STS Defence

What STS Defence does

STS Defence Ltd. is a UK-based engineering and technology company headquartered in Gosport, Hampshire, that designs, manufactures, integrates, and supports mission-critical secure communications, electronic warfare and control, and instrumentation systems for naval and air defence customers. Core products include configurable communications masts for Royal Navy warships (Type 45 and Type 26 frigates), operator consoles and equipment racks for Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, water-cooled cabinets for maritime IT hardware, mission-critical UHF satellite communications systems, and Typhoon cockpit panels and wiring looms manufactured to aerospace quality standards. The company also delivers research and technology services, including software algorithm development for the Submarine Delivery Agency, and provides training for civil and military nuclear engineers. |

Revenue is generated primarily through direct contracts with the UK Ministry of Defence and through subcontractor relationships with prime contractors such as BAE Systems, Babcock, and Leonardo, with revenue streams spanning one-time licence/programme contracts, recurring through-life support services, and professional services for training. Distribution is via direct field sales and tender processes within a single-country (UK) operating geography, supported by relationship-driven marketing through case studies, industry events, and a small digital footprint.

The company operates within a heavily regulated environment, holding AS9100D, NADCAP AC7120 and AC7121, ISO 9001/14001/27001/45001, Cyber Essentials Plus, and JOSCAR supplier certifications, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Swiss-listed Cicor Group, which provides corporate backing and international reach. Reporting lines are to UK customers only, with the Royal Navy, UK MoD (Typhoon programme), and Submarine Delivery Agency named as primary customer logos across naval and air defence programmes.

Name

STS Defence

Legal name

STS Defence Ltd.

Website

https://sts-defence.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

STS Defence is a UK-based engineering company in Gosport that designs, manufactures, and supports mission-critical communications, electronics, and instrumentation systems for the Royal Navy, UK Ministry of Defence, and prime defence contractors across naval and air defence programmes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defence Electronics and Communications

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)

akta.pro primary industry

Surface Combatants (Destroyers, Frigates, Corvettes) (IMAJABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Aircraft Carriers & Large Deck Aviation Ships (IMAJABAC), Military Aircraft Platforms (Fixed-Wing) (IMABAMAA)

Keywords

• Naval defence systems
• Military communications equipment
• Electronic warfare systems
• Aerospace manufacturing
• Defence engineering services

Headquarters

HQ city

Gosport

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Defence Programme Contracts: STS Defence generates revenue through direct contracts with the UK Ministry of Defence for the design, manufacture, and integration of mission-critical communications, electronics, and instrumentation systems for naval and air defence platforms.
2. Through-life Support Services: Ongoing support and maintenance services for equipment and systems delivered to customers, providing capability through-life.
3. Training and Education Services: Training services for civil and military nuclear engineers and other defence personnel.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

STS Defence designs, manufactures, and integrates mission-critical communications masts, cockpit panels, operator consoles, equipment racks, water-cooled cabinets, and UHF satellite communications systems for Royal Navy warships (Type 26, Type 45, Queen Elizabeth Class) and Typhoon fighter aircraft. The company also provides R&D, design, manufacture, systems integration, through-life support, and training services covering the full product lifecycle for naval and air defence platforms.

Product overview

STS Defence is a UK-based defense contractor and part of the Cicor Group, specializing in mission-critical secure communications & networks, electronic warfare & control, and instrumentation systems for Naval and Air Defence markets. The company's product portfolio centers on configurable Communications Masts for Royal Navy warships (Type 45, Type 26), Typhoon Cockpit Panels and instrument panels, Consoles and Equipment Racks for naval vessels including Queen Elizabeth Class carriers, Water-Cooled Cabinets for maritime IT hardware, and UHF Satellite Communications systems. These hardware products are complemented by integrated service offerings including Research and Technology development, Design and Manufacture capabilities, and Integration and Support services for through-life capability management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Communications Masts Configurable communications masts designed for Royal Navy warships including Type 45 and Type 26 frigates, providing continuous 360° coverage and frequency isolation to manage electromagnetic interference.
• Typhoon Cockpit Panels Wiring looms and instrument panels for the Typhoon fighter aircraft, designed and manufactured to aerospace quality standards (AS9100D).
• Consoles and Equipment Racks Operator consoles, computer/electronic equipment racks, and interface units for Royal Navy warships including Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, with 38U cabinets configured with power supplies, patch panels, and fibre-optic routing.
• Water-Cooled Cabinets Specialized water-cooled cabinets providing thermal management for power-hungry IT hardware deployed on Royal Navy vessels, addressing thermal management challenges at sea.
• UHF Satellite Communications Systems Mission-critical UHF satellite communications systems for the Royal Navy, deliverable and supportable anywhere in the world.
• Research and Technology Services R&D services including software algorithm development for defence applications, such as sensor health monitoring algorithms developed and demonstrated for the Submarine Delivery Agency.
• Design and Manufacture Services End-to-end design and manufacturing services for defence electronics, including box build, wiring looms, and instrumentation systems manufactured to AS9100D and NADCAP standards.
• Integration and Support Services Systems integration and through-life support services providing capability support and maintenance for mission-critical defence platforms.
• Training and Education Services Learning and development programmes including training the next generation of civil and military nuclear engineers and other defence personnel.

Quantifiable outcome

• Lloyd's accreditation achieved for Type 26 communications mast RF performance and structural characteristics
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Elbit Systems UK: UK arm of Israel's Elbit Systems, active in EW, C4I and naval combat systems for the Royal Navy. Provides an international benchmark for defence electronics competitors active in the same customer space as STS.
• BAE Systems: Largest UK defence prime; builds Type 45 and Type 26 frigates and integrates major combat systems. Operates upstream of STS as a prime contractor for masts and electronics but is the dominant benchmark for UK naval sector economics.
• Thales UK: UK arm of Thales, a global naval electronics and communications prime supplying sonar, comms and EW systems to the Royal Navy. Significantly larger, but operates in the same Type 45/Type 26 supply chain as STS.
• Babcock International: UK-listed support services prime for the Royal Navy, including QEC-class carrier through-life support. Active STS subcontractor partner and a natural channel partner for naval sustainment revenues.
• QinetiQ: UK-listed defence technology and testing group operating broadly across naval, aerospace and secure communications. Larger and more diversified than STS but competes for similar MoD engineering services and EW contracts.
• Leonardo UK: UK subsidiary of the Italian defence group providing electronics, EW and sensors across Typhoon, helicopter and naval platforms. Comparable involvement in Typhoon cockpit/avionics adjacent space and listed as a key STS prime-contractor partner.

Direct peers

• Ultra Electronics: UK-headquartered specialist in mission-critical defence electronics for naval, sonar, and EW applications. Highly comparable product mix and Royal Navy customer overlap, now private under Bain Capital.
• Chemring Group: UK mid-cap defence company covering electronic warfare, sensors and countermeasures with significant naval and aerospace exposure. Similar size bracket and UK defence sub-contractor positioning.
• Cohort plc: UK-listed mid-cap defence group operating subsidiaries (SEA, MCL, EID, Chess Dynamics) in mission-critical naval communications, EW and sensors. Closest like-for-like peer by size, customer base (UK MoD/Royal Navy), and through-life support model.

Emerging players

• Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group: Privately held UK aerospace and defence engineering business with strong systems integration and modification heritage. Comparable size and AS9100-graded engineering culture, though heavier on airframe MRO than naval comms.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/stsdefence

Compliance11 records

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 STS Defence