Formation and early activities During the 1920s and 1930s,
aerial refuelling of aircraft in mid-flight was performed only on an experimental basis, typically for attempts to set new flight endurance records. of Flight Refuelling Ltd Alan believed that practical in-flight refuelling techniques would revolutionise commercial airlines and enable new long distance air routes; however, development work later focused largely upon its military applications. During 1939, the company played a role in several non-stop crossings of the Atlantic performed by British airline
Imperial Airways; however, it would be the adoption of aerial refuelling by the
United States Air Force during the initial
post-war years that would perhaps most prominently highlight the technology's value. From 1948-9, it was contracted to carry liquid fuel as part of the
Berlin Airlift, in what would be known as the 'Liquid Lift'. The company developed the
'probe and drogue' method of air-to-air refuelling in 1949. The
Royal Air Force (RAF) would soon adopt the probe-and-drogue approach, as would various other international customers. Cobham's air-to-air refuelling system was perhaps most crucially used during the
Falklands War of 1982, being used to facilitate the long-distance sorties of the RAF's
Avro Vulcan bombers for
Operation Black Buck, successfully reaching and bombing the
Argentinian-held airfield at
Port Stanley on the islands. In early 2008, Cobham purchased
S-TEC Corporation, maker of general aviation autopilots, for $38 million; during February 2008, the company also bought the
sensor and
antenna systems division of
BAE Systems for $240 million. In June 2008, Cobham acquired
Sparta Inc., a US defence business, for $416 million (it was renamed
Cobham Analytic Solutions). In September 2008 Cobham completed the purchase of the
radio frequency components business of
M/A-COM for $425 million. In April 2009, Cobham agreed to purchase Argotek Inc., a provider of high-end
information assurance services to the
United States Intelligence Community, for $36 million. In June 2009, a Cobham –
Northrop Grumman 50–50 joint venture won the US Army's US$2.4 billion competition to supply Vehicular Intercom Systems. In October 2011, Cobham Analytic Solutions was sold for $350 million to the privately owned
Parsons Corporation. Then in June 2012, Cobham acquired Danish satellite communications company Thrane & Thrane A/S, making it the core of Cobham's new SATCOM
strategic business unit (SBU), to include SeaTel marine, TracStar land and Omnipless airborne SATCOM product lines. In May 2013, Cobham acquired antenna systems business, Axell Wireless. In July 2013, the company bought out FB Heliservices joint venture partner Bristow Helicopters. In April 2014, Cobham sold
Chelton Flight Systems and
S-TEC Corporation to Genesys Aerosystems. Then in May 2014, Cobham acquired wireless communications company,
Aeroflex Holding Corporation for $1.46 billion. In August 2016, David Lockwood was named CEO, replacing Bob Murphy. In July 2019, the company's board agreed to recommend a takeover offer of £4 billion from
American private equity firm Advent International. However, the bid was criticised by Cobham's largest shareholder, and the firm's chairman subsequently remarked that Cobham was seeking out alternative offers. In response, Advent issued several guarantees, seeking to mollify national security concerns ahead of pending approval of the deal by the British Government. The UK Conservative government approved the takeover in December 2019. The transaction was completed on 17 January 2020. The communications division was sold off in November 2020 to TransDigm Group Inc. for $965 million. After 18 months, Advent had already sold the bulk of Cobham’s operations to other buyers, leaving it with no UK manufacturing operations. On 1 June 2021, Eaton completed their acquisition of Cobham Mission Systems for $2.83 billion. In September 2020,
Draken International purchased Cobham Aviation Services based in
Bournemouth and
Teesside International Airport, and renamed it Draken Europe. Cobham's 15
Dassault Falcon 20 aircraft, were added to Draken's fleet. In July 2023, French multinational
Thales Group entered into a deal to acquire the aerospace communications business of Cobham for $1.1 billion, which it expects to complete during the first half of 2024. ==Operations==