Cobham
Cobham Ultra Group is a UK-based defense electronics company owned by Advent International, providing tactical radios, satellite terminals, encryption tools, edge computing systems, and mission-critical software to U.S. and allied military programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1934
- HeadquartersWimborne, United Kingdom
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Cobham does
Cobham Ultra Group is a UK-headquartered defense electronics company formed through the 2022 combination of Cobham (founded 1934, Wimborne, UK) with Ultra Electronics under the ownership of U.S. private equity firm Advent International. The company designs and manufactures mission-critical hardware and software for military and aerospace customers, with a workforce of 5,001–10,000 employees across multiple geographies. Its product portfolio spans tactical radios, satellite communication terminals, aerospace electronic controls, encryption tools, edge computing systems, and a software suite including the Apex, ADSI, ACTS, Rain, and Knox platforms. The company maintains a dedicated research and development unit in Basingstoke with 135+ engineers focused on advancing its core technologies.
The business model is anchored in long-cycle government procurement, with the U.S. Military as the dominant customer alongside allied defense ministries and prime contractors. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) channels extend reach to partner nations, and B2B sales to aerospace manufacturers round out the revenue mix. The platform has historically generated EBITDA margins well above 20%, reflecting the high-value, low-volume nature of mission-critical defense electronics with deep program-of-record entrenchment. Strategic priorities under PE ownership have emphasized portfolio rationalization, with multiple large divestitures in 2026 including Ultra PCS to Eaton ($1.55B), Ultra I&C Mission Solutions to Booz Allen ($720M), Ultra Cyber to Airbus, and Tactical Communications to Marconi Technologies.
Underlying end-markets — tactical communications, electronic warfare, cyber, and aerospace controls — are expanding on the back of elevated NATO defense spending commitments and rearmament across allied nations. The company has settled a U.K. Serious Fraud Office bribery investigation for £15 million, clearing a material legal overhang. With the divestiture wave materially reducing the scope of the residual platform, the strategic question for investors is whether Advent will reinvest proceeds into adjacent platforms or continue an orderly exit through further sales.
Cobham firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cobham
- Legal name
- Cobham Ultra Group
- Website
- https://cobham.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1934
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Cobham Ultra Group is a UK-based defense electronics company owned by Advent International, providing tactical radios, satellite terminals, encryption tools, edge computing systems, and mission-critical software to U.S. and allied military programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cobham industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Defense Electronics
- NAICS
- Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Military ISR, EW & SIGINT Payloads (Airborne) (IMABAMAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- IFF/Identification, Beaconing & Cooperative Surveillance Systems (IMABAGAF)
Keywords
Where Cobham is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wimborne
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Cobham business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Defense Technology Products: Sale of mission-critical software, encryption, and edge-compute products to U.S. military and allied defense programs
- Aerospace Electronic Controls: Electronic controls, sensing products, and data processing solutions for aerospace customers
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels2 records
Cobham product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cobham is a UK-based defense technology company that designs, develops, and manufactures mission-critical software, encryption tools, edge computing systems, tactical radios, satellite communication terminals, and aerospace electronic controls and sensing products. Its offerings support command-and-control operations, secure military communications, and battlefield operations in contested environments for the U.S. military, allied defense programs, and aerospace customers.
Product overview
Cobham, through its Cobham Ultra Group portfolio company owned by Advent International, operates as a defense technology business offering mission-critical software, encryption tools, and edge computing systems for the U.S. military and allied programs. The product portfolio includes named products such as Apex, ADSI, ACTS, Rain, and Knox, along with electronic controls, sensing products, data processing solutions, tactical radios, and satellite communication terminals. These products serve command-and-control operations, secure communications, and aerospace applications for military and civilian aircraft. Cobham's divisions have been subject to multiple acquisitions, with Ultra I&C Mission Solutions (including the Apex, ADSI, ACTS, Rain, and Knox products) being acquired by Booz Allen Hamilton, Ultra Cyber being acquired by Airbus, and Ultra PCS (producing electronic controls and sensing products) being acquired by Eaton.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Apex Mission-critical software product in the Ultra I&C Mission Solutions portfolio, used in defense applications.
- ADSI Edge-compute and encryption product for defense and secure communications applications.
- ACTS Mission-critical software and encryption product supporting command-and-control operations.
- Rain Edge-compute and encryption product for battlefield software applications.
- Knox Mission-critical software product in the defense technology portfolio.
- Electronic Controls Electronic control systems produced by Ultra PCS for aerospace customers, including safety and mission-critical systems for military and civilian aircraft.
- Sensing Products Sensing products for aerospace applications, supporting both military and civilian aircraft platforms.
- Data Processing Solutions Data processing solutions for aerospace customers including electronic controls and sensing products.
- Tactical Radios Hardware communications technology for tactical operations, sold to government and allied countries.
- Satellite Communication Terminals Satellite communication terminals for defense and tactical communications applications.
Quantifiable outcome
- Strong double-digit revenue growth projected for acquired business unit
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Cobham
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Cobham technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Cobham partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered major and minor.
- Booz Allen HamiltonmajorBooz Allen Hamilton agreed to acquire Ultra I&C Mission Solutions from Cobham Ultra Group for $720 million. The acquisition will add mission-critical software, edge-compute and encryption products to Booz Allen's defense technology portfolio, with deal expected to close in 2027.
- Marconi TechnologiesminorCanadian investors launched Marconi Technologies, a majority Canadian-owned defence company headquartered in Montreal, by acquiring the tactical communications division of Ultra I&C from Cobham Ultra. The company plans to sell tactical radios and satellite communication terminals to the Canadian government and allied countries.
- Airbus Defence and SpacemajorAirbus entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Ultra Cyber Ltd from Cobham Ultra Group. Ultra Cyber's cyber centre of excellence in Maidenhead with over 200 employees will integrate into Airbus Defence and Space's Connected Intelligence business unit to strengthen cyber portfolio and airborne datalinks capabilities.
- EatonmajorEaton completed acquisition of Ultra PCS Limited from Cobham Ultra Group for $1.55 billion. Ultra PCS, headquartered in Cheltenham with operations in UK and US, produces electronic controls, sensing products, and data processing solutions for aerospace customers.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Cobham competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- L3Harris Technologies: L3Harris is a top-tier U.S. defense prime with a broad portfolio spanning tactical communications, electronic warfare, SIGINT payloads, avionics, and secure communications — directly overlapping with Cobham Ultra's mission-critical software, encryption, edge computing, and tactical radio offerings. It is the most direct large-cap comparable for Cobham Ultra's defense electronics and secure comms businesses.
- BAE Systems: BAE Systems is a global defense prime with major positions in electronic systems, secure communications, and cyber — comparable in scale and end customers to Cobham Ultra's mission-critical software and encryption portfolio, and a logical consolidator of remaining niche players.
- Thales Group: Thales operates across secure communications, aerospace electronics, sensors, and mission-critical defense systems globally. Its defence and security segments directly overlap with Cobham Ultra's encryption, tactical comms, and aerospace sensing businesses, particularly in UK and allied markets.
- Leonardo S.p.A. Leonardo's Electronics, Defence and Security segments cover tactical communications, encryption, sensors, and aerospace electronics — substantially overlapping with Cobham Ultra's product portfolio and serving the same European and allied defense customers.
- Elbit Systems: Elbit Systems is an Israel-based global defense electronics company providing tactical communications, EW, SIGINT, C4I, and aerospace electronic systems — comparable across multiple product lines to Cobham Ultra's mission-critical software, encryption, and tactical communications portfolio.
Direct peers
- Curtiss-Wright Corporation: Curtiss-Wright's Defense Solutions segment supplies mission-critical electronic controls, sensing products, and data processing solutions for military and civilian aerospace platforms — a near-exact match for Ultra PCS's product line, which Eaton acquired from Cobham Ultra for $1.55B. Highly comparable business model and end markets.
- Mercury Systems: Mercury Systems designs and manufactures secure processing subsystems, edge-compute, and mission-critical embedded electronics for aerospace and defense applications. It directly competes with Cobham Ultra's edge-compute (Rain) and aerospace electronic controls portfolio.
- Kratos Defense & Security Solutions: Kratos produces tactical communications, unmanned systems, and electronic warfare products for the U.S. military and allied customers. Its tactical radio and satcom terminal offerings overlap with Cobham Ultra's tactical communications division sold to Marconi Technologies.
Emerging players
- CACI International: CACI delivers mission-critical software, signals intelligence, and secure communications solutions to U.S. defense and intelligence agencies — comparable to Cobham Ultra's Ultra I&C Mission Solutions business that Booz Allen Hamilton is acquiring for $720M. Both target similar C2 and encrypted comms use cases.
- Booz Allen Hamilton Holding: Booz Allen is acquiring Cobham Ultra's Ultra I&C Mission Solutions business for $720M to add mission-critical software, encryption, and edge-compute products to its defense portfolio. The transaction makes Booz Allen a direct comparable for the type of value Cobham Ultra's specialized software/encryption assets can unlock.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Cobham social profiles
Digital presenceCobham financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cobham leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Cobham subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Cobham funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cobham M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A19 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cobham
What does Cobham do?
Cobham is a UK-based defense technology company that designs, develops, and manufactures mission-critical software, encryption tools, edge computing systems, tactical radios, satellite communication terminals, and aerospace electronic controls and sensing products. Its offerings support command-and-control operations, secure military communications, and battlefield operations in contested environments for the U.S. military, allied defense programs, and aerospace customers.
Is Cobham a public or private company?
Cobham is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Cobham founded?
Cobham was founded in 1934. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Cobham based?
Cobham is headquartered in Wimborne, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Cobham make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Defense Technology Products are the primary driver. The others are aerospace Electronic Controls.
Who are Cobham's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are L3Harris Technologies, BAE Systems, Thales Group, Leonardo S.p.A. and Elbit Systems. Direct peers are Curtiss-Wright Corporation, Mercury Systems and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions. Emerging players are CACI International and Booz Allen Hamilton Holding.
Does Cobham have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cobham.
What industry is Cobham in?
Cobham's product category is Defense Electronics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAMAF, Military ISR, EW & SIGINT Payloads (Airborne), with a secondary code of IMABAGAF, IFF/Identification, Beaconing & Cooperative Surveillance Systems. Its NAICS code is 334511 and its SIC code is 3812.