“We Are a British Company but Our Business is Very International” – Interview with Andrew Thomis, CEO of Cohort Group

Andrew Thomis, CEO of the UK-listed Cohort Group, spoke at DSEI Japan about the company’s international defence technologies and growing focus on the Asia-Pacific region. With seven companies across Europe and Australia, Cohort supplies advanced systems to navies including the Royal Navy and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. Thomis highlighted Japan’s rising defence spending amid regional tensions and the group’s efforts to expand its presence with innovations in satellite communications, missile defence, and counter-drone systems.

Daily News: Could you briefly describe the Cohort Group?

Andrew Thomis: We’re a multi-business group of seven medium-sized companies, listed on the Stock Exchange in the United Kingdom. So, we’re a British company, but our business is very international.

Our operating model gives our businesses a lot of independence, so they can make decisions quickly, but it also gives them the full strength of the group so our customers know we will deliver.

We have four companies based in the UK, one in Portugal, one in Germany, and one in Australia.

Asia-Pacific is a very important region for us. Japan, for instance, has wisely moved to increase its defense spending—by 9.5% just this year, if I recall correctly—and it is expected to continue increasing that until it reaches 2% of GDP.

That’s understandable given the regional context. To the north, China is acting very aggressively in the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea, and across Southeast Asia. The Chinese Navy has made multiple incursions into Japanese waters, particularly around the Senkaku Islands. Japan clearly feels that pressure and understands the need to build resilience.

There’s also the threat from North Korea, and of course Russia isn’t far away either. Russia and China are coming closer together, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has demonstrated its willingness to act extremely aggressively. So, we’re looking at a very complex security environment across this region.

The kind of innovative technology we’re offering will be helpful for Japan and other countries in the region as they seek to project strength and deter threats on land, in the air or at sea. That’s why this market is important to us, and that’s why we’re here at DSEI Japan.

Daily News: Some of your products are already in service with the Royal Navy?

Thomis: Yes, many of our products are in use with the Royal Navy in the UK. And some are already in use with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force as well.

For example, we supply special-purpose sonars for Japanese submarines. We also provide satellite communication terminals for Japanese surface vessels. So, we already have a good relationship with the Japanese Self-Defense Forces. The reason for being here at DSEI is to build on that relationship, strengthen it, and talk with other industry partners and potential customers in the region.

Daily News: Let’s talk about some of the innovations being showcased here. Could you give us an overview?

Thomis: Of course. Our business EM Solutions is an Australian company based in Brisbane. They provide what we believe are among the best satellite communications terminals in the world for naval vessels. This technology is critical for blue-water navies.

These days, the ability to transmit digital data reliably at high speed is essential for naval operations—especially when ships are operating thousands of miles from their home bases. It's also becoming increasingly important because of the growing use of uncrewed surface vessels, which both the Royal Navy and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force are exploring. These vessels allow navies to operate in high-risk areas without putting crew at risk, and they also help address recruitment challenges by doing more with fewer people.

To control and communicate with these vessels over long distances, you need highly reliable communications systems. That’s what EM Solutions provides. Their terminals include sophisticated satellite dishes—similar in concept to a satellite TV dish, but far more advanced. These are multi-band systems capable of operating on legacy X-band (used by many militaries with geostationary satellites) and also newer Ka-band systems, which are often used with low-earth-orbit (LEO) and medium-earth-orbit (MEO) satellites.

The system’s tracking capabilities are especially important. Even though satellites move relatively slowly across the sky, the ship itself moves a great deal in high seas. These satellite dishes are stabilised to maintain a precise lock on the satellite even in rough conditions.

That’s why EM Solutions’ terminals have been chosen not only by the Royal Australian Navy, but also by many navies in Europe—and now, by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. So far, only a small number have been delivered to Japan, but we’re having good discussions about expanding that.

Daily News: So the challenge lies in providing high-speed connectivity and robust satellite tracking on moving ships?

Thomis: Exactly. EM Solutions is addressing that challenge very effectively.

Another very important offering is Ancilia, a defense system for surface ships provided by our company SEA. It has been chosen by the Royal Navy to help protect its surface fleet from hypersonic missile threats. We are currently in advanced discussions with other navies about this system, and we’re hopeful that the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force will also consider it.

Chess (Chess Dynamics), another of our companies, supplies electro-optical and radar tracking systems for both ships and land vehicles. These systems are particularly important for countering drone threats. For instance, Chess’s technology is integrated into Rheinmetall’s counter-drone weapons systems.

Many counter-drone systems rely on radio frequency interference, but using a mid-calibre cannon with smart ammunition, directed by an accurate optical targeting system, is a rapid and permanent solution. Chess provides the technology that enables these weapons to engage drones accurately.

Another of our companies, MASS, provides an electronic warfare and cyber database called THURBON. That’s in use with the UK’s armed forces and enables its users to turn intercepted signals into usable intelligence. They also provide countermeasures to protect ships and aircraft, and provide electronic warfare training.

I mentioned our business ELAC (ELAC SONAR) which provides some of the world’s most advanced sonar systems. And our business EID provides the communications systems fitted to many naval ships around the world.

Daily News: You mentioned earlier that some of your systems are part of larger platforms?

Thomis: Yes, that's right. Our businesses are relatively small, which makes them agile. They're able to flexibly partner with local companies to supply systems into national defense programs.

Often, our systems are integrated into larger platforms—such as ships. That requires us to form partnerships with ship integrators and shipyards. We find it quite straightforward to do so, because we’re flexible in our contracting models. We don’t feel the need to do everything ourselves. A lot of the work can be done locally in the countries where we operate, and we can support that through partnerships—or even by setting up local subsidiaries, as we’ve done recently in Canada to support its new frigate program.

Daily News: Thank you. Do you have any final comments?

Thomis: Just that Asia Pacific is a very important region for us as a business and so DSEI Japan is an important event. It’s good to see Japan building and strengthening its international defense relationships, and the wide international participation in this show is a clear indication that they are succeeding.