Rocket Lab Acquires Geost, LLC From LightRidge Solutions (ATL Partners) and Forms Trident Solutions Defense Electronics Platform

Rocket One to Acquire Tracer Drone Technologies

September 22, 2026

Aerospace & Defense

Rocket One entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of Tracer Drone Technologies, a provider of drone hardware, software, training, maintenance, and managed services. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and is intended to give Rocket One an established commercial platform in public safety and enterprise markets, as well as a channel for its AI-enabled autonomous and counter-UAS technologies.

Rocket Lab to Acquire Iridium Communications

June 29, 2026

Telecommunications

Rocket Lab agreed to acquire all outstanding shares of Iridium Communications in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at approximately $8 billion, or $54 per share. The acquisition combines Rocket Lab’s launch and spacecraft manufacturing capabilities with Iridium’s satellite communications network, spectrum, and subscriber base, extending Rocket Lab into recurring satellite services and space-based applications.

Rocket Lab Acquires Geost (Parent Holding Company) from Lightridge Solutions

August 12, 2025

Aerospace & Defense

Rocket Lab completed its $275 million acquisition of the parent holding company of Geost, LLC, a developer of electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) sensor payloads for national security space missions. The deal integrates Geost’s sensing technologies into Rocket Lab’s end-to-end space solutions offering, with Geost continuing operations in Arizona and Virginia.

Firmament Invests in LightRidge Solutions Holdings LLC

October 5, 2023

Aerospace & Defense

Firmament announced a capital investment in LightRidge Solutions Holdings LLC to provide structured equity and credit financing to the space- and defense-focused platform. The investment will support LightRidge’s continued platform build and capability expansion—LightRidge (an ATL Partners-backed platform) has previously added GEOST and Ophir and recently integrated Trident Systems to expand space electronics, sensing and C4ISR capabilities.

LightRidge Solutions Acquires Trident Systems

July 17, 2023

Aerospace & Defense

LightRidge Solutions, a portfolio company of ATL Partners, has acquired Trident Systems, a provider of high-performance space electronics and C4ISR solutions. The add-on deal — terms not disclosed — expands LightRidge's capabilities in space mission computing, increases Trident's production capacity, and brings complementary engineering talent into the LightRidge platform.

ATL Partners Acquires Majority Stake in GEOST

August 18, 2021

Aerospace & Defense

New York-based private equity firm ATL Partners has made a majority investment in GEOST, a Tucson, Arizona designer and integrator of small-to-medium electro-optical/infrared sensors for national security space missions. ATL plans to scale GEOST through organic growth, new production capacity and strategic bolt-on acquisitions to expand the company's product capabilities in space domain awareness and related subsystems.