Lockheed Martin [LMT] yesterday said it has acquired Chandler/May, Inc., a small firm that develops and supplies small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and ground control systems for UAS, in a deal that further bolsters the company’s offerings of UAS systems and related equipment.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, although Lockheed Martin said it would not be material to its operating results.
Chandler/May, which is based in Alabama, makes integrated command and control shelters and portable ground stations in support of the Army’s UAS programs and the company has been involved in the production of over 2,200 UAS, including Lockheed Martin’s own Desert Hawk Small UAS, and its own Small UAS, the Fury. The company’s customers include DoD, the Department of Homeland Security, and others within the government and intelligence communities.
“This acquisition expands our offerings in support of our customers’ increased emphasis on advanced unmanned systems for the C4ISR missions,” Bob Stevens, Lockheed Martin’s chairman and CEO, said in a statement. “This acquisition is consistent with our goal to maintain a portfolio of technologically advanced options that will generate value for both our customer and our shareholders.”
Chandler/May’s senior management will remain with the company. It has about 175 employees. Chandler/May will become part of Lockheed Martin’s Mission Systems & Sensors business, which is responsible for the Desert Hawk, and also has experience with the K-Max unmanned helicopter and aerostats used for persistent surveillance.