In 2008, Sparta - a longtime, extensively involved SBIR firm which had since outgrown the program - was acquired by the British firm Cobham plc (LSE: COB.L). In 2011, U.S. engineering firm Parsons Corporation acquired SPARTA from Cobham. With facilities now in many states, the firm is is a systems engineering and advanced technology company working on strategic defensive and offensive systems, tactical weapons systems, space systems, and information systems.The firm's technology development activities have included: research and development for laser and radar systems; computer products and simulations; software development; advanced signal processing; battle management/command, control, and communications; artificial intelligence; advanced materials and production technology; hypervelocity launchers; aircraft avionics and communication systems; missile guidance and control; advanced reentry systems; advanced munitions and smart weapons; and non-nuclear warheads for strategic and tactical systems applications. Commercial products address internet security (SecurEC (TM)); the safe destruction of mines and unexploded ordnance (Zeus (TM)); real-time and embedded computers and systems (Real Time Computer Products); measurement error reduction for semi-conductor manufacturing (nanAlign (TM)); and the manufacture of near net shape, precision, high tolerance, complex components from advance composite materials (Composite Products). The Group's principal activity is to provide scientific, engineering and technical services as contractors and subcontractors, primarily for the U.S. military services and other agencies of the U.S. department of defense. It analyzes complex technological, strategic and tactical issues necessary to define the requirements for new tactical and strategic weapons and defense systems. It also develops engineering solutions to accommodate conflicting technological, schedule, and budgetary requirements and assists in the design, integration, evaluation and testing of software and hardware components. The activities also include research and development for laser systems, distributed interactive computer simulations, software development, advanced signal processing, information security, advanced materials and production technology and marine instrumentation. It also manufactures composite parts for aircraft and missile systems.
