Ultra Maritime

With a mission to keep countries safe in a rapidly evolving global threat environment, Ultra Maritime fosters technological innovation and economic growth for Canada’s security and sovereignty. The company has decades of expertise in sonar technology and continues to advance submarine detection capabilities – most recently through the development of autonomous systems supporting NATO operations and global naval forces.

“Ultra Maritime is a world-leader in anti-submarine warfare, delivering advanced solutions across airborne, surface and undersea platforms,” says John Gallagher, Vice-President and General Manager for Ultra Maritime’s Canadian line of business. He praises the company’s “exceptionally talented engineers whose deep knowledge in acoustics and hydrodynamics continues to drive cutting-edge innovation.”

“With a proud 70-year legacy, our commitment to investing in talent, expanding skillsets and modernizing our facility reflects a forward-looking strategy designed for scale and reliability. We’re proud to be a Canadian organization, proud to support the Royal Canadian Navy and global allied navies from our base in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.”

Proudly Atlantic Canadian

Ultra Maritime was founded in 1947, as Cossor (Canada) Ltd., then known as Hermes Electronics Ltd., and is now under Advent International’s portfolio, delivering undersea warfare systems, products and mission-specific tech solutions.

Three primary products are manufactured or integrated into ships in Dartmouth: sonobuoys, which are dropped from aircraft or ships to detect and localize submarines; hull-mounted sonar systems for close-range submarine tracking; and towed acoustic arrays which trail behind naval vessels with both active and passive sonar capabilities to identify torpedo threats.

“What makes Ultra Maritime Canada a towed array centre of excellence is that these globally deployed arrays are entirely developed and built in Canada,” said Gallagher. “This stems from a longstanding legacy of Canadian engineering and manufacturing excellence. Our sonobuoys, designed here in Canada, are uniquely miniaturized and remain the only ones of their kind available worldwide.”

ACOA’s Partnership

ACOA has provided project funding in the past, and more recently provided valuable insights into economic issues like tariffs, as well as advocacy efforts for current projects, he notes.

Ultra Maritime is currently under contract for an Underwater Warfare Suite Upgrade (UWSU) for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) Halifax-class frigates, as well as for a hull-mounted sonar and anti-torpedo system for the initial flight of RCN River-Class Destroyers (RCDs).

Five years ago, Ultra Maritime had 185 employees in Dartmouth, NS. Today, the firm now employs more than 250 people and is expecting to expand to close to 300 by the end of the year with the signing of major defence contracts, Gallagher continues.

This includes a recent $200 million contract with the Royal Netherlands Navy and the Belgian Navy, for a product to detect the quietest submarines and torpedo threats in the harshest of environments. The company is also working with Anduril Industries on an unmanned subsea sensing project and is currently developing the Mission Pod, a self-contained towed-array-in-a-box.

This project is supported by ACOA’s Aerospace, Defence and Marine Directorate (ADMD) team, which helps advocate for Atlantic Canadian firms on major defence procurement projects, and ensures Atlantic Canadian companies stay competitive and continue to thrive. ADMD plays a vital role in promoting the sector, fostering investments through the Industrial Technological Benefits (ITB) policy, and providing valuable regional insights, helping companies like Ultra Maritime succeed and make their mark on the global stage.