Boosting its capabilities around unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems, Lockheed Martin [LMT] last month acquired CDL Systems Ltd., which develops and licenses software for vehicle control stations.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed. CDL, which is based in Canada and has offices in Alabama, has about 70 employees.
CDL has developed an open, standards-based, commercial-off-the-shelf software product that is used in a number of ground control stations to control UAV platforms used by the Army. The company’s products have more than one million hours of operational use.
CDL’s software was developed in accordance with the STANAG 4586 NATO standard. The technology is new for Lockheed Martin.
Lockheed Martin said that CDL’s software solution provides it with “significant in-theater experience. CDL will become part of Lockheed Martin’s Mission Systems and Training business and will be integrated with the acquisitions made in 2012 of Chandler/May and Procerus Technologies. Chandler/May develops and supplies small UAVs and related ground control systems while Procerus develops and produces avionics systems for micro UAVs.
CDL’s senior management, with the exception of its chief technology officer, who is retiring, will remain with the company.
Houlihan Lokey served as CDL’s financial adviser on the deal.