Defence Composites

Name

Defence Composites

Legal name

Defence Composites

Website

https://defencecomposites.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Body Armour and Protective Equipment Manufacturing

NAICS

Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (3159), Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing (339113)

SIC

Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Safety & Law Enforcement Uniforms (CRAAALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Protective & Work Accessories Manufacturing (Safety Gloves/Hi-Vis Accessories) (IMAOAFAH), High-Visibility (Hi-Vis) Safety Apparel (CRAAALAE)

Keywords

• Body armour manufacturing
• Stab resistant vests
• Canine body armour
• Slash resistant clothing
• Protective PPE equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Rochdale

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Body Armour and Protective Equipment Sales: Primary revenue generated through the sale of body armour (stab vests, ballistic vests, canine body armour), protective clothing (slash-resistant garments, gloves, armguards), and safety curtains for shooting ranges. Products are manufactured to order with bespoke customisation options. Customers include government agencies, police forces, NHS trusts, private security firms, and healthcare/education providers.
2. Custom/Bespoke Product Manufacturing: Revenue generated from custom-designed, made-to-measure protective equipment solutions tailored to specific customer operational requirements. Includes bespoke sizing, colour options, custom features, and application-specific designs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Defence Composites designs, develops, manufactures and supplies body armour (concealable and overt stab/spike vests), canine body armour harnesses, slash-resistant protective clothing (armguards, neckguards, base layers, hoodies), tactical needle-resistant gloves, and shooting-range safety curtains. All products are made-to-order under one roof in the UK, certified to UK Home Office BAS/HOSDB 2017, CE/UKCA PPE Regulation 2016/425, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards. Customers include UK police forces, HM Prison Service, NHS trusts, private security firms, healthcare/special-education providers, and international security and conservation organisations.

Product overview

Defence Composites is a UK-based manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of protective equipment across three main product lines: Body Armour (stab vests, spike protection, multi-threat protection, ultra-covert carriers), Canine Body Armour (Tornado, TEMPEST, and Hurricane canine harnesses with various protection levels), and Protective Clothing (slash-resistant garments, armguards, neckguards, and gloves using Kozane Extreme fabric technology). The portfolio includes specific products like DC3003 Ultra Covert Carrier, DC9005 Hurricane Canine, DC1015 Hoodie, and DC-Glove Tactical Needle Resistant Gloves, all manufactured under one roof in Greater Manchester with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification, and certified to UK Home Office standards (BAS 2017/HOSDB 2017) and CE/UKCA PPE regulations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DC3001 Concealable Covert Stab Vest Concealable covert multi-threat body armour vest with 300D nylon outer material and YKK zip front opening, designed for covert wear under everyday clothing by security and law enforcement professionals.
• DC2001 Standard Overt Stab Vest with Zip Front Standard overt stab vest with zip front, Klick Fast docks for body-worn cameras and radio, and double Velcro low-profile shoulder straps, intended for police, security and frontline professionals.
• DC2002 Hi Viz Overt Stab Vest with Reflective Tape and Zip High-visibility overt body armour vest with reflective tape and zip front cover, suitable for NHS, emergency services and security personnel requiring visibility plus certified protection.
• DC2003 Two Tone Overt Stab Vest with Reflective Tape Two-tone overt stab vest with encapsulated reflective tape, 1000D nylon outer, spacer mesh ventilation and KR1/KR2/HG1+KR1+SP1 protection options, designed for police and security forces.
• DC2004 Low Profile Overt Stab Vest with Zip Front Low-profile overt vest with YKK front zip opening, side elastic straps and optional Outlast temperature-regulating lining or spacer mesh ventilation, for police, prison and security professionals.
• DC2005 Low Profile Overt Stab Vest with Side Fastening Low-profile overt stab vest with side fastening design, 100% nylon outer material and adjustable waist side straps, designed for security and frontline professionals.
• DC3002 Front Only Knife Resistant Vest Front-only knife resistant vest with KR1 5mm moulded polycarbonate panels, designed for mental health, special educational needs and care settings.
• DC3003 Ultra Covert Carrier Ultra-covert body armour carrier with ventilated mesh fabric and ergonomic design for covert operations, executive protection and everyday concealment under slim-fitting clothing.
• DC3004 Black Waistcoat Carrier Black waistcoat carrier with 1000D nylon outer, mock button front and internal waistband to secure protective panels, for covert wear by security professionals.
• DC3006 Tabard Stab Vest Tabard-style overt stab vest with hi-visibility tape, 300D nylon water-resistant outer and double-ended zip front for easy adjustment, designed for security and event staff.
• DC4002 Hi Viz Slash Resistant Utility Vest High-visibility slash-resistant utility vest with Kozane slash-resistant lining, designed for security and enforcement personnel needing certified slash protection with visibility.
• DC4004 Utility Carrier Utility carrier with ballistic-grade 1000D Cordura nylon, multiple utility pouches, D-rings and 3M Reflexite reflective tape, for tactical and security operations.
• DC6002 Rapid Response Armour Rapidly deployable overt front and back protection weighing 1.8kg, shielding spine, ribs and vital organs with an ultra-thin lightweight design for tactical response.
• DC9000 TORNADO Canine Body Armour Harness Day-to-day working canine harness with emphasis on protection, featuring ISC load-bearing buckle, Velcro top panel for camera mount and modular design for varied deployments, used by police, prison and security dog handlers.
• DC9003 TEMPEST Canine Vest Lightweight search and tracking canine vest with protective chest panel, ergonomic design with minimal snag points and Hi Viz orange or yellow nylon outer for visibility.
• DC9005 Hurricane Canine Harness Robust dynamic working canine harness with Outlast phase-change temperature regulation, ISC quick-release buckle, ergonomic design and modular protection options including NIJ Level II and IIIA ballistic.
• DC9010 Dog Handler Vest Dog handler vest designed for professionals working with canine units, providing protection and functionality for handler operations alongside their dogs.
• DC1001 Armguard Discreet protective sleeve for forearm protection against bites, scratches and grabs, designed for care staff and education professionals.
• DC1002 Full Long Armguard Full-length armguard protecting frontline professionals from injuries caused by biting, scratching and grabbing during challenging behaviour episodes.
• DC1003 Neckguard Snood High-performance protective garment defending against cutting and slashing injuries to the neck area, manufactured using Kozane Extreme cut-resistant textile.
• DC1004 Neckguard with Zip Robust cut and slash protection garment for neck and upper-collar region with secure front-zip design, constructed using Kozane Extreme fabric.
• DC1005 Protective Shorts Protective shorts offering slash and abrasion resistance across the lower body, half legs and groin area for security and healthcare professionals.
• DC1006 Protective Long Johns Protective long johns with slash and abrasion resistance across the full leg and groin area, slim-fit design for under-uniform wear.
• DC1007 Protective Leg Guard Full lower-leg protective guard against bites, scratches and grabs, with full zip and adjustable elasticated Velcro fastener.
• DC1008 Fleece Full Zip Jacket V1 Fleece full-zip protective jacket with Kozane lining for upper-body protection against biting, scratching and grabbing in mental health settings.
• DC1010 Crew Neck UBAC Top Slash-resistant underlayer for security personnel with breathable stretch-fabric torso and Kozane Extreme fabric on the arms, providing covert slash resistance under uniform.
• DC1011 Full Zip Protective Jacket Full-zip protective jacket for frontline professionals in mental health and special education environments, designed to resist biting, scratching and grabbing.
• DC1012 Crew Neck Protective Sweater Protective sweater with slash and abrasion resistance for law enforcement, security and special education settings, maintaining a professional appearance.
• DC1013 Quarter Zip Neck Top with T-Shirt Body Quarter-zip top with Kozane Extreme fabric in high-risk areas, providing slash and cut resistance for security and healthcare professionals.
• DC1014 Quarter Zip Neck Top Full Kozane Full-coverage protective top made from Kozane Extreme fabric offering maximum resistance to bites and scratches for demanding care environments.
• DC1015 Protective Hoodie Protective hoodie made from Kozane Extreme fabric offering casual styling with advanced cut, tear and puncture protection for healthcare and security settings.
• DC-Glove Tactical Needle Resistant Gloves Tactical gloves with Kevlar lining, needle-stick resistant material, Level 4 EN388:2016 puncture protection and touchscreen-compatible fingertips for security and law enforcement professionals.
• DC-R200 Backstop Safety Curtain Backstop safety curtain for indoor and outdoor air-rifle shooting ranges, suitable for Target Sprint events, rifle clubs, cadets and scout groups.

Quantifiable outcome

• Unlimited shelf life on polycarbonate panels compared to 5 years for conventional soft armour materials
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• UK Canine LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with UK Canine Ltd and Roger Utley (operational canine experience) to develop a range of canine body armour harnesses with multi-threat protection for Staffordshire Police. Collaboration leveraged UK Canine Ltd's operational expertise to create effective protection solutions for police dogs.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Broad incumbents

• Mehler Vario System: German manufacturer of modular protective equipment, ballistic protection, and load-carrying systems for military and police. Comparable through European protective equipment focus and certified body armour offerings, though at larger scale.
• Revision Military: North American provider of protective equipment including ballistic eyewear, soldier protection, and tactical gear. Overlaps in the broader soldier/personal protection category and competes for similar government procurement budgets.
• Point Blank Enterprises: US-headquartered global leader in body armour and protective solutions for military and law enforcement. Comparable product category but operates at significantly greater scale with broader ballistic portfolio and international defence relationships.
• BAE Systems: UK-headquartered global defence prime with significant body armour and soldier protection programmes. Tangential overlap through UK defence procurement channels and broader soldier modernization portfolios; competes for adjacent contracts but not a direct specialist peer.
• Safariland: Large US-based manufacturer of body armour, holsters, and tactical equipment for law enforcement and military. Overlaps in body armour and protective gear categories with significantly broader product range and global distribution.

Direct peers

• Morgan Advanced Materials: UK-headquartered advanced materials group with a dedicated body armour division (formerly Morgan Technical Ceramics/SBD) producing ceramic and composite ballistic protection. Comparable through UK manufacturing footprint and certified body armour portfolio for defence and security markets.
• NP Aerospace: UK-based manufacturer of body armour, ballistic helmets, and vehicle armour systems serving military, law enforcement, and security customers globally. Closest direct peer given shared UK base, body armour focus, and government/defence customer overlap.
• PPSS Group: UK-based manufacturer of cut-resistant and slash-resistant protective clothing for law enforcement, correctional, and security personnel. Highly comparable as a smaller UK specialist in protective clothing with similar customer profiles (police, prison, private security).
• Avon Protection: UK-listed (now private) provider of respiratory, ballistic, and body armour systems for military, law enforcement, and first responders. Comparable product category (ballistic/stab protection), UK manufacturing base, and overlap in police and military end markets.

Others

• DuPont: US-based material science company and producer of Kevlar aramid fibres widely used in soft body armour. Relevant as an upstream material supplier enabling the broader body armour industry rather than a direct competitor to bespoke armour manufacturers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DefenceComp
• Facebookfacebook.com/defencecomposites
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/65029579

Compliance11 records

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 Defence Composites