Reading's Operational Solutions LTD sets sights on international expansion

Reading-based counter drone technologies business Operations Solutions LTD (OSL) is looking to expand into markets overseas.

The expansion plans come amidst a 12 month period in which the company has doubled its team size and also increased revenue by 50 per cent.

OSL was founded in 2010 and works with major international airports, national infrastructure, and defence markets to address challenges posed by the increasing prevalence of drones. The company is currently working with the UK government on Project HADO®, a consortium aiming to accelerate the commercial adoption of autonomous drones in 'high intensity environments'.

CEO of OSL Mark Legh-Smith said: “As demonstrated by our work as part of Project HADO®, OSL now has the technical capabilities to rise to even the most complex challenges. As we bring new products and capabilities to market, we’re seeing growing interest in our services worldwide.

“As we continue to embark on an exciting period of growth, we remain more committed than ever to technical innovation to help safeguard some of the world’s busiest airspaces. I am extremely proud of how the business has grown since receiving investment from BGF.”

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The £8 million of funding OSL received from BGF in 2021 paved the way for the arrival of new appointments in the company's R & D, engineering, and business development departments.

These new arrivals helped enable the release of OSL’s new Drone Alert Service (DAS) - which provides an accessible and hardware-free drone detection solution. The acquisition of AI and video analytics company Rinicom Intelligent Solutions was also pivotal to the company's expansion plans.

Investor at BGF Liam Pursall said: “After successfully harnessing BGF backing and strategic input to build on already strong foundations, we are thrilled to see OSL make such an impressive leap forward in a relatively short space of time.’

“A combination of market-leading technology and a highly knowledgeable leadership team will enable OSL to shape the worldwide counter-drone landscape for the long term. We are looking forward to working with Mark and his team as the company continues to accelerate growth and strengthen its position in a fast-moving international market.” 

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