Cobham Limited is continuing to divest of its assets with the news that it is selling the Special Missions business of Cobham Aviation Services Australia - Regional (Adelaide International) to US-headquartered defence IT specialist Leidos to be integrated into its Australian business, Leidos Australia, the parties announced.

The value of the transaction has not been disclosed. This comes a week after Regional Express Holdings, the parent of Rex - Regional Express (ZL, Wagga Wagga), announced it was acquiring Cobham’s Fly-In-Fly-Out (FIFO) operation for AUD48 million Australian Dollars (USD32.41 million), to expand its services further into Queensland and the Northern territory. The transaction, still subject to regulatory approval, will see Rex Freight and Charter Pty Ltd (RFC) acquiring 100% of National Jet Express Pty Ltd (NJE), the regional services arm of Cobham Aviation Services Australia.

The Leidos deal includes 14 modified Bombardier Aerospace Challenger CL-604 jets used for airborne border surveillance and search & rescue services to the Australian Federal Government. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, the parties said in a statement.

“The integration of Special Mission into Leidos Australia will expand the scope of our global airborne Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, diversify revenues, and open up new growth avenues,” commented Leidos Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Roger Krone.

Cobham Aviation Services Chairman Kim Gillis said the two companies had complementary operations in airborne ISR, integration expertise, and track records in mission-critical services to government and defence customers.

The Cobham’s Special Mission business operates:

  • one of the world’s largest outsourced civil maritime surveillance operations under contract with the Australian Border Force;
  • fixed-wing search-and-rescue missions over land and sea on behalf of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA); and
  • highly specialised mission aircrew training system.