Rocket Lab to Acquire Iridium Communications

Rocket Lab to Acquire Iridium Communications

September 24, 2026

Telecommunications

Rocket Lab will acquire Iridium Communications in a merger in which Iridium stockholders are to receive $27.00 in cash plus Rocket Lab shares for each Iridium share, for a stated notional value of $54.00 per share. Iridium stockholders approved the merger, but the transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions and is expected to be completed by mid-2027.

Iridium Communications to Acquire Aireon LLC

May 14, 2026

Telecommunications

Iridium Communications has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Aireon LLC, operator of the world’s only space-based ADS-B air traffic surveillance system. Iridium will purchase the remaining 61% of Aireon for approximately $366.7 million and assume about $155 million of Aireon’s debt, with the deal targeted to close in early July 2026.

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.

Iridium Communications Acquires Satelles

March 4, 2024

Telecommunications

Iridium Communications has agreed to acquire Satelles, a provider of satellite-based Satellite Time and Location (STL) services that harden and complement GNSS timing and location systems. Iridium will pay about $115 million for the remaining ~80% of Satelles (it already owned ~20%), will fold STL into a new Iridium business line led by Satelles CEO Dr. Michael O'Connor, and expects the capability to drive significant service revenue growth.

L3Harris to Acquire Aerojet Rocketdyne

December 18, 2022

Aerospace & Defense

L3Harris Technologies has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc. for $58 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at $4.7 billion inclusive of net debt. The deal, financed with cash and new debt, will combine Aerojet Rocketdyne’s propulsion and energetics capabilities (about $2.3 billion in revenue and ~5,200 employees) with L3Harris to strengthen defense propulsion, hypersonics and missile-defense offerings; the transaction is expected to close subject to regulatory approvals in 2023.

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. Acquires Planetary Systems Corporation

November 15, 2021

Aerospace & Defense

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) completed the acquisition of Planetary Systems Corporation (PSC), a Maryland-based spacecraft separation systems and satellite dispenser manufacturer, for $42 million in cash plus 1,720,841 shares of common stock and a potential earnout of up to 956,023 additional shares. The deal (expected/closed in Q4 2021 per announcements) brings PSC's flight-proven separation hardware and its 25-person team into Rocket Lab's Space Systems division to expand Rocket Lab's end-to-end launch, spacecraft, and space-hardware capabilities.