Major supplier to Royal Navy set for £2.6BN takeover by US-owned firm

Ultra Electronics Group, a British company serving the defence, security, critical detection and control markets, will be bought by Cobham, owned by the US investment firm Advent. The US-owned firm said the combined company would play a “mission-critical” role in defence and security for the “five eyes” network of intelligence allies – the UK, US, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

Ultra undertakes highly sensitive work providing advanced submarine-hunting sonar, and supplying military programmes including Typhoon fighter jets.

The UK-listed group employs more than 4,600 people across the globe, including about 1,700 in the UK.

Cobham also revealed however Ultra’s energy and forensics divisions – possibly seen as not being part of its core aerospace and defence focused work – could be sold.

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