Rocket Lab to acquire the manufacturer of useful charges Satellite Geost for $ 275 million

Washington – Rocket Lab, an aerospace manufacturer and a coded launch service provider, is developing more deeply in the defense sector with the acquisition of Geost, A supplier of useful loads of electro-optic and infrared sensor (EO / IR) used in American military satellites.

In an agreement announced on May 27, Rocket Lab acquires a geost from the ATL Partners capital company for 125 million dollars in cash and $ 150 million in shares, with an additional $ 50 million in potential cash payment linked to income targets in 2026 and 2027.

Acquisition gives Rocket Lab access to satellite sensor technology used by the US Department of Defense for missile warning systems and spatial surveillance – capacities that could help them earn lucrative pentagon contracts.

“GEOST’s acquisition will cause critical technologies and useful charges on which the Ministry of Defense is invoked,” said Peter Beck, CEO of Rocket Lab.

The agreement stimulates Rocket Lab’s ambitions to become a main entrepreneur in the Pentagon satellite programs. With Useful charges EO / IR of Geost Rocket Lab, internally, aims to compete with new generation military satellite contracts, in particular in the proliferated War Spatial Architecture Program (PWSA) of the Space Development Agency (PWSA) and the Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) program and the program and the program Gold anti -missile defense shield.

Rocket Lab already holds $ 515 million Contract to produce and operate 18 data restoration satellites for the SDA transport layer. The acquisition of GEOST would strengthen its offer for the next range of the tracking layer of the SDA 3 of the SDA – a contract which should involve more than 50 satellites equipped with advanced missile monitoring sensors.

“This is really a logical addition to a vertically integrated national security offer,” said Beck.

Rocket Lab’s financial director Adam Spice said that the integration of Geost’s useful load capacities gives the company a competitive advantage to capture future defense works. “It also positions us to be a competition supplier for the Golden Dome anti-missile defense system,” he said.

The Golden Dome Project – Directed by President Trump in an executive decree – seeks to build a spatial anti -missile defense shield over the next three years with an estimated budget at $ 175 million. The system should be based heavily on commercial space companies capable of deploying quickly and profitability.

“The president’s recent announcement clearly indicated that the emphasis is placed on the use of effective and rapid suppliers, which positions us well to seize these opportunities,” said Spice.

Vertical integration

Founded in 2006 and whose headquarters are in Long Beach, California, Rocket Lab has built a reputation to vetically integrate its space systems. The company continued acquisitions to provide more production of internal equipment, including a planned acquisition of optical communications MYNARIC terminal supplier.

Geost, based in Tucson, Arizona, with additional installations in northern Virginia, employs 115 employees. These employees will join the world’s expansion of Rocket Lab, which will increase to more than 2,600 in its locations in California, Virginia, Colorado, Maryland, New Mexico, Toronto, New Zealand and now in Arizona.

Rocket Lab acquires a geost from the Atl Partners capital-investment company, who bought the company in 2021. In 2023, Geost was folded in Lightridge Solutions, an ATL portfolio company. After the sale, ATL will reorganize the remaining units – Trident Systems and Ophir Corporation – in a new defense electronic portfolio company called Trident Solutions.

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