Janes Information Services

History

Janes was founded in 1898 by Fred T. Jane, who had begun sketching ships as an naval artist while living in Portsmouth. This culminated in the publication of Janes Fighting Ships (1898). Janes gradually branched out into other areas of military expertise. The books and trade magazines published by the company have become the de facto source of public information on warfare and transportation systems.

Based in Greater London for most of its existence, the company was owned by the Thomson Corporation, the Woodbridge Company, and then IHS Markit, before being acquired by Montagu Private Equity in 2019.

In March 2022, Janes acquired Washington, D.C.-based RWR Advisory Group.

Description

The company name is officially Janes Defense, and it is as of 2025 located in Croydon. The company continues to provide open-source intelligence in the defence, security, aerospace, and transport sectors.

Publications

Of their publications, books (published annually) include Jane's All the World's Aircraft, Jane's Fighting Ships, Jane's Military Communications, Jane's World Air Forces, Jane's World Navies, and Jane's World Railways. Periodicals include Jane's Defence Weekly, Jane's Intelligence Review, Jane's International Defence Review, and Jane's Navy International. Jane's Police Review (2011) and Jane's Airport Review (2019) were discontinued.

Jane's All the World's Aircraft and Fighting Ships are included in the 2019 edition of the AP stylebook as references for proper notation of aircraft and military ship names.

Jane's Combat Simulations was a brand of computer flight simulation games and naval warfare simulations produced between 1996 and 2000 under licence to Electronic Arts (EA).

References

References

1. Brooks, Richard. (1997). "Fred T Jane: An Eccentric Visionary". Jane's Information Group.
2. (24 September 2019). "Montagu Private Equity agrees to buy open-source intelligence company Jane's".
3. [[Press release]] (12 June 2007). [https://www.ihs.com/News/Press-Releases/2007/IHSacquiresJanesInformationGroup.htm "IHS Acquires Jane's Information Group –Move Creates Global Powerhouse for Aerospace, Defense and Security Insight and Analysis"], IHS.com. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
4. (25 September 2019). "Montagu picks up Jane's from IHS Markit".
5. (8 March 2022). "Janes Acquires RWR Advisory Group".
6. "Jane's Information Group [Library catalogue name authority]".
7. "Library of Congress Authorities".
8. "JANE'S GROUP UK LIMITED overview".
9. (3 April 2020). "What we do".
10. Jane's yearbooks, 1990–91 & 2000–01 issues
11. "articles.janes.com".
12. [http://www.ihs.com/products/janes/security/military-capabilities/world-air-forces.aspx IHS Web site]
13. (2019). "The Associated Press Stylebook 2019 and briefing on media law". Associated Press.
14. Heath, Dave. (May 13, 2024). "7 Forgotten Electronic Arts Franchises".