SEA Wins Make UK Manufacturing Innovation Award For Ground-Breaking Defence Technology

Leading defence and security systems specialist SEA has been awarded a 2024 Regional Make UK Manufacturing Innovation Award for its development of the pioneering Trainable Decoy Launcher, Ancilia.

The Make UK Manufacturing Awards celebrates businesses that drive transformative change and deliver essential solutions.

Ancilia is SEA’s innovative trainable decoy launcher, representing a step-change in countermeasures technology to respond swiftly to evolving missile threats. Unlike traditional systems, Ancilia’s agile launch capability enables rapid, multi-decoy deployment within a critical 10-15 second window, providing essential protection for naval vessels under attack. Compact and modular, it can be quickly installed across various platforms, offering navies adaptable, rapid-response defence.

Richard Flitton, Managing Director of SEA, commented, “The recognition from Make UK is a proud moment for SEA and recognises our team’s commitment to excellence and innovation. Ancilia represents a leap forward in maritime defence technology and demonstrates our dedication to addressing complex security needs in a rapidly changing landscape. We are thrilled to bring this unique capability to the UK Royal Navy and are excited by its potential on the global stage.”

Launched at the DSEI 2023 exhibition after two years in development, Ancilia was developed by an expert team within SEA’s Ship & Fleet Protection portfolio. Drawing on SEA’s expertise in trainable launcher systems, Ancilia provides next-level defence capability without requiring vessel movement, representing a significant advancement in countermeasure technology.

Ancilia is now a trademarked product, with its impact underscored by a £135 million contract with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), awarded in March 2024 as part of the Electronic Warfare Countermeasures Increment 1A (EWCM 1A), to upgrade surface ship electronic surveillance and countermeasures capabilities over the next 20 years. This contract is the largest to date for SEA and parent company Cohort plc, with significant  export opportunities predicted over the next five years.

With this success, SEA has expanded its Barnstaple production facilities, made 40+ internal promotions and hired over 100 new staff across the South West. Ancilia, now trademarked, represents a strategic leap in SEA’s portfolio, underscoring its commitment to pioneering naval defence technologies.