QinetiQ, the defence research company, will become a supplier to the American intelligence community, following the $104.5 million (£53 million) purchase of Dominion Technology Resources.

The acquisition is QinetiQ's sixth in the United States in the past 18 months and the company now makes 40 per cent of its revenues from that country.

The purchase of Dominion will enable QinetiQ to offer consulting and mission planning services to customers in the intelligence services.

Graham Love, chief executive of QinetiQ, said: “Dominion brings new customer relationships from within the US intelligence community and provides us with further growth opportunities within the broader North American market.”

Dominion had revenues of $46.6 million last year and an order book worth $400 million. The company's founders have agreed to stay within Qinetiq as advisers.

Mr Love said earlier this year that he could spend £200 million on further acquisitions as part of his strategy to diversify QinetiQ, the privatised Defence Evaluation Research Agency, away from reliance on Ministry of Defence spending.

Times Recommends

• Lies and cover-up at MG Rover exposed by report
• High oil prices push manufacturing costs up
• Primark founder steps down as chief executive