Ultra Electronics

Ultra Electronics Holdings plc

Company type	subsidiary
Traded as	LSE: ULE FTSE 250 component
Industry	Defence, security, critical detection & control
Founded	1920
Headquarters	London, UK
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Tony Rice, Chairman Simon Pryce Chief Executive
Products	Underwater expendables Sonar sensors and systems Radar systems Signature management & power systems Communications Command, control & intelligence Cyber, Radio frequency Data and power management, Position sensing & control Stores ejection & management Sensors Instrumentation & control Automated ballistics identification
Revenue	£850.7 million (2021)[1]
Operating income	£105.9 million (2021)[1]
Net income	£66.9 million (2021)[1]
Number of employees	4,500 (2022)[2]
Parent	Advent International
Website	www.ultra.group

Ultra Electronics Holdings is a British defence and security company. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index until it was acquired by Cobham, which is itself owned by Advent International.^[3]

The company was originally founded as Edward E. Rosen & Co., a manufacturer of headphones and loudspeakers, in 1920. In 1925, a new company, known as Ultra Electric Ltd., was established. During 1930, the firm launched its first all-electric radio receiver; it produced numerous domestic radio receivers around this time. Ultra diversified into aviation during the Second World War, building fuselage elements and engine components. Relaunching itself into the civilian markets following the conflict, Ultra started producing television sets in 1953. In 1961, Ultra's consumer electronics interests became part of Thorn Electrical Industries.

During 1977, Ultra Electronics was bought by the Dowty Group and regained its independence via a management buyout in 1993. Into the twenty-first century, it has continued to be an active supplier to the aerospace sector; various companies, including Bombardier Aerospace and Airbus, have chosen to incorporate Ultra Electronics' noise reduction and vibration dampening products onto their aircraft. By 2005, Ultra Electronics was ranked as the 66th biggest aerospace company in the world. In August 2021, the British aerospace and defence company, Cobham, agreed to acquire Ultra Electronics in exchange for £2.6 billion.