Chess Dynamics, part of the Cohort Group, is a UK-based systems house delivering land and maritime electro-optic surveillance, targeting, and gunfire control solutions.
Steve Holloway, Engineering Director Chess Dynamics details its core capabilities, including the Hawkeye and SeaEagle multi-sensor portfolios, the DynAxis precision positioners, and Vision4ce AI-driven video processing modules.
Addressing the rising demand for mobile ground-based air defence (GBAD) and naval platform integration, Steve discusses major contract wins, such as the EOSS-D systems and the £6.2 million Ancilia decoy launcher base project, while outlining market alignment with the UK Defence Investment Plan (DIP).
A brief description of the company and its activities.
Steve Holloway: Chess Dynamics is a leading provider of electro-optic surveillance, targeting and fire control systems for the land and maritime domains. Chess Dynamics is part of the Cohort Group and operates from Horsham, Plymouth and Wokingham.
Our capabilities span high-performance surveillance and fire control through our Hawkeye and SeaEagle product portfolios, high-precision positioner systems in our DynAxis family and our Vision4ce AI-powered video processing technologies.
We support defence customers with a full lifecycle service from expert design and manufacture to through-life maintenance to ensure capabilities remain mission-ready.
What are the main areas of activity of the company?
S.H: Our core activities focus on electro-optic surveillance, reconnaissance, targeting and fire control systems across land and maritime domains. The Chess Dynamics Hawkeye family provides modular multi-sensor capability for ground-based air defence, surveillance and targeting, while the SeaEagle portfolio delivers advanced electro-optical surveillance and fire control systems for naval platforms.
Across both domains, our Vision4ce brand provides AI-enabled video processing, for real-time detection, classification and tracking using Deep Embedded Feature Target Tracking (DEFT) tracking and CHARM video processing boards.
These capabilities are complemented by DynAxis positioning systems, providing high-precision dynamic control for sensors in demanding operational conditions.
What’s the news about new products/services?
S.H: We’ve recently received a significant contract award from a major prime for several of our Hawkeye EOSS-D systems. The Hawkeye systems will be integrated into mobile air defence units, providing advanced electro-optical targeting of hostile airborne threats.
The order reflects a growing demand for agile, expeditionary sensor systems as defence requirements shift away from static installations and towards mobile air defence platforms capable of keeping pace with evolving threats.
Within the Vision4ce portfolio, we’ve seen a strong order performance since the start of the financial year in May 2025, reflecting demand for real-time video processing and tracking capability across defence electro-optic applications. The robustness and reliability of the Vision4ce CHARM modules and Frameworkx software have played a central role in this growth.
In addition, Chess Dynamics has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ecliptic Defence and Space to explore collaboration opportunities, combining our expertise in electro-optical systems, sensor integration and stabilised platforms, with experience in RF and microwave technologies.
What are the ranges of products/services?
S.H: Our portfolio spans four core product families and supporting technologies.
The Hawkeye range delivers land-based electro-optic capability for reconnaissance, surveillance, targeting and ground-based air defence. It includes Hawkeye MS (multi sensor) for modular multi-sensor surveillance and targeting; Hawkeye AD (air defence) for integrated air defence fire control; and Hawkeye EOSS-D (Electro-Optical Surveillance System) for fixed or vehicle-mounted surveillance and reconnaissance, combining thermal and TV sensors with advanced classification capability.
The SeaEagle portfolio delivers maritime electro-optical surveillance and fire control solutions. It includes the SeaEagle FCEO-A (Fire Control Electro-Optical Analogue), a proven fire control system in service with over ten navies; SeaEagle FCEO-D (Fire Control Electro-Optical Digital), a fully digital stabilised fire control tracking director; SeaEagle FCRO (Fire Control Radar Optical), which fuses radar and electro-optical sensors for fire control; and SeaEagle EOSS-D (Electro Optical Surveillance System Digital), a high performance surveillance system for applications such as search and rescue, threat surveillance and blind pilotage.
The DynAxis portfolio provides stabilised precision systems for electro-optic, radar and communications payloads. The range features the Digital Cobra, Viper, Zeta and Omega, supporting payloads from 30kg to 500kg across vehicle-mounted, naval and fixed-site applications.
Alongside these products, we also design and manufacture bespoke heavy-load turntable for industry primes and partners including SEA, Terma and Leonardo. These precision-engineered solutions support complex radar, electro-optic and communications payloads where pointing accuracy, stability and reliability are critical.
Our Vision4ce portfolio enables advanced real-time video processing, automated tracking and target classification, improving operational awareness and faster decision-making.
Vision4ce tracking capability is increasingly deployed within embedded sensor architectures, supporting continuous detection and high-precision tracking of targets in complex and dynamic environments.
Chess Dynamics also provides full systems integration, installation, training, maintenance, upgrades, through-life support and bespoke engineering services.
What is the state of the market where you are currently active?
S.H:The defence and security market over recent years has seen sustained increase in defence spending driven by the evolving threat environment and key UK programmes, as well as those across NATO and our allied nations.
This is particularly evident in growing demand for integrated air defence, surveillance and counter-unmanned aerial system capabilities. With the UK Defence Investment Plan (DIP) recently published, we look forward to playing our role in supporting the Government’s defence ambitions.
What can you tell us about market trends?
S.H: A key driver of demand is the increasing threats of today’s operational landscape, which is driving requirements for persistent surveillance and tracking systems capable of operating in complex and dynamic environments.
Customers are also seeking open-architecture, modular systems that integrate electro-optic, radar and precision positioning technologies, with a strong focus on interoperability, autonomy, upgradeability and lifecycle performance. This supports the move toward spiral development which allows system performance and capability to be enhanced and expanded through upgrades without major hardware changes.
What are the most innovative products/services marketed?
S.H: Our innovation is centred on the Hawkeye and SeaEagle product families, and our Vision4ce brand.
Within our Vision4ce portfolio, we have recently expanded our CHARM range with the introduction of CHARM150AGX, providing twice the processing capacity of the CHARM100NX to support dual sensor processing in systems with multiple sensors.
We have also introduced an upgraded EOSS-D capability, incorporating modern digital architecture with enhanced connectivity, seamless integration and more sensor options. The updated EOSS-D features across both our Hawkeye and SeaEagle product families.
Our DynAxis portfolio has also expanded with the introduction of the OMEGA precision positioner, which supports payloads of up to 500kg and provides the stability and pointing accuracy required for the heaviest and most complex sensor suites used in multi-domain operations, including radar, multi-sensor pods, and long-range precision surveillance systems.
Innovation also extends beyond our core product families through the development of bespoke engineering solutions for complex defence programmes. At the end of 2025, we secured a £6.2 million order from fellow Cohort Group company, SEA, to supply the precision controlled trainable base for SEA’s Ancilia decoy launcher system. Designed to provide highly accurate azimuth and elevation control in demanding maritime environments, the system base is a clear demonstrating our technical expertise in precision stabilisation.
What estimations do you have for the second half of 2026?
S.H: Industry focus during the second half of 2026 is expected to be shaped by the DIP, along with evolving NATO and allied procurement programmes.
We expect continued demand for surveillance, fire control, and ground-based air defence solutions, as customers prioritise integrated, multi-sensor and digitally enabled systems that enhance situational awareness and operational responsiveness.
Our Hawkeye, SeaEagle and DynAxis product families are well positioned to support this need, providing the armed forces with modular, open architecture solutions that support spiral development and through-life capability enhancement.
