PMES I LIMITED

What PMES I LIMITED does

PMES I LIMITED is a UK-domiciled, private defense manufacturing entity founded in 2022, headquartered in Rugeley, with a workforce in the 251-500 band. The company focuses on maritime mission systems, naval power systems, and submarine control technologies, serving what is structurally a government defense customer base in the UK and allied naval markets. These are long-lifecycle, mission-critical products embedded into submarine and surface-ship platform programs, where qualification, certification, and platform integration create high barriers to entry and incumbent protection.

The entity operates within the broader Cobham Ultra group, branded as "Mission Critical Systems," which is organized into four semi-autonomous business units: Maritime, Intelligence & Communications, Precision Control Systems, and C16 Ventures. Each unit runs its own dedicated website (umaritime.com, ultra-ic.com, ultra-pcs.com, c16ventures.com), reflecting a federated go-to-market structure that allows PMES I LIMITED's maritime franchise to be positioned alongside adjacent defense capabilities. The group maintains consolidated history, philanthropy, and contact infrastructure at cobhamultra.com, drawing on the combined heritage of Cobham and Ultra Electronics.

The business model is defense procurement-driven: revenue is generated through long-cycle contracts with navies and shipbuilding primes, with the C16 Ventures arm acting as a corporate venture and innovation channel for strategic adjacencies. Talent is developed internally through the Cobham-Ultra Scholarship Programme and the Athena Pathway initiative, indicating a deliberate pipeline strategy. No pricing model, revenue figures, contract values, or named customer relationships are disclosed in the available source material.

Name

PMES I LIMITED

Legal name

CobhamUltra

Website

https://ultra-electronics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

PMES I LIMITED is a UK-based private defense manufacturer founded in 2022, specializing in maritime mission systems, naval power systems, and submarine control technologies for government defense customers. It operates within the Cobham Ultra group alongside Intelligence & Communications, Precision Control Systems, and C16 Ventures business units.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defense Systems Manufacturing

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

General Cargo & Multipurpose Vessel (MPV) Shipbuilding (IMAJAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Power Management ICs (PMICs) (HDAHAIAA)

Keywords

• Defense manufacturing
• Maritime mission systems
• Naval power systems
• Submarine control systems
• Precision control systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Rugeley

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations

Core offering

PMES I LIMITED (doing business as Cobham Ultra) is a defense manufacturer organized into semi-autonomous business units that develop and deliver maritime mission systems, naval power systems, submarine control technologies, intelligence and communications systems, and precision control solutions for mission-critical defense applications. The company operates from Rugeley, United Kingdom, with 251-500 employees and was founded in 2022.

Product overview

Cobham Ultra operates as a Mission Critical Systems company organized into multiple business units: Maritime, Intelligence & Communications, Precision Control Systems, and C16 Ventures. These business units operate as semi-autonomous divisions, each with its own website and focus area, collectively providing mission-critical systems solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cobham Ultra: Mission Critical Systems - company parent brand
• Maritime
• Intelligence & Communications
• Precision Control Systems
• C16 Ventures

Products and services

• Maritime Mission Systems

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• L3Harris Technologies: US-headquartered defence electronics prime covering communications, maritime power, undersea systems, and integrated mission solutions. Comparable as a larger incumbent competing for naval comms, power, and control content across allied navies.
• Thales Group: French defence electronics major with a strong naval and underwater systems portfolio (sonar, combat management, communications). Competes head-to-head with Cobham Ultra's Maritime and Intelligence & Communications units for submarine and surface-ship electronics programmes.
• Leonardo S.p.A. Italian defence electronics and naval systems integrator with combat-system, communications, and undersea offerings. Closely comparable to Cobham Ultra in mission-critical naval electronics, particularly in the European and export naval market.
• BAE Systems: UK-headquartered global defence prime with a substantial naval ships and combat-systems business (including submarine programmes). Directly comparable as a much larger incumbent competing for the same UK and allied naval mission-systems contracts that Cobham Ultra targets.
• Saab AB: Swedish defence prime covering naval combat systems (e.g., 9LV), submarines, and undersea sensors. Comparable as an integrated naval mission-systems competitor with overlapping surface-ship and submarine electronics content.

Direct peers

• Kongsberg Gruppen: Norwegian defence and maritime technology group with strong naval combat-systems, sonar, and underwater products. Closely comparable as a mid-cap specialist competing for the same European and export naval mission-systems programmes as Cobham Ultra.
• Elbit Systems: Israeli-listed defence electronics specialist across naval, undersea, comms, and EW. Comparable mid-size specialist that competes for similar mission-critical naval electronics slots and often partners or primes allied-navy programmes.
• Babcock International: UK-headquartered defence and naval support specialist with deep involvement in submarine support, naval engineering, and through-life support. Directly comparable as a UK peer operating in adjacent naval mission-systems and submarine support work.
• Hensoldt: German-listed defence electronics specialist in sensors, radar, electronic warfare, and naval/avionics mission systems. Closely comparable mid-cap specialist that competes for the same sensor/comms/mission-system slots that Cobham Ultra's Maritime and I&C units target.
• Ultra Maritime (legacy Ultra Electronics maritime unit): Legacy Ultra Electronics maritime business that is itself one of the four business units listed under PMES I LIMITED / Cobham Ultra. Included for completeness as the closest direct match in the same product category (maritime mission systems, sonar, torpedo defence).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 PMES I LIMITED