. The company employs between 1,001 and 5,000 people, with operations now embedded in a larger parent's commercial and defense channels.

Name

Cobham Aerospace Communications

Website

https://cobhamaerospacecommunications.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1923

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Cobham Aerospace Communications designs and manufactures antennas, avionics systems, and external aircraft lighting for the global aerospace sector. Founded in 1923 and headquartered in Rungis, France, it was acquired by Thales Group in April 2024.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aerospace Avionics

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing (334220), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Radio & Tv Broadcasting & Communications Equipment (3663), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)

akta.pro primary industry

Avionics Communication Systems (VHF/UHF/SATCOM/Data Link) (IMABAFAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Avionics Integration, Wiring Harnesses & Installation Kits (IMABAFAL)

Keywords

• Aerospace communications
• Aircraft avionics systems
• Aircraft antennas
• External aircraft lighting
• Avionics connectivity

Headquarters

HQ city

Rungis

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Core offering

Cobham Aerospace Communications designs and manufactures antennas, aircraft avionics systems, and external aircraft lighting for the aerospace sector. The company supplies communication and connectivity hardware used by civil and military aerospace platforms and is now part of Thales Group's avionics portfolio.

Product overview

Cobham Aerospace Communications operates as an aerospace communications and connectivity solutions provider within the avionics sector. The company was acquired by Thales Group in April 2024. Based on the source material, the company's portfolio centers on avionics communications and connectivity products for the aerospace sector, though specific named products or modules are not detailed in the available sources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aircraft antennas Antennas designed and manufactured for aerospace communications and connectivity on civil and military aircraft.
• Aircraft avionics systems Avionics systems for communications and connectivity used on aerospace platforms.
• External aircraft lighting External lighting systems for aircraft, supporting safety and visibility requirements on civil and military platforms.

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Thales GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024In April 2024, France-based Thales Group acquired Cobham Aerospace Communications to strengthen its avionics portfolio in communications and connectivity for the aerospace sector. The acquisition was part of Thales' strategy to expand its avionics capabilities, following Thales reporting €22.14 billion in annual sales in 2024 with 8% growth driven by record orders in its defense division.

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• L3Harris Technologies: Defense-focused communications and avionics supplier serving military aviation platforms with radios, data links, and tactical communications. Comparable to Cobham Aerospace Communications in aerospace communications hardware, but oriented primarily to defense customers and broader mission systems.
• Collins Aerospace (RTX): Tier-1 avionics and communications supplier across commercial, business, and military aviation. Highly comparable as a direct competitor in aircraft communication, navigation, and external lighting subsystems, but operating at far greater scale within a diversified aerospace conglomerate.
• Honeywell Aerospace: A major avionics incumbent offering a broad portfolio of cockpit, navigation, and communications systems for commercial and military aircraft. Comparable as a large-scale supplier competing in the same avionics and connectivity categories as Cobham Aerospace Communications, but with a much wider product range.
• Thales Avionics (post-acquisition parent): Now the parent organization of Cobham Aerospace Communications following the April 2024 acquisition. Thales' avionics business provides flight management, communication, and connectivity systems across commercial and military platforms, overlapping heavily with Cobham's pre-acquisition product set.
• Safran Electronics & Defense: French aerospace group with avionics, navigation, and flight-control offerings for civil and military aircraft. Comparable as a European-based avionics supplier in similar product categories, including navigation and mission systems that overlap with Cobham's avionics communications focus.

Emerging players

• Avidyne Corporation: Specialist avionics supplier focused on integrated flight decks, traffic systems, and datalink communications for general aviation and light business aircraft. Comparable in avionics and connectivity categories, but with a narrower platform focus than Cobham Aerospace Communications.

Direct peers

• Garmin: Major avionics provider for general aviation, business jets, and increasingly commercial platforms, with strength in integrated cockpit and communication systems. Closely comparable to Cobham Aerospace Communications as an avionics and connectivity supplier, particularly in non-airsline segments.
• Universal Avionics (Elbit Systems): Subsidiary of Elbit Systems supplying avionics, navigation, communication, and flight deck systems for business, commercial, and military aircraft. Comparable as a mid-tier avionics specialist with overlapping communications and connectivity offerings to Cobham Aerospace Communications.
• HEICO (Sensor Systems / Radiant Power subsidiaries): Acquired legacy Cobham antenna business assets (Sensor Systems) and supplies aerospace antennas and lighting products. Directly comparable as a specialist in aircraft antennas and external lighting, occupying the same niche Cobham Aerospace Communications historically served.

Others

• Cobham Advanced Electronic Solutions (legacy CAES): Descendant of the legacy Cobham defense electronics business, now operating independently as CAES and supplying RF, microwave, and electronic warfare hardware. Related via shared Cobham heritage and adjacent aerospace communications technology, though no longer part of the same corporate group.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cobham-aerospace-communications

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Cobham Aerospace Communications