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Integrated defence solutions provider Sovereign Capability Group has announced the acquisition of Brisbane-headquartered advanced mission systems provider UBH Group.
The acquisition represents a strategic milestone in Sovereign Capability Group’s (SCG) mission to enhance Australia’s sovereign industrial base. Subject to the completion of remaining conditions precedent, UBH will join SCG at the end of 2025.
Based in Brisbane, Canberra and Perth, UBH will continue to operate under the leadership of chief executive officer Jeff Batten and the founding team, ensuring continuity for clients and employees while unlocking new opportunities for innovation and growth.
“UBH brings domain knowledge, technical expertise and a strong track record in delivering complex defence solutions,” SCG chief executive officer Andrew Buttsworth said.
“Their capabilities are highly complementary to our current work across maritime shipbuilding and sustainment, mission systems engineering and specialist software development.
“This acquisition strengthens our ability to provide integrated, sovereign capabilities to Australia’s defence and national security sectors.
“It also provides growth and development pathways for our staff, enhanced geographical footprint and a larger combined resource base on which our clients can depend.
“The acquisition will see SCG approach 150 staff members, with points of presence in nearly every key Defence centre.”
Sovereign Capability Group now contains four complementary businesses: Electrotech, Insitec, UBH Group and The Network Technology Recruitment.
Supported by WhiteOak Capital and including strong staff ownership, SCG’s businesses have been carefully selected for their reinforcing skill sets and market positioning in support of the 2024 Defence Industry Development Strategy objective to “develop Australia’s sovereign defence industrial base to meet our national security requirements”.
“I’m particularly delighted that UBH Group’s current chair, Brigadier (Ret’d) Professor Ian Langford, DSC and Bars, has agreed to join SCG’s Strategic Advisory Board. Ian’s reputation as one of Australia’s pre-eminent defence thinkers is well known and we are proud to have him lend his insights to the broader SCG mission,” Buttsworth said.
“We’re also excited about the strong veteran-led culture in UBH, with the founders and many staff all having previously served in uniform. It was this culture which saw UBH named Veteran-Owned Business of the Year at the Defence Industry Awards in 2025.
“We’re excited to welcome the UBH team into the SCG family and look forward to working together to support our defence and government customers even more closely.”
