Defense contractor Lockheed Martin agreed to acquire Ultra Maritime Solutions from a private-equity group, Advent International, in a $3.45-billion bid to expand its undersea and anti-submarine warfare portfolio. Ultra Maritime’s offerings include sonar technologies, sonobuoys, torpedo defense systems, radar solutions, and autonomous maritime sensing platforms.
In addition to supplying the U.S. Navy, Ultra Maritime supplies the navies of Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada.
The purchase is an all-cash transaction, with no closing date announced as yet.
Ultra Maritime will be organized as part of Lockheed Martin's Rotary and Mission Systems business.
"Undersea superiority belongs to those who move fastest and work together best," stated Stephanie C. Hill, president of Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems. "By joining forces with Ultra Maritime, we're accelerating our commitment to deliver the most advanced undersea and anti-submarine warfare capabilities to our U.S. and allied partners across the globe."
Military experts identify undersea warfare as one of the fastest-developing segments of defense spending.
Estimated U.S. defense spending on anti-submarine warfare systems - including aircraft (like the P-8A Poseidon), lightweight torpedoes, ship- and submarine-mounted sonar, fixed undersea surveillance system, towed-array sonar, unmanned ASW systems, as well as R&D and operations - was $8 billion to $15 billion for 2025.
Lockheed already produces a range of naval warfare technologies, including the Aegis Combat System, naval combat management systems, integrated sensors, and anti-submarine-capable helicopters.
