What SH Defence does

SH Defence is a Danish defense equipment manufacturer and subsidiary of SH Group A/S (founded 1974), specializing in containerized modular mission systems for naval, coast guard, and search-and-rescue vessels. The company's flagship offering, The Cube™ System, uses standardized 20-foot and 40-foot ISO container footprints to host 150-plus interchangeable plug-and-play mission modules — spanning air, surface, and subsea domains — enabling naval platforms to be reconfigured between missions in under four hours without heavy external cranes. Supporting infrastructure includes the Automatic Twist Lock System, Mission Bay Door, Skidding System with tractor, Mobile Cube™ Side and Stern Loaders, the CubedIn™ standardized connection cabinet, and DNV GL ST-0378 type-approved Flex Frames that convert standard shipping containers into Cube-ready units.

The product portfolio extends beyond the Cube™ to include launch and recovery systems for AUVs, UUVs, ROVs, USVs, and UAVs; containerized mine-laying and missile systems; command-center modules; STS/RAS refueling modules; and complete boat-handling systems integrating third-party craft from Tuco Marine, Fassmer, and Vestdavit. Revenue is generated through custom hardware sales and in-house engineering services (installation, commissioning, testing), with all R&D, engineering, production, assembly, and testing performed at the Svendborg, Denmark headquarters. Go-to-market is direct enterprise sales to government defense buyers via regional Sales Directors and Naval Advisors covering approximately 18 countries across North America, South America, the Nordics, the Baltics, the UK, and continental Europe, with the company positioned as part of the Naval Team Denmark industry consortium.

Name

SH Defence

Legal name

SH Defence

Website

https://shdefence.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

SH Defence, a Danish subsidiary of SH Group A/S, designs containerized modular mission modules (The Cube™ System) and handling equipment that let navies, coast guards, and SAR organizations reconfigure vessels for new missions in under four hours using 150-plus interchangeable ISO-sized modules.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Naval Defense Equipment

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730), Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)

akta.pro primary industry

Combat & Auxiliary Naval Vessel Systems (IMABAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Life-Saving Appliances & Safety Equipment (Davit Systems, Lifeboats, Firefighting) (IMAJAIAG), Fireboats & Emergency Response Craft (IMAJADAH), Patrol, Interceptor & Law-Enforcement Craft (Coast Guard, Customs) (IMAJADAD), Shiplifts & Transfer Systems (Rail/Platform Transfer, Slipways) (IMAJALAB), Submarine Systems & Components (Pressure Hull, Ballast, Life Support) (IMABAKAL)

Keywords

• Modular mission systems
• Naval handling equipment
• Containerized defense modules
• Maritime mission modules
• Naval launch recovery systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Svendborg

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Equipment and Mission Modules: Design and production of custom-made handling equipment and Cube™ mission modules for naval and coast guard vessels. Includes standard products like Launch and Recovery Systems, Mission Bay Doors, Skidding Systems, and modular mission containers.
2. Engineering Services: In-house engineering services including machine shop, welding shop, automation systems, control cabinets, valve capabilities, and testing facilities. Services include installation and commissioning.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

SH Defence designs and manufactures modular mission systems for naval, coast guard, and SAR vessels, centered on The Cube™ System — standardized 20ft and 40ft ISO container-sized modules that can be mechanically, electrically, and data-connected to a host ship via an Automatic Twist Lock. The portfolio extends to launch and recovery systems (A-frames, stern doors, skidding systems), mission bay doors, container handling gear, and specialized mission modules (mine-laying, missile, UAV launch, small boats), enabling one vessel to be reconfigured across multiple mission types.

Product overview

SH Defence is a Danish defense company specializing in modular maritime mission systems, offering The Cube™ as its core platform—a containerized multi-mission module system that enables naval vessels to be reconfigured for different missions in under 4 hours. The product portfolio comprises The Cube™ System (the main modular platform), over 150 interchangeable mission modules for air, surface, and subsea capabilities, and comprehensive handling equipment including launch and recovery systems, skidding systems, mission bay doors, and mobile loaders. The Cube modules come in 20' and 40' standardized container footprints and include specialized modules such as Mine Laying, Launch and Recovery, UAV Systems (Side and Top Launch), boat systems (Work, Fire Fighter, Fast Rescue, Interceptor), STS/RAS refueling, Command Center, Missile Containerized System, Cargo Crane, Traverse Crane, and various probe/tow systems. Supporting infrastructure includes Mobile Side and Stern Loaders, Automatic Twist Lock Systems, Cube Base/Engineered/Flex Frames, and general naval handling equipment like steering gear, deck hatches, cargo lifts, and heavy loaders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Cube™ System: A modular system developed to host and deploy equipment using the footprint of shipping containers, enabling any Navy to turn any platform into a future-proof multi-mission capability with plug-and-play mission modules for air, surface, and subsea domains.

Products and services

• The Cube™ System Standardized 20ft and 40ft ISO container-sized mission modules that can be mechanically, electrically, and data-connected to a host vessel via an Automatic Twist Lock, enabling one ship to be reconfigured across multiple mission types. Sold to navies, coast guards, and SAR operators.
• Cube™ Mine Laying System Mine-laying mission module built on the Cube™ System, allowing a host vessel to take on a mine-laying role by deploying the standardized Cube module. For naval customers.
• Missile Containerized System Containerized missile mission module within the Cube™ System, enabling a vessel to deploy missile capability as a swappable module. For naval customers.
• Launch and Recovery Systems (A-Frame) A-frame-based launch and recovery system for deploying and recovering boats and Cube modules from naval and coast guard vessels. For naval and coast guard operators.
• Launch and Recovery Cube Module Cube-formatted launch and recovery module that plugs into the Cube™ System to add launch-and-recovery capability to a host vessel. For naval and coast guard operators.
• Stern Door with Boat Cradle Stern-mounted door with integrated boat cradle that enables boat launch and recovery from the rear of a vessel. For naval, coast guard, and SAR operators.
• Skidding System With Tractor Skidding system with tractor for sliding Cube modules within a vessel's mission bay, supporting internal reconfiguration. For naval and coast guard operators.
• Mission Bay Door Mission bay door designed to integrate with Cube™ System interfaces on the stern deck, enabling module deployment and reconfiguration. For naval and coast guard vessel programs.
• STS/RAS System Ship-to-ship / replenishment-at-sea system delivered as a Cube module, enabling underway transfer between vessels. For naval customers.
• Mobile Cube™ Side Loader Mobile side loader purpose-built for handling Cube modules during ship-side and quayside operations. For naval, coast guard, and SAR operators.
• Mobile Cube™ Stern Loader Mobile stern loader purpose-built for handling Cube modules from the rear of a vessel during loading and unloading. For naval, coast guard, and SAR operators.
• Traverse Crane Traverse crane for deck handling of loads and Cube modules aboard naval and coast guard vessels.
• Cargo Crane Cargo crane for general cargo handling duties aboard naval and coast guard vessels.
• Telescopic Jib Crane Telescopic jib crane for vessel handling duties where reach and variable radius are required. For naval and coast guard operators.
• Automatic Twist Lock System Automatic Twist Lock system that secures Cube modules to the host vessel and connects mechanical, electrical, and data interfaces in a single motion. The enabling subsystem of the Cube™ System.
• Command Center Command center module within the Cube™ System, providing a containerized operations and control space that can be deployed on a host vessel. For naval and coast guard operators.
• A-Frame with Winch LARS A-frame launch and recovery system with integrated winch for deploying and recovering boats or payloads from naval and coast guard vessels.
• UAV Side Launch System Side-launch system for UAVs from naval and coast guard vessels, enabling unmanned aviation operations from a ship's side.
• UAV Top Launch System Top-launch system for UAVs from naval and coast guard vessels, enabling unmanned aviation operations from a ship's deck.
• Steering Gear Steering gear for naval and coast guard vessels, supplied as part of SH Defence's marine equipment portfolio.
• Heavy Loader System Heavy loader system for handling heavy Cube modules and other large loads during loading and unloading operations. For naval and coast guard operators.
• Deck Hatch Cover Deck hatch cover for naval vessel decks, enabling below-deck access while maintaining watertight integrity.
• Ultra-compact Cargo Lift Ultra-compact cargo lift designed for moving loads between decks in space-constrained naval and coast guard vessels.
• Work Boat System Work boat system for naval, coast guard, and SAR operators, designed for general utility duties from a host vessel.
• Fire Fighter Boat System Fire fighter boat system for naval, coast guard, and SAR operators, designed for shipboard and harbor firefighting response.
• Fast Rescue Boat System Fast rescue boat system for SAR and naval operators, designed for rapid deployment to recover persons in the water.
• Fast Interceptor Boat System Fast interceptor boat system for naval and coast guard operators, designed for high-speed pursuit and interdiction.
• Stern Probe Tow System Stern-mounted probe tow system for naval towing operations, including target towing and ship-handling support.
• Side Probe Tow System Side-mounted probe tow system for naval towing operations, including target towing and ship-handling support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Mission reconfiguration in under 4 hours
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• SH Group A/ScoreOthersParent company and part of SH Group. SH Defence originates from three decades of turnkey equipment and service solutions to various national navies delivered by SH Group A/S. SH Group employs about 500 employees at its Danish headquarters.
• Naval Team DenmarkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSH Defence is a member of Naval Team Denmark, a Danish defense industry association for naval capabilities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Kongsberg Gruppen: Norwegian defense and maritime technology group with a broad naval portfolio spanning combat systems, sonars, missiles, and integrated bridge systems. Comparable to SH Defence as a major naval systems supplier in Northern Europe with deep NATO relationships, though operating at significantly larger scale and broader scope.
• Saab: Swedish defense prime with naval combat systems, integrated naval solutions, and AUV/USV offerings. Comparable as a European naval defense supplier offering modular and multi-domain mission capabilities that compete with the Cube™ ecosystem for naval procurement programs.
• Thales Group: French-listed defense and naval electronics group supplying combat management systems, sonars, and integrated naval mission suites globally. Comparable as a broad incumbent supplying modular naval systems and mission equipment to NATO and allied navies.
• Naval Group: French state-owned naval shipbuilder and combat systems integrator with frigates, submarines, and unmanned systems. Comparable as a broader incumbent that competes with SH Defence for naval handling equipment, mission bay doors, and modular mission systems contracts in European and allied navies.
• Damen: Dutch shipbuilding group specializing in standardized naval and workboat platforms (e.g., Sigma-class, Fast Crew Suppliers). Comparable as a shipyard that could integrate Cube™ into its vessels and competes for the same modular, multi-mission naval capability briefs.
• Elbit Systems: Israeli defense electronics group with naval combat, unmanned surface vessel, and electro-optic systems. Comparable as a multi-domain naval defense supplier offering modular mission systems and unmanned platforms to navies globally.

Direct peers

• Atlas Elektronik: German naval systems specialist (submarine systems, sonars, USVs, mine countermeasures). Directly comparable to SH Defence as a focused European supplier of undersea/maritime mission systems, including mine countermeasures equipment — a capability SH Defence also addresses via its Mine Laying System.
• Fassmer: German shipyard producing fast rescue boats, interceptor boats, and special mission craft. Direct integration partner of SH Defence (Fassmer FRIR 625 and SFB 10.1 MK2 boats are supplied as Cube™ Fast Rescue and Interceptor Boat Systems), making it a tightly-coupled peer in the modular mission-module value chain.
• Tuco Marine Group: Danish builder of workboats, transfer boats, and firefighting boats (ProZero series). Direct integration partner of SH Defence for Cube™ Work Boat and Fire Fighter Boat systems — directly comparable as a small-craft supplier integrated into the same modular mission ecosystem.
• Vestdavit: Norwegian davit and launch/recovery system supplier to navies and coast guards worldwide. Integration partner of SH Defence (Vestdavit PL-3600R in Cube™ Fast Rescue Boat Systems) — directly comparable as a peer in mission bay handling and rescue-boat launching equipment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shdefence

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

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 SH Defence