Lockheed Martin to buy Ultra Maritime for $3.45 billion

Defense giant Lockheed Martin announced Monday it will acquire naval defense company Ultra Maritime for $3.45 billion, a move expected to significantly bolster its capabilities amid a global surge in demand for military technology.

The acquisition, made from private equity firm Advent, will see Ultra Maritime integrated into Lockheed's rotary and mission systems division. This division reported $17.3 billion in revenue in 2025 and employs 35,000 people worldwide. The deal underscores the growing global appetite for advanced weaponry and military systems, fueled by sustained conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as substantial defense budget requests.

Ultra Maritime brings specialized expertise in anti-submarine warfare and undersea defense technologies. It is part of Cobham Ultra, formed after Advent acquired British aerospace company Cobham in 2020 and later merged it with Ultra Electronics. Lockheed highlighted Ultra Maritime's international presence and its portfolio of exportable anti-submarine warfare technologies, including naval sonar sensing systems, as key complements to its existing offerings.

Earlier in 2026, Ultra Maritime secured a development contract from the U.S. Navy for an underwater acoustic decoy designed to protect naval assets from torpedoes. The company also announced partnerships in 2025 with Anduril Industries for autonomous ocean sensing and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems for unmanned airborne anti-submarine warfare capabilities, signaling its ongoing innovation in the defense sector.