Lockheed Martin on Monday said it has agreed to acquire naval defense-tech firm Ultra Maritime for $3.45 billion from private equity firm Advent International.
Why it matters:The Strait of Hormuz situation has escalated demand for underseas autonomous weapons, both offensive and defensive.
Zoom in:Braintree, Massachusetts-based Ultra Maritime says it provides "undersea warfare and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities for allied naval forces."
Elsewhere:Thales today agreed to buy Exail Technologies, a French maker of submarine drones, for €3.9 billion.
The bottom line:Aerial drones had — and are still having — a moment. Surface and subsurface seem to be next, after years of U.S. Navy leadership banging the hybrid-fleet drum. Defense companies big and small are jockeying for position.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to show that the company is Ultra Maritime (not Ultra Marine).
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