BAE Systems has acquired UK-based company Kirintec, known for its expertise in cyber and electromagnetic activities (CEMA), to strengthen its electronic warfare and force protection capabilities.
The acquisition, announced on 3 September 2024, is part of BAE Systems’ strategy to expand its portfolio in response to increasing demand for advanced electronic warfare solutions.
Kirintec specialises in counter-Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), counter-Uncrewed Air Systems (UAS), and electronic warfare technologies. These systems are designed to protect military platforms and personnel from electromagnetic and cyber threats.
According to the announcement, the company’s open architecture technology enables integration across various military platforms and domains, which aligns with BAE Systems’ focus on multi-domain operations.
Andrea Thompson, Group Managing Director of BAE Systems’ Digital Intelligence business, commented on the acquisition, saying, “The nature of warfare is changing for our military customers and adversaries are increasingly using offensive and defensive cyber and electronic warfare capabilities, so Kirintec is a welcome addition to our business. Together, our complementary capabilities will help our armed forces secure electromagnetic spectrum dominance and conduct operations with a reduced risk of casualties or operational setbacks.”
The acquisition, they say, will allow Kirintec to leverage BAE Systems’ global reach and resources, supporting growth and further innovation in the CEMA field. Nick Watts, CEO of Kirintec, expressed his optimism about the partnership, stating, “The opportunity for CEMA expansion is significant amidst today’s increasingly digitally-driven battlespace. In order to address the demand and grow to the level our customers require, we are delighted to join BAE Systems and combine our heritage in CEMA with BAE Systems’ global pedigree in delivering multi-domain solutions.”
Kirintec’s approximately 50 employees will continue to operate from their Herefordshire site.
Nice to see BAE investing back in EW capability in the UK, I always thought it was unfortunate it offloaded much of its UK EW business to Leonardo and bought up so much in the USA.
Remains to be seen if they’ll just offload all the IP to the US and kill the UK native stuff, like they did with alvis-vickers.
Part of me really dislikes all these large firms gobbling up everything, it kills competition.
Companies this big answer to shareholders, and when you have 100+ different business divisions, if one isn’t profitable you just kill it and move on. When you’re an EW firm doing nothing but EW you have a significant interest in investing and keeping that going.
It is an unfortunate mindset.
When times is right and a business unit needs investment it tends to get chopped at BigCo.
People like Lord Winestock did actually build very diversified conglomerates, usually by tyrannical management styles.
Lord Winestock knew what he was doing with MoD where ,like in Kingsland British Empire titles and nobility nothing can be done without authoritarian governments or policies which these AI CHAT BOTS of CIA Burns and SIS Moore called ‘ extremism ‘,’ national socialist doctrine ‘ ,’ fashismus’ Mussolini style and even Trump’s illegally claiming his right to become president of US with simply vowing to prosecute and hang the Juden und commissar goyms mafia chopping the budgets of US ,UK and loosing one war after another.
True, but it’s almost impossible to do projects now a days without massive players. I’m not a massive fan of the French and Italian government controlled entities owning all our Crown Jewels in sensors and EW capabilities.
That’s trebled the price then