This gradually developed into an encyclopedic knowledge, culminating in the publishing of All the World's Fighting Ships (1898).

The books and trade magazines published by the company are often considered the de facto public source of information on warfare and transportation systems.

Based in Greater London for most of its existence, the group was owned by the Thomson Corporation, the Woodbridge Company,[2] then IHS Markit,[3] before being acquired by Montagu Private Equity in 2019.

[5] The company name is officially Jane's Information Group,[6][7] and it is as of 2023[update] located in Croydon.

[8] The company continues to provide open-source intelligence in the defence, security, aerospace and transport sectors.