Manufacturing News
November 2, 2026
November 2, 2026 · Whitley County · Story 2 of 5
Lockheed Martin Completes $3.4B Ultra Maritime Acquisition, Adds Columbia City Sonobuoy Plant
Lockheed Martin completed its $3.4 billion acquisition of Ultra Maritime on November 2, giving the defense giant its first Indiana facility: the Columbia City plant that manufactures sonobuoys used to detect submarines. Senior Vice President Mark Kenny told the Northeast Indiana Defense Summit in Fort Wayne that production will continue as is while Lockheed expands into unmanned maritime systems.
Ultra Maritime holds the sole-source low-rate production contract for the Navy's next-generation AN/SSQ-125B sonobuoy, the only active sonobuoy of its type in service. That gives Lockheed a near-monopoly on the Navy's most advanced undersea sensor, built alongside the P-8 Poseidon sensor architecture those sonobuoys plug into. The Department of Justice previously blocked a full merger between Ultra and rival Sparton on monopoly grounds. This acquisition effectively reassembles what regulators once kept apart, and Sparton's owner, Elbit Systems, is likely to challenge that concentration in future Navy competitions.
- Impact
- Ultra Maritime holds the sole-source LRIP contract for the next-generation AN/SSQ-125B sonobuoy, described as the only active sonobuoy of its type in service, giving Lockheed a near-monopoly on the Navy's most advanced undersea sensor just as it already builds the P-8 Poseidon sensor integration architecture those sonobuoys deploy on. The DOJ previously blocked a full Ultra-Sparton merger on monopoly grounds; this acquisition effectively consolidates what regulators once kept split, a vertical-integration dynamic Sparton's owner, Elbit Systems, will likely challenge in future Navy competitions.
- Watch
- The Navy's full-rate production decision on the AN/SSQ-125B, expected in the 2027-2028 window, which will determine actual hiring scale at Columbia City.
- For the huddle
Are we positioned to serve as a second-source or overflow supplier if Lockheed's sole-source concentration at Columbia City draws Navy or congressional scrutiny over single-point-of-failure risk?
The Navy's full-rate production decision on the AN/SSQ-125B is expected in 2027-2028, and any single-point-of-failure concern raised before then is the window to position as backup capacity.
Sources
- Lockheed Martin completes $3.4B acquisition of maritime defense company with Indiana presence · 21alivenews.com
Earlier coverage
From the brief, November 2, 2026
- AtkinsRéalis, Indiana and Hoosier Energy Sign MOU to Study 6 GW CANDU Nuclear Campus
- Lockheed Martin Completes $3.4B Ultra Maritime Acquisition, Adds Columbia City Sonobuoy Plant
- Indiana Tech Workforce Hits 124,098 as AI Demand Spills Into Manufacturing
- Studebaker Museum's 'Motor City, Indiana' Exhibit Sits Two Miles From a Stalled Samsung SDI Battery Plant
- Amazon's $100M Greenwood Plant Brings Amazon Greenwood Manufacturing Jobs at Nearly $100,000
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