British defence and aerospace company Ultra Electronics Holdings has acquired Blue Sky Group, whose principal trading entity is Dascam Consulting, a defence consultancy in the Middle East.

British defence and aerospace company Ultra Electronics Holdings has acquired Blue Sky Group, whose principal trading entity is Dascam Consulting, a defence consultancy in the Middle East.

Ultra will pay an initial $19 million (£12 million) and further payments are expected if certain performance targets are met over the next three years.

The acquisition is the next stage in Ultra’s expansion plans and aims to give the company a foothold in the Middle East. Dascam Consulting provides customised consultancy and training services for the defence, security and government infrastructure markets in the region.

Douglas Caster, Ultra CEO, commented: “I am pleased to bring Dascam into the group as Ultra’s first acquisition in the region. It supports the group’s growth strategy by positioning Ultra in the Middle East. Dascam has a track record of winning business in the region and will provide Ultra with the ability to market on a wider scale its broad range of offerings and capabilities in this important and expanding marketplace.”

Blue Sky Group, which was established in 2001, employs 140 people in Abu Dhabi. It will operate as a stand-alone business within Ultra’s Aircraft & Vehicle Systems division.