Sigma Defense acquires Aries Defense to boost tactical edge capabilities
Gettyimages.com/ Milan_Jovic
By
Nick Wakeman
The transaction adds video and sensor integration expertise, while also marking Sigma’s third CJADC2-related acquisition in the past two years.
Sigma Defense Systems has moved to strengthen its hand in the command-and-control world by acquiring a company that specializes in tactical video and sensor integration work.
The acquisition of Aries Defense brings to Sigma more capabilities at the tactical edge, particularly where connectivity is limited.
Aries Defense focuses on capturing and distributing UAV and unattended sensor data to improve real-time situational awareness.
Sigma Defense will integrate Aries’ ISR products with its Olympus environment, the companies said Monday. Olympus is a platform for software development, orchestration and multi-domain data fusion.
“With the acquisition of Aries Defense, we are furthering Sigma Defense’s mission to deliver resilient, software-defined CJADC2 capabilities to the warfighter,” said Matt Jones, CEO of Sigma Defense.
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CJADC2 is the acronym for Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control, the military's initiative to connect sensors and weapons systems and all warfighting domains in an integrated network.
Aries Defense designed its products to help connect cameras, drones and unattended sensors into secure tactical networks. The Marine Corps has fielded several of the products.
With Aries Defense in its fold, Sigma sees itself as being able to integrate more ISR capabilities into its CJADC2 offering. Sigma also is looking at more scalable UAV and sensor operations, improved situational awareness in locations with little to no connectivity, and areas where adversaries can deny connections or places that operators want to be unseen.
This is Sigma Defense’s third acquisition in the last two years related to CJADC2. In February 2024, Sigma acquired Juno Technologies to add IT engineering and systems integration capabilities. In April 2024, Sigma closed the purchase of EWA to add tools that collect and manage data on the electromagnetic spectrum.
Sigma Defense is owned by the private equity group Sagewind Capital.
DC Advisory was financial adviser and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP served as legal adviser to Aries Defense. Paul Weiss and Morrison Foerster were legal advisers for Sigma Defense.