Chemring Detection Systems
Chemring Detection Systems is a Charlotte, NC-based defense technology entity developing advanced sensors and threat detection systems for explosives, narcotics, biological threats, and electronic warfare, serving government and military customers globally as part of UK-listed Chemring Group PLC.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1905
- HeadquartersCharlotte, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Chemring Detection Systems does
Chemring Detection Systems is part of the broader Chemring Group PLC (LSE: CHG), a specialist defense and security manufacturing and technology business headquartered in the UK with operations spanning more than 50 countries. The entity develops advanced sensors and threat detection systems for explosives and narcotics, addressing biological detection, electronic warfare, and countermeasures applications. Its product portfolio spans two operating divisions: Sensors & Information (encompassing biological detection, electronic warfare, and an Innovation, Technology and Data Science platform) and Countermeasures & Energetics (covering advanced IR, RF, and naval countermeasures, special material decoys, space launch initiators, aircraft safety components, explosive materials, demolition stores, EDB propellants, EOD equipment, and testers).
Chemring Detection Systems' underlying technologies involve proprietary detection and countermeasure systems built around specialized energetic devices and electronic sensing — much of which relies on long-qualified defense platforms integrated into military aircraft, naval vessels, and space launch vehicles. The firm addresses protection of people, assets, and nations from security threats across military defense, national security infrastructure, and space mission use cases.
The company operates almost exclusively within a Government and Defense vertical, with revenue derived from direct procurement contracts with government defense agencies and military organizations. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and follows standard defense procurement quotation-based models. Group-level operational scale is significant: Chemring Group PLC reports an order book of £1,345m as at 31 October 2025 and operates wholly-owned subsidiaries across the UK, USA, and Australia, including Chemring Countermeasures UK/USA, Chemring Sensors & Electronic Systems, Chemring Technology Solutions, Chemring Energetic Devices, Chemring Nobel, Chemring Energetics UK, Chemring Australia, and Roke (including Roke USA). Chemring Detection Systems specifically is described as employing 51-100 staff based in Charlotte, NC, founded in 2011, and operates as part of or alongside Chemring Sensors & Electronic Systems. Wayne Horvath is identified as Director of Sales.
Chemring Detection Systems firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Chemring Detection Systems
- Legal name
- Chemring Group PLC
- Website
- https://chemringds.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1905
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Chemring Detection Systems is a Charlotte, NC-based defense technology entity developing advanced sensors and threat detection systems for explosives, narcotics, biological threats, and electronic warfare, serving government and military customers globally as part of UK-listed Chemring Group PLC.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Chemring Detection Systems industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Defense Detection Systems
- NAICS
- Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Explosives Manufacturing (32592)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- CBRN Detection, Protection & Decontamination Systems (IMABAOAO)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Process Analytical Instrumentation (Gas analyzers, spectroscopy, pH/ORP, conductivity) (IMAGAFAE)
Keywords
Where Chemring Detection Systems is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Charlotte
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Chemring Detection Systems business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Chemring Detection Systems product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Chemring Detection Systems develops advanced sensors and threat detection systems designed to identify explosives and narcotics. The company is a U.S.-based subsidiary within the Chemring Group's detection and sensors portfolio, serving military, homeland security, and government end-users with specialized detection hardware and integrated sensor solutions.
Product overview
Chemring Group PLC is a specialist manufacturing and technology business operating across two main divisions: Sensors & Information (which includes Biological Detection and Electronic Warfare) and Countermeasures & Energetics (which encompasses Advanced IR/RF/Naval countermeasures, Special Material Decoys, Space launch initiators, Aircraft safety components, Explosive materials, High Explosive & Demolition Stores, Commercial and Military pyro-mechanisms, EDB Propellants, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal equipment). The company also maintains Innovation, Technology and Data Science capabilities. These products are offered across multiple subsidiaries including Chemring Sensors & Electronic Systems, Chemring Countermeasures UK/USA, Chemring Technology Solutions, and Chemring Nobel.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Advanced Threat Detection Sensors Sensor-based detection systems built to identify and classify explosive threats and illicit narcotics for military, homeland security, and government end-users.
- Explosives Detection Systems Detection solutions engineered to detect explosive materials and related threats, targeted at defense, security, and government agencies.
- Narcotics Detection Systems Sensor-driven systems used to detect narcotics and related illicit substances for law enforcement, customs, border security, and military customers.
Companies that use Chemring Detection Systems
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Chemring Detection Systems technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Chemring Detection Systems partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Chemring Detection Systems competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Smiths Detection: Smiths Detection is the closest direct peer, specializing in threat detection and screening systems (CBRN, explosives, narcotics) for aviation, defense, and government customers — directly overlapping Chemring's biological detection and countermeasures portfolio.
- Teledyne FLIR (FLIR Systems): Teledyne FLIR designs thermal imaging and integrated sensor suites used in defense, surveillance, and IR countermeasure environments, closely aligning with Chemring's Advanced IR Countermeasures and sensor-based detection offerings.
- Ultra Electronics (now part of Advent's Ultra Maritime): Ultra Electronics designs EW, sonar, and integrated sensing subsystems for naval and aerospace defense, closely comparable to Chemring's Naval Countermeasures and RF Countermeasures portfolios.
- Rapiscan Systems (OSI Systems): Rapiscan manufactures detection and screening systems (X-ray, trace) for aviation security and defense, comparable to Chemring's biological and threat detection products across shared government customers.
Broad incumbents
- L3Harris Technologies: L3Harris is a major defense electronics incumbent with established EW, sensing, and intelligence systems serving US/allied militaries, competing with Chemring Sensors & Electronic Systems and Roke on subsystem and platform integration work.
- Thales Group: Thales operates broad defense and security businesses including EW, sensors, and countermeasure technologies; a broad incumbent whose portfolio overlaps with Chemring's detection and countermeasures offerings across UK/European defense markets.
- Northrop Grumman: Northrop Grumman is a defense prime with deep capabilities in EW, sensors, and countermeasure systems, representing the upper-end platform-side competition for Chemring's sensor and electronic warfare business.
- BAE Systems: BAE Systems is a UK-headquartered defense prime with electronic warfare, countermeasure, and detection adjacencies, competing for related UK and allied program work where Chemring also participates.
- Cobham (Eaton): Advent-owned Cobham has historically supplied EW, countermeasures, and comms subsystems to defense primes, making it a relevant broad incumbent peer for Chemring's countermeasures and RF activities.
- Leonardo DRS: Leonardo DRS supplies advanced sensing, network computing, and EW subsystems to the US Department of Defense, providing incumbent competition in adjacent sensing and countermeasure end markets.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Chemring Detection Systems social profiles
Digital presenceChemring Detection Systems financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Chemring Detection Systems leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Chemring Detection Systems subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries11 records
Chemring Detection Systems funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Chemring Detection Systems M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Chemring Detection Systems
What does Chemring Detection Systems do?
Chemring Detection Systems develops advanced sensors and threat detection systems designed to identify explosives and narcotics. The company is a U.S.-based subsidiary within the Chemring Group's detection and sensors portfolio, serving military, homeland security, and government end-users with specialized detection hardware and integrated sensor solutions.
Is Chemring Detection Systems a public or private company?
Chemring Detection Systems is a public company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Chemring Detection Systems founded?
Chemring Detection Systems was founded in 1905. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Chemring Detection Systems based?
Chemring Detection Systems is headquartered in Charlotte, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Chemring Detection Systems's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Smiths Detection, Teledyne FLIR (FLIR Systems), Ultra Electronics (now part of Advent's Ultra Maritime) and Rapiscan Systems (OSI Systems). Broad incumbents are L3Harris Technologies, Thales Group, Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems, Cobham (Eaton) and Leonardo DRS.
Does Chemring Detection Systems have an API?
No public API is recorded for Chemring Detection Systems.
What industry is Chemring Detection Systems in?
Chemring Detection Systems's product category is Defense Detection Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAOAO, CBRN Detection, Protection & Decontamination Systems, with a secondary code of IMAGAFAE, Process Analytical Instrumentation (Gas analyzers, spectroscopy, pH/ORP, conductivity). Its NAICS code is 33451 and its SIC code is 3812.