EKA Group Holdings Limited today announces its expansions as the parent group bringing together EKA Limited and System Design Evaluation Ltd (SDE), creating a stronger and broader UK defence capability aligned to the evolving requirements of the UK Ministry of Defence and allied customers.

EKA Group Holdings now combines two complementary businesses with established reputations in defence. EKA Limited, founded in 1978, is a specialist UK engineering company known for military vehicle recovery systems, special-to-role equipment, chassis integration and load-handling solutions. System Design Evaluation Ltd, established in 1985, is a respected provider of independent technical assurance and specialist advisory services across safety, supportability, environmental management and risk assessment in land, maritime and air domains.

Together, the two businesses create a more integrated offering for complex defence programmes, bringing practical engineering delivery and rigorous independent assurance into closer alignment across the full capability lifecycle.

Michael Keech, CEO of EKA Group Holdings and formerly Managing Director of EKA Limited, said:

“The growth of EKA Group Holdings brings together two highly complementary businesses with a shared commitment to supporting defence customers on programmes where performance, assurance and accountability matter most. By combining EKA Limited’s proven engineering delivery with SDE’s respected independent technical assurance, we are creating a stronger proposition for UK MOD and a more capable long-term partner for complex defence programmes.”

The Group has been expanded to address a clear requirement in modern defence acquisition and support: the need for engineering decisions, safety assurance, supportability analysis and programme assurance to be considered together, not in isolation. By aligning these capabilities within one Group structure, EKA Group Holdings is positioned to support customers more effectively from concept and procurement through to integration, approval, in-service support and capability sustainment.

For UK MOD and other major defence stakeholders, the benefit is a more coherent and resilient delivery model. Engineering decisions can be informed and validated in parallel, risks can be identified earlier, and assurance can be embedded throughout programme delivery rather than applied retrospectively. This supports stronger governance, better-informed decision-making and reduced programme risk in high-consequence environments.

Michael Keech added:

“For our customers, this is about improving confidence and reducing risk. Senior stakeholders need partners who understand operational realities, can deliver technically robust solutions, and can also provide the evidence and assurance needed to support informed decisions. EKA Group Holdings is designed to do exactly that, with the combined strength to support programmes across their full lifecycle.”

EKA Group Holdings also reinforces UK sovereign capability and social value by maintaining and developing specialist engineering and defence assurance expertise within the UK. The Group supports resilience in the domestic industrial base, retention of high-value skills, and a stronger national capability to deliver and sustain defence programmes of strategic importance.

Both EKA Limited and SDE will continue to trade under their established names, preserving their specialist identities and customer relationships while benefiting from closer strategic alignment and shared capability within the Group.

EKA Group Holdings’ approach is intended to reflect the expectations of MOD and allied defence customers: collaborative, transparent and grounded in disciplined programme delivery. By combining practical engineering expertise with independent challenge and technical rigour, the Group is positioned to support the delivery of safe, sustainable and operationally effective defence outcomes.

Michael Keech said:

“This is an important step in building a Group that can grow the strengths of both businesses while delivering greater value to the customer. We are committed to a collaborative and transparent approach aligned with MOD expectations, and we believe the combined offering of EKA Group Holdings will enable us to support the UK defence community with even greater depth, agility and effectiveness.”

The expansion of EKA Group Holdings marks a significant step in the development of a distinctly UK-based defence group able to support complex, cross-domain military programmes with integrated engineering, technical insight and whole-life perspective.