Cuts ribbon on new headquarters in Billings

HELENA, MT - Governor Greg Gianforte this week cut the ribbon on the new Ultimate Defense Technologies headquarters and production facility in Billings. The weapons safety manufacturer is set to employ nearly 90 Montanans.

“Thanks to our pro-business, pro-jobs policies and proud Second Amendment heritage, businesses like Ultimate Defense Technologies are choosing to relocate to Montana,” Gov. Gianforte said. “We’ll continue to recruit firearms and ammunitions businesses to the Treasure State to create more good-paying jobs.”

Founded in the United Kingdom, Ultimate Defense Technologies decided to move their headquarters from Arizona to Montana after meeting with Gov. Gianforte and the Montana Department of Commerce Business Attraction Team at the 2023 SHOT Show in Las Vegas.

Ultimate Defense Co-Founder Neil Oakshott says he was inspired to create their weapon safety system, Spartan Guardian, after a neighbor accidentally discharged her handgun while removing it from her holster at home.

“I started thinking about how we could make guns safer but instantly available in a time of need. And the number of injuries from misuse of firearms and instances of theft was concerning to us,” Oakshott said.

The Spartan Guardian system holds a firearm and uses RFID technology to offer secure access through cards, tags, rings, or wristbands.

The new location will serve as a production facility for their weapon safety system. During a ceremony at the new warehouse, Oakshott highlighted the company’s commitment to creating jobs for Montanans, as well as to invest in an apprenticeship program.

Oakshott added, “Montana has invested in us, so we want to invest in Montana. We want to give people careers, and we want to work with people that are often overlooked in society like veterans and people with special needs.”

Montana is home to over 150 innovative firearms and ammunitions businesses, the highest per capita in the country.

To support Montana’s firearms and ammunitions businesses, Gov. Gianforte last year protected Montanans’ retirement security from Environmental, Social, and Governance investing and Montana’s firearms industry from discrimination.

In his first year in office, the governor made Montana a constitutional carry state and prohibited the enforcement of any federal law, executive order, rule, or regulation that infringes upon ownership, possession, transfer, or use of any firearm, magazine, or firearm accessory in Montana.