Lockheed Martin is set to acquire Ultra Maritime from private equity firm Advent for $3.45 billion. Ultra Maritime specializes in anti-submarine warfare and undersea defense technologies, and this acquisition will bolster Lockheed's Rotary and Mission Systems division, which reported $17.3 billion in revenue in 2025. The deal is expected to enhance Lockheed's naval technologies segment with Ultra Maritime's international presence and exportable anti-submarine warfare technologies, including naval sonar sensing systems. Ultra Maritime also recently secured a development contract from the U.S. Navy for an underwater acoustic decoy and has partnerships with Anduril Industries and General Atomics for autonomous ocean sensing and unmanned anti-submarine warfare capabilities, respectively.
Simultaneously, French defense giant Thales has agreed to acquire a 35.51% stake in Exail Technologies from the Gorgé family, valuing the high-tech group at approximately €3.9 billion (around $4.2 billion). This is the initial step towards a full takeover, with full ownership targeted for early 2028. Thales aims to significantly expand its underwater warfare and autonomous maritime systems portfolio by integrating Exail's expertise in naval drones and navigation technologies, leveraging their strengths in unmanned mine countermeasures and maritime drone systems. The combined entity will focus on innovation in high-demand areas like unmanned anti-submarine warfare, utilizing artificial intelligence and autonomy.
These acquisitions, totaling nearly $8 billion, reflect a growing trend of defense companies investing in military technology amidst increased global defense spending. The deals are driven by sustained conflicts in regions like Ukraine and the Middle East, leading to higher demand for weapons and military capabilities. Both acquisitions are subject to regulatory approvals, with Ultra Maritime's deal potentially facing scrutiny due to its UK origins and its role as a supplier to the Royal Navy. The strategic logic for both Lockheed Martin and Thales is to deepen their capabilities in underwater warfare at a time when the Pentagon and NATO allies are prioritizing undersea domain awareness.
