Fortune 500 science and technology company Leidos has entered into a definitive agreement with Cobham to acquire Cobham Aviation Services Australia's special mission business which provides airborne border surveillance and search and rescue services to the Australian Federal Government. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.

“Cobham's special mission team conducts essential operations that protect Australia's borders, support law enforcement and environmental protection and save lives,” says Leidos chairman and ceo Roger Krone. “The integration of special missions into Leidos Australia will expand the scope of our global airborne ISR capabilities, diversify revenues and open up new growth avenues.”

“I have the greatest respect and admiration for Cobham's special mission team and their performance in service to the government,” says Leidos Australia chief executive Paul Chase. “The addition of the special mission business will bring new, expansive services to our offerings across Australia. I look forward to working with this exceptional team.”

“This is a perfect match,” adds Cobham Aviation Services chairman Kim Gillis. “Leidos has remarkably complementary operations to Cobham Special Mission in airborne ISR, as well as deep platform integration expertise, and both organisations uphold exceptional track records of delivering mission critical services to government and defence customers.”

“I'd like to recognise and thank all of the special mission team for their continued dedication and commitment to delivering operational outcomes for our customers,” notes managing director of special mission James Woodhams. “I'm really excited about what the future holds for the team as part of Leidos.”

Cobham Special Mission owns and operates 14 modified aircraft to deliver critical services across Australia. It conducts one of the world's largest outsourced civil maritime surveillance operations under contract with the Australian Border Force, patrolling Australia's 8.2 million square kilometre Exclusive Economic Zone, and it provides fixed wing SAR response capability over land and sea on behalf of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority utilising a fleet of four Challenger 604 jet aircraft. It also operates a highly specialised mission aircrew training system for more than 30 mission aircrew per year.