Tracked deals
125
125 tracked deals across 2015-2026.
Aerospace & Defense Buyers & Acquisitions in California
Buyer mix
Mixed buyer set
94 strategic · 76 pe
Top trend
Volume peaked in 2021
24 tracked deals announced in 2021.
Primary Insight
What Stands Out
- California buyers are pairing acquisitions with capability expansion (e.g., propulsion/energetics, space robotics, precision mechanisms, defense and domain awareness).
- Several deals are framed around vertical integration and faster development/testing, including materials, bonding/finishing, and energetics/propulsion inputs.
- Unmanned systems and autonomy appear repeatedly, from autonomous cargo drones to missile defense and command-and-control integration.
- Specialized manufacturing is a recurring theme: tight-tolerance machining, bonded-composites materials, composites/thermoforming, and flight-critical power electronics.
- Some transactions include brand continuity or rebranding, such as Motiv becoming Rocket Lab Robotics and Safran Passenger Innovations becoming RAVE Aerospace.
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Top Buyers
Illustrative buyers pulled from tracked transactions on this page. This table is capped and intentionally non-exhaustive.
| Buyer | # Deals | Focus | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arcline Investment Management | 6 | Growth-oriented private equity firm (~$20B AUM) focused o... | PE |
| Trive Capital | 6 | Middle-market private equity firm focused on transformati... | PE |
| AeroVironment, Inc. | 3 | Global developer and manufacturer of intelligent multi-do... | Strategic |
| Arlington Capital Partners | 3 | Middle-market private equity firm focused on aerospace & ... | PE |
| Auctus Industries | 3 | Specialist investor focused on building and scaling globa... | PE |
| Novaria Group | 3 | Privately held operator of precision component companies ... | Strategic (PE-backed) |
| AE Industrial Partners | 2 | Private equity firm specializing in aerospace, defense & ... | PE |
| Amca | 2 | El Segundo–based aerospace and defense company that acqui... | Strategic |
| Avantus Aerospace | 2 | Group of aerospace manufacturing companies supplying C‑Cl... | Strategic (PE-backed) |
| Avem Partners | 2 | Private equity firm focused on lower middle market aerosp... | PE |
Acquisition Volume in Aerospace & Defense in California by Year
Last 8 years
Actual
Full-year estimate
Supporting Data
Recent Transactions
-
- Buyer
- Columbus Circle Capital Corp II, Inflection Point Acquisition Corp VII
- Target
- Elroy Air, Inc.
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Elroy Air entered into a definitive business combination agreement with SPAC Columbus Circle Capital Corp II, which will be renamed Inflection Point Acquisition Corp VII. The transaction is expected to value Elroy Air at $800 million pre-money and provide more than $165 million in committed PIPE capital to fund commercial-scale production of its Chaparral autonomous heavy-cargo drone, with the deal expected to close in late 2026 (fourth quarter) subject to approvals.
-
June 10, 2026
- Buyer
- KONGSBERG Gruppen ASA
- Target
- Zone 5 Technologies LLC
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
KONGSBERG has closed its acquisition of US missile company Zone 5 Technologies LLC after approval from US regulators. KONGSBERG acquired a 90% stake, while founder and CEO Thomas Akers and the rest of Zone 5’s management team will retain ownership and Zone 5 will operate as an independent subsidiary.
-
- Buyer
- Mach Industries
- Target
- Exquadrum, Inc., Mach Energetics
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Mach Industries acquired solid rocket motor and energetics company Exquadrum for a $50M cash-and-equity deal. The acquired business is rebranded as Mach Energetics and fully integrated into Mach’s operations to expand vertically integrated propulsion and energetics capabilities and accelerate development and testing of unmanned systems.
-
May 10, 2026
- Buyer
- Rocket Lab Corporation
- Target
- Motiv Space Systems
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Rocket Lab Corporation completed its acquisition of Motiv Space Systems, a California-based space robotics and precision mechanisms company. Motiv is being rebranded as Rocket Lab Robotics and is expected to deepen Rocket Lab’s vertically integrated Mars and space-infrastructure capabilities, including precision spacecraft mechanisms used in high-power systems like orbital data centers.
-
April 6, 2026
- Buyer
- Aeromax Industries, Chimney Rock Equity Partners, LLC
- Target
- The Ely Co., Inc., Ely Co., Inc.
- Seller
- Members of the Senff family
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Addon
Aeromax Industries acquired The Ely Co., Inc., a Torrance, California precision aerospace machining company specializing in tight-tolerance metallic components for commercial and military aerospace customers. The deal is Aeromax’s first acquisition since being acquired by Chimney Rock Equity Partners, and terms were not disclosed.
-
- Buyer
- AeroVironment, Inc.
- Target
- Empirical Systems Aerospace, Inc. (ESAero)
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
AeroVironment announced it has acquired Empirical Systems Aerospace, Inc. (ESAero) in a deal valued at approximately $200 million, consisting of about $160 million in stock and the remainder in cash (subject to adjustments). ESAero will become a subsidiary within AeroVironment’s Precision Strike and Defense Systems group, strengthening the company’s electric and hybrid propulsion and advanced unmanned aircraft manufacturing capabilities.
-
March 12, 2026
- Buyer
- Anduril Industries
- Target
- ExoAnalytic Solutions
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Anduril Industries signed a definitive agreement to acquire ExoAnalytic Solutions, a space domain awareness and missile defense company. The deal is intended to expand Anduril’s space defense capabilities by integrating ExoAnalytic’s telescope sensor network and analytics with Anduril’s autonomy, AI, and command-and-control technologies.
-
March 9, 2026
- Buyer
- Applied Aerospace & Defense
- Target
- Ultracor
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Applied Aerospace & Defense announced it has acquired California-based Ultracor, a supplier of specialized honeycomb core materials used in complex bonded composites. The deal is intended to strengthen Applied’s selective vertical integration to increase speed, agility, and production capacity for the rapidly growing space and defense market.
-
February 23, 2026
- Buyer
- Aviation Equipment Processing
- Target
- Vantage Associates, Inc.
- Seller
- Vantage Associates employee-owners (ESOP)
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Aviation Equipment Processing (AEP) has acquired Vantage Associates, Inc., an employee-owned precision manufacturer of metal, composite and plastic aerospace components. Impact Capital Group served as exclusive advisor to Vantage; the deal brings together Vantage's composites and thermoforming capabilities with AEP's bonding, finishing, and testing expertise to expand product capabilities and accelerate growth in commercial and military aerospace markets.
-
February 19, 2026
- Buyer
- Amca
- Target
- Payne Magnetics
- Seller
- Jon Payne
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Los Angeles-based aerospace and defense company Amca has acquired Payne Magnetics of Covina, California from second-generation owner Jon Payne. The deal expands Amca's power-electronics and magnetics capabilities—building on a recent Electrocube acquisition—to better serve aerospace and defense platforms and reduce supply-chain risk.
-
February 12, 2026
- Buyer
- Amca
- Target
- Electrocube
- Seller
- Founding families (Clay Parrill and Don Duquette)
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Amca, an El Segundo–based aerospace and defense company, has acquired Electrocube of Pomona, California from two of the founding families. The deal adds flight‑critical power electronics (transformers, TRUs, capacitors, EMI filters) to Amca’s capabilities; Shedd Capital advised, and Amca plans to invest in engineering and product expansion to strengthen the aerospace supply chain.
-
February 5, 2026
- Buyer
- Kingswood Capital Management, LP
- Target
- Safran Passenger Innovations (SPI)
- Seller
- Safran
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Kingswood Capital Management completed its acquisition of Safran Passenger Innovations (SPI) from Safran. SPI was renamed RAVE Aerospace and will continue building and scaling its in-flight entertainment and connectivity platform under the established RAVE brand.
-
January 14, 2026
- Buyer
- TransDigm Group Incorporated
- Target
- Stellant Systems, Inc.
- Seller
- Arlington Capital Partners
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
TransDigm Group Incorporated entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Stellant Systems, Inc., a portfolio company of Arlington Capital Partners, for approximately $960 million in cash (including certain tax benefits). Stellant designs and manufactures high-power electronic components and subsystems for aerospace and defense and other industrial and medical applications, and is expected to generate about $300 million in revenue in 2025.
-
December 2, 2025
- Buyer
- Arcline Investment Management
- Target
- American Casting Company
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Growth capital
Arcline Investment Management, a growth-oriented private equity firm, completed a strategic investment in American Casting Company (ACC), a Hollister, California-based provider of engineered investment castings for aerospace, defense, medical and energy applications. ACC will continue to be led by CEO Chris St. John; Arcline plans to support expansion of the company’s capabilities and capacity to meet rising demand from OEMs reshoring mission‑critical components. Janes Capital Partners served as financial advisor to the company.
-
November 3, 2025
- Buyer
- Aero Products Company
- Target
- Third Stone Inc.
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Los Angeles-based Aero Products Company has acquired Third Stone Inc., an aerospace fabric and sewn-assemblies specialist based in San Diego, California. Third Stone will operate as a division of Aero Products Company to expand sewn-fabric, materials and related manufacturing capabilities for commercial, space and defense aerospace programs.
-
September 24, 2025
- Buyer
- Vitesse Systems, Trive Capital
- Target
- Spacetime Engineering Inc.
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Addon
Vitesse Systems, a Trive Capital-backed aerospace and defense platform, has acquired Spacetime Engineering, a provider of high-performance ground antenna feeds for satellite and gateway systems. The acquisition expands Vitesse’s multi-band antenna capabilities and positions the combined company to deliver broader, faster communications solutions to military and commercial satellite customers.
-
September 4, 2025
- Buyer
- Safran Defense & Space, Inc.
- Target
- Attollo Engineering
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Safran Defense & Space, Inc. (Safran DSI) has acquired Attollo Engineering, a Camarillo, California-based developer of shortwave and midwave infrared imaging and laser sensing systems with about 60 employees. The acquisition will strengthen Safran DSI's advanced imaging and sensing capabilities for defense, aerospace and commercial customers; Attollo will continue operating in Camarillo and supply sensors and subsystems as a merchant supplier.
-
September 3, 2025
- Buyer
- Trive Capital
- Target
- Hera Technologies Inc., MSM Industries Inc.
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Trive Capital has launched Canopy Aerospace & Defense, a newly formed advanced materials platform that combines Hera Technologies Inc. and MSM Industries Inc. The Dallas-based private equity firm intends the vertically integrated platform to provide advanced insulative, absorptive and signature-reduction materials plus R&D and refurbishment services to aerospace, space and defense OEMs.
-
August 28, 2025
- Buyer
- The Advanced Manufacturing Company of America (Amca)
- Target
- Cal-Draulics
- Seller
- Doug Johnson, Jeanette Johnson
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
The Advanced Manufacturing Company of America (Amca) has acquired Cal-Draulics, a Corona, California-based supplier of high-precision hydraulic products for aerospace. The deal brings Cal-Draulics' engineering and manufacturing capabilities into Amca's family of aerospace suppliers and welcomes former owner Doug Johnson to Amca's engineering team to support expanded design, manufacturing and testing capacity.
-
August 25, 2025
- Buyer
- General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS)
- Target
- MLD Technologies, LLC
- Seller
- MLD Technologies, LLC
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
General Atomics has acquired the business of MLD Technologies, LLC and will integrate it into General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS). The purchase brings MLD's expertise in ion-beam-sputtered optical coatings and laser-damage resistant thin-films into GA-EMS to support development and production of high-power laser weapon systems.
-
August 7, 2025
- Buyer
- Voyager Technologies
- Target
- ElectroMagnetic Systems, Inc.
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Voyager Technologies (NYSE: VOYG) acquired ElectroMagnetic Systems, Inc. (EMSI), a California-based developer of AI/ML automated target recognition software and radar simulation tools for space-based and other radar systems. The acquisition strengthens Voyager's AI-enabled ISR capabilities and expands its mission-resilient sensing and intelligence analytics offerings for defense, intelligence and space customers.
-
August 7, 2025
- Buyer
- Motorola Solutions
- Target
- Silvus Technologies Holdings Inc.
- Seller
- TJC (The Jordan Company), L.P.
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Motorola Solutions completed its acquisition of Silvus Technologies Holdings Inc., a Los Angeles–based leader in mission-critical mobile ad-hoc networks (MANET). The deal includes approximately $4.38 billion in cash and $20 million in restricted stock up front, with up to $600 million of potential earnouts (bringing total consideration up to roughly $5.0 billion).
-
July 15, 2025
- Buyer
- IonQ, Inc.
- Target
- Capella Space Corporation
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
IonQ has completed its acquisition of Capella Space, integrating Capella's synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite capabilities with IonQ's quantum technologies. The deal positions IonQ to develop a space-based quantum key distribution (QKD) network and a quantum-enabled Earth observation platform for government and commercial customers.
-
June 13, 2025
- Buyer
- Redwire Corporation
- Target
- Edge Autonomy Intermediate Holdings, LLC
- Seller
- Edge Autonomy Ultimate Holdings, LP
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Redwire Corporation signed an agreement to acquire Edge Autonomy, a provider of field-proven uncrewed airborne system (UAS) technology, for $925 million (debt-free, cash-free). The transaction was completed in June 2025, and the combined company is positioned as a scaled space and defense tech player focused on multi-domain autonomous operations.
-
June 4, 2025
- Buyer
- Aeromed Group
- Target
- AIReps, Inc.
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Addon
Aeromed Group, a Charlotte-based alliance of aerospace distribution companies, has acquired AIReps, an Anaheim-based aerospace distributor of hardware, connectors, precision fasteners and seals. The acquisition strengthens Aeromed's West Coast presence and expands its distribution capabilities for OEMs, MROs and defense contractors.
-
- Buyer
- RBC Bearings Incorporated
- Target
- VACCO Industries
- Seller
- ESCO Technologies Inc.
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
RBC Bearings Incorporated has completed the acquisition of VACCO Industries from ESCO Technologies for $275 million in cash, subject to post-closing adjustments. VACCO, headquartered in South El Monte, California, manufactures precision valves, manifolds, regulators and other mission-critical components for space and naval defense channels and will be integrated into RBC's Aerospace and Defense segment.
-
April 23, 2025
- Buyer
- Ultra Intelligence & Communications (Ultra I&C)
- Target
- Expeditionary Engineering
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Ultra Intelligence & Communications (Ultra I&C) has acquired San Diego-based Expeditionary Engineering, a designer and manufacturer of rugged 3U VPX hardware for airborne and expeditionary Department of Defense applications. The deal brings Expeditionary Engineering's SPOC-compliant embedded computing platforms into Ultra I&C's secure communications and software-defined systems to enhance tactical edge processing, command-and-control, and software deployment capabilities.
-
April 15, 2025
- Buyer
- Avem Partners, True West Capital Partners, Prominent family office (unnamed), Other high-net-worth individuals
- Target
- FMI Aerostructures (Dynamic Aerostructures, Forrest Machining)
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Avem Partners, with capital support from True West Capital Partners, a prominent family office and other investors, closed the acquisition of substantially all assets of Dynamic Aerostructures, Inc. (doing business as FMI Aerostructures) via a court-supervised Section 363 sale following the company's Chapter 11 filing. Avem intends to stabilize operations at FMI's 226,000-square-foot Valencia, California manufacturing facility, leverage customer relationships with major aerospace OEMs, and expand its aerospace and defense manufacturing footprint.
-
April 12, 2025
- Buyer
- Advanced Manufacturing Company of America (Amca)
- Target
- Electro-Mech Components
- Seller
- Terry Trumbull / Trumbull family (owners of Electro-Mech Components)
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
The Advanced Manufacturing Company of America (Amca), a newly formed aerospace supplier platform backed by venture investors, has acquired Electro-Mech Components of South El Monte, California. Amca launched with $76.5 million in funding to acquire and develop legacy aerospace and defense suppliers and expand its manufacturing capabilities.
-
April 9, 2025
- Buyer
- Fisica, Inc.
- Target
- Space Vector Corporation
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Fisica, Inc., a defense products manufacturer headquartered in San Leandro, California, has acquired Space Vector Corporation, a longtime provider of high-reliability RF avionics, flight termination systems and battery solutions based in Chatsworth, California. Terms were not disclosed; Space Vector management will remain in place and the deal expands Fisica's capabilities across aircraft/UAV, missile/hypersonic, launch vehicle and satellite power and mission-critical RF systems.
-
- Buyer
- Seven Point Equity Partners, LLC, Caltius Structured Capital, Trinity Investors, Hall Capital Holdings, UMB Capital Corporation
- Target
- Frazier Aviation, Inc.
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Seven Point Equity Partners announced a strategic partnership with San Fernando-based Frazier Aviation; the transaction was supported by a syndicate of investors including Caltius Structured Capital (which provided debt and equity), Trinity Investors, Hall Capital Holdings, and UMB Capital Corporation. Seven Point has established Frazier Aviation International, LLC as a holding company (Brian Williams named CEO) to serve as a growth platform to expand product offerings and manufacturing capabilities organically and via targeted acquisitions; Bob Frazier will continue to lead Frazier Aviation as a subsidiary.
-
March 18, 2025
- Buyer
- T2S Solutions, Madison Dearborn Partners
- Target
- Blue Marble Communications
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Addon
T2S Solutions, a mission-focused defense and space technology provider backed by Madison Dearborn Partners, has acquired Blue Marble Communications, a San Diego-based designer and manufacturer of space‑qualified communications and computing technologies. The deal expands T2S' capabilities and scale in high‑performance satellite communications, optical terminals, RF modems, and onboard processing to serve U.S. national security and commercial space markets.
-
January 21, 2025
- Buyer
- Novaria Group
- Target
- Bandy Manufacturing, LLC
- Seller
- JW Hill Capital
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Novaria Group has acquired Bandy Manufacturing, LLC from private equity owner JW Hill Capital. Bandy, a longtime producer of precision aerospace hinges and pins based in Burbank, California, will continue operations under President Roger Seaman; terms were not disclosed.
-
December 5, 2024
- Buyer
- TransDigm Group Inc.
- Target
- Wyvern Technologies, Inc.
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
TransDigm Group Inc. has acquired Wyvern Technologies, Inc. in a deal announced December 5, 2024. The acquisition is intended to strengthen TransDigm’s aerospace and defense electronics capabilities and bolster its lifecycle sustainment offerings for military and defense customers.
-
November 5, 2024
- Buyer
- Signia Aerospace, Arcline Investment Management
- Target
- Goodrich Hoist & Winch (rebranded as Onboard Systems Hoist & Winch)
- Seller
- Collins Aerospace (RTX Corporation)
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Addon
Signia Aerospace, a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management, has completed the acquisition of the Goodrich Hoist & Winch business from Collins Aerospace (an RTX Corporation business). The business will be rebranded as Onboard Systems Hoist & Winch, remain headquartered in Anaheim, California, and operate within Signia's Mission Systems unit alongside other Signia brands; an adjacent MRO/spares facility is planned to be fully operational by end of 2025.
-
October 18, 2024
- Buyer
- Sverica Capital Management LP
- Target
- Electronic Source Company
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Growth capital
Sverica Capital Management made a strategic growth investment in Electronic Source Company (ESC), a Van Nuys, California-based provider of high-reliability circuit card assemblies and turnkey electronics for aerospace, defense and space programs. ESC's management will remain in place, Sverica partners and industry veteran Steve Stone will join the board, and the capital will support ESC's growth and capability expansion into advanced defense and space electronics.
-
September 5, 2024
- Buyer
- Red Cat Holdings, Inc.
- Target
- FlightWave Aerospace Systems Corporation
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Red Cat Holdings (Nasdaq: RCAT) has closed the acquisition of FlightWave Aerospace Systems, bringing FlightWave’s Edge 130 Blue military-grade VTOL tricopter and related sensors/software into Red Cat’s product portfolio. The deal expands Red Cat’s family of unmanned systems and adds a new defense-focused revenue stream while enabling ramped manufacturing of the Edge 130.
-
August 26, 2024
- Buyer
- StandardAero
- Target
- Aero Turbine, Inc.
- Seller
- Gallant Capital Partners
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
StandardAero has acquired Aero Turbine, Inc., a Stockton, California-based provider of military engine and accessories MRO services, from Gallant Capital Partners. The acquisition strengthens StandardAero's military engine and component repair capabilities and adds a fully integrated 60,000+ sq. ft. Stockton facility and nearly 200 technicians to its network.
-
August 14, 2024
- Buyer
- Redwire Corporation
- Target
- Hera Systems, Inc.
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Redwire Corporation has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Hera Systems, a San Jose–based spacecraft developer focused on national security space missions. The acquisition is intended to expand Redwire's spacecraft portfolio and capabilities in GEO and other orbits to support national security customers; Hera reported $15 million in revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023.
-
August 12, 2024
- Buyer
- The Anderson Group, OMI Specialty Products
- Target
- MetalMart International, Inc., CTCOA, LLC d/b/a Olympic Aviation
- Seller
- Bill Lippman, Andrew Lippman, Tamara Lippman-Bernstein
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Addon
The Anderson Group formed an aerospace platform, OMI Specialty Products, that consolidated its existing portfolio company CTCOA, LLC d/b/a Olympic Aviation with the acquisition of MetalMart International, Inc. The combined platform will be led by CEO Ali Dadvar and will bring together complementary distribution capabilities in aircraft replacement parts, chemicals and specialty metals to create an aerospace distribution platform and pursue future add-on acquisitions.
-
July 8, 2024
- Target
- Certified Aviation Services, LLC
- Seller
- Aero-mark, LLC
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Divestiture
Crewe Capital advised private investment firm Aero-mark, LLC in the sale of Certified Aviation Services, LLC (CAS), a U.S.-based aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services provider. The buyer was not disclosed in public announcements; CAS provides line maintenance, modifications, recoveries and component services to fleet operators, lessors and OEMs.
-
- Buyer
- Greenbriar Equity Group
- Target
- Sunvair Aerospace Group
- Seller
- Blue Sea Capital LLC
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Funds managed by Greenbriar Equity Group completed the acquisition of Sunvair Aerospace Group, a U.S.-based aircraft component MRO specialist, from Blue Sea Capital. Greenbriar said the investment will support Sunvair's organic growth and acquisition strategy to expand its engineered MRO capabilities across landing gear, avionics and accessory repairs.
-
June 4, 2024
- Buyer
- Joby Aviation, Inc.
- Target
- Xwing, Inc. (autonomy division)
- Seller
- Xwing, Inc.
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Divestiture
Joby Aviation acquired the autonomy division of Xwing, Inc., purchasing Xwing’s automation and autonomy technology with Joby shares. The deal brings Xwing’s perception, sensor-fusion, and flight-decisioning expertise into Joby to accelerate Joby’s automation roadmap and support existing and future Department of Defense contracts.
-
May 23, 2024
- Buyer
- Lee Aerospace
- Target
- Llamas Plastics, Inc.
- Seller
- Llamas Plastics, Inc.
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Lee Aerospace has acquired Llamas Plastics, Inc., a family-owned manufacturer of aircraft transparencies headquartered in Los Angeles (Sylmar), California. The deal, facilitated by Keystone Business Advisors, gives Lee Aerospace direct entry into the military aerospace transparency market, diversifies its product line and increases production capacity.
-
May 15, 2024
- Buyer
- Quantic Electronics, Arcline Investment Management
- Target
- M-Wave Design
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Addon
Quantic Electronics, a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management, has acquired M-Wave Design, a supplier of ferrite-based RF and microwave passive components used in aerospace, defense and quantum computing applications. The acquisition is an add-on to Quantic's electronics portfolio and expands its product capabilities in high-performance, cryogenic-capable components for military, space and quantum customers.
-
- Buyer
- Special Aerospace Services (SAS), Godspeed Capital Management LP
- Target
- Quintron Systems
- Seller
- Fernandez Holdings
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Addon
Special Aerospace Services (SAS), the space engineering and defense technology platform backed by Godspeed Capital, has acquired Quintron Systems from Fernandez Holdings. The add-on expands SAS' capabilities in secure communications, network and AV systems for NASA, Department of Defense, commercial space and other government customers; Quintron president Dominick Barry will become SAS COO.
-
May 9, 2024
- Buyer
- NB Capital Solutions, Neuberger Berman
- Target
- FDH Aero
- Seller
- Audax Private Equity
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Recapitalization
NB Capital Solutions, with additional funds advised by Neuberger Berman, has made a significant minority recapitalization investment in FDH Aero. The transaction provides FDH with growth capital for organic and inorganic initiatives and partial liquidity to the existing investor base while Audax Private Equity remains the control investor.
-
April 25, 2024
- Buyer
- Hartzell Propeller, Arcline Investment Management
- Target
- WhirlWind Propellers Corporation
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Addon
Hartzell Propeller, a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management, has acquired WhirlWind Propellers Corporation to expand its product offering into light‑sport, experimental and unmanned aircraft markets. WhirlWind's founder Jim Rust will join Hartzell to support rapid prototyping and composite systems development.
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- Buyer
- Albion River LLC, Ignium LP
- Target
- Ducommun Incorporated
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Albion River LLC, through its affiliate Ignium LP, disclosed it has increased its ownership in Ducommun Incorporated (NYSE: DCO) to over 9.2% and says it has made a bid valuing the company at $60 per share. Albion criticized Ducommun's board for declaring the company "not for sale," said it plans to engage directly with shareholders, and urged board-level actions to align management incentives with a $60 strike price.
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- Buyer
- J.F. Lehman & Company
- Target
- Mission Microwave Technologies, LLC
- Seller
- Affiliates of GaAs Labs LLC, Founders and management / majority equity holders
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
An investment affiliate of J.F. Lehman & Company has acquired Mission Microwave Technologies, a Cypress, California-based maker of solid-state power amplifiers (SSPAs) and block upconverters (BUCs) for satellite communications. Debt financing for the transaction was led by Barings and co-led by PennantPark and SMBC; prior majority shareholders (affiliates of GaAs Labs LLC), founders and management will remain material shareholders.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are repeatedly active as acquirers in California aerospace & defense?
The page lists recurring buyer names including Trive Capital, Arcline Investment Management, Greenbriar Equity Group, Raptor Scientific, Karman Missile & Space Systems, Signia Aerospace, Arlington Capital Partners, and Avantus Aerospace.
What kinds of capabilities are most often targeted in these California acquisitions?
Recent deals emphasize propulsion and energetics, unmanned systems/autonomy, space robotics and precision mechanisms, defense and missile-related technologies, and specialized aerospace manufacturing (materials, machining, bonding/finishing, and power electronics).
Do these transactions involve rebranding after acquisition?
Yes. For example, Motiv is being rebranded as Rocket Lab Robotics, and Safran Passenger Innovations is renamed RAVE Aerospace.
Where are the acquisitions located?
The page’s recent transactions are tied to California, United States.
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