Private Equity-Backed Aerospace & Defense Acquisitions

An affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management has completed the full acquisition of Vivace International, a New Orleans–based maker of mission‑critical propulsion tanks and aerospace systems. Cerberus initially made a growth investment in 2024 and plans to scale Vivace's production capacity and advanced manufacturing capabilities to support an expanding portfolio of U.S. defense and spaceflight programs; retired Space Force Colonel and former NASA astronaut Michael Hopkins has joined Vivace as a Senior Advisor.

Infleqtion completed its previously announced business combination with Churchill Capital Corp X, becoming the first publicly listed neutral-atom quantum technology company and beginning trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker INFQ. The transaction provided Infleqtion with over $550 million of gross proceeds (including nearly all of Churchill X's trust account and a >$125 million PIPE) to accelerate commercialization of its quantum computing and sensing products for government and commercial customers.

By Light Professional IT Services, a portfolio company of Sagewind Capital, has acquired Orlando-based Dignitas Technologies, a provider of modeling, simulation and training (MS&T) products and mission rehearsal applications. Financial terms were not disclosed; the acquisition expands By Light's synthetic and cyber training capabilities and integrates Dignitas' work supporting multiple U.S. military branches and programs such as the F-35, ACTS II and NGC.

Auria, a portfolio company of Enlightenment Capital, has acquired BCubed Engineering Corporation, a Warrenton, Virginia–based developer of software-defined satellite communications, digital ground systems, and cloud-native command-and-control platforms. The acquisition expands Auria's C3 (command, control, communications) software and hardware capabilities to better serve customers including the U.S. Space Force, Special Operations Command, and the Intelligence Community; Auria now has more than 500 employees across multiple U.S. locations.

Kingswood Capital Management has completed the acquisition of Safran Passenger Innovations from Safran and the business has been renamed RAVE Aerospace. Headquartered in Brea, California, RAVE Aerospace provides in‑flight entertainment and connectivity solutions for airlines, lessors and OEMs; Kingswood says it will invest to accelerate growth, expand globally, and develop new technologies.

Ventus Industrial Partners, in partnership with GenNx360 Capital Partners and Admiralty Partners, formed a new platform, Aeron Defense, and acquired General Tool Company and Magna Machine to create a consolidated defense manufacturing group. The Kramer family became minority shareholders in Aeron as the two Ohio-based machining and assembly businesses are unified to expand capacity and capabilities for major U.S. defense primes.

Bain Capital has acquired APP Jet Center, a five-location fixed-base operator (FBO) platform, from Ridgewood Infrastructure. The investment—led by Bain Capital Real Estate—marks Bain's entry into the FBO sector; Mark Johnstone, former CEO of Signature Aviation, will lead APP as Bain plans to expand the platform into additional supply-constrained markets. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Auria, a Colorado Springs-based C3 software and solutions provider and portfolio company of Enlightenment Capital, has acquired RKF Engineering Solutions and Kythera Space Solutions, both headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland. The add-on acquisitions expand Auria's SATCOM engineering, spectrum management, and autonomous payload software capabilities to deliver end-to-end command, control, and communications (C3) solutions for U.S. Space Force, other government customers, and commercial SATCOM operators.

Falfurrias Capital Partners has acquired Coherent Technical Services, Inc. (CTSi) and is combining CTSi with EXPANSIA and John H. Northrop & Associates (JHNA) to form a new defense technology platform backed by Falfurrias. The combined organization brings together avionics and systems integration, digital engineering, AI/autonomy and advanced prototyping capabilities (including CTSi's patented MudBucket) to support U.S. defense and government customers.

GracoRoberts has acquired Miami-based Sky Mart to expand its presence across Latin America and strengthen AOG readiness, inventory depth, and fulfillment capability. The deal adds roughly 42,000 square feet of fulfillment space (Miami, San Antonio, Indianapolis) and is supported by GracoRoberts' private equity sponsor, CM Equity Partners.

Aurex, a Godspeed Capital–backed space and missile defense engineering platform, has acquired Alpha 2 Inc., a Chantilly, Virginia firm specializing in cryptographic engineering, cybersecurity, and secure communications for U.S. national security space systems. The add-on expands Aurex's capabilities in encryption engineering and classified secure communications to better support mission-critical space, missile defense and intelligence community customers; financial terms were not disclosed.

The Blackhawk Group, a portfolio company of New State Capital Partners, has acquired Silver Sky Aviation of Wasilla, Alaska, expanding TBG's Performance Center Network into Alaska. The acquisition adds a sixth Performance Center location and strengthens TBG's turboprop maintenance and performance capabilities; terms were not disclosed.

Arxis, a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management, has acquired Micro-Tronics, Inc., a Tempe, Arizona-based manufacturer of engineered elastomeric and metallic components for commercial aerospace and defense applications. The add-on strengthens Arxis' Mechanical Components segment by adding MTI's elastomeric diaphragm, seal assembly and high-precision EDM capabilities to support mission-critical aerospace and defense programs.

NTC Group completed a refinancing and buyout of junior capital that consolidates its ownership of Tenax Aerospace to approximately 80%, ending Bain Capital Credit’s investment. The transaction included new junior capital led by AEA Private Debt and senior debt facilities arranged by Regions Capital Markets to support Tenax’s next phase of growth.

AxioAero Group, a portfolio company of CORE Industrial Partners, has acquired Airway Aerospace LLC, an FAA-, EASA- and CAA UK-certified aircraft component repair station based in Doral, Florida. The add-on strengthens AxioAero's aerospace MRO platform by adding Airway's component repair capabilities and certifications, expanding service coverage across commercial, cargo, and defense aviation markets.

ATL Partners has acquired SkyMark Companies and Rampmaster and will combine the two businesses into a global specialty vehicle equipment platform focused on aviation refueling and ground support equipment. A&M Capital Strategic Investments completed a minority investment alongside ATL; both management teams will retain leadership roles and meaningful equity stakes in the combined company. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Sabel Systems Technology Solutions has acquired Centil to strengthen its digital engineering and space-domain capabilities, particularly in DevSecOps and CI/CD product development for defense and commercial space customers. The deal is Sabel's second acquisition since Sagewind Capital made a majority investment in the company in October; legal and financial advisers for the deal were named in the announcement.

Pan Am Flight Academy, a portfolio company of Acorn Capital Management, has acquired Alliance Aviation, a Part 142 flight training organization. Alliance will operate as a division of Pan Am under the continued leadership of owner Federico Flores, strengthening Pan Am’s simulator-based training capabilities and expanding its reach in Latin America.

Capitol Meridian Partners and Stellex Capital Management completed the carve-out acquisition of Beaufort, the aerospace and defense survival equipment division of Survitec, positioning Beaufort as an independent survival technologies platform backed by private equity. The deal (terms undisclosed) establishes a long-term investment to support Beaufort’s growth through operational investment, portfolio expansion and potential strategic acquisitions; Beaufort employs roughly 1,200 people and is headquartered in Ellesmere Port, United Kingdom.

AE Industrial Partners has acquired a controlling majority stake (reported ~60%) in L3Harris Technologies’ Space Propulsion and Power Systems business, in a transaction reported at about $845 million. L3Harris will retain a minority interest and remain a strategic partner; AE Industrial plans to restore the Rocketdyne name, modernize manufacturing, and accelerate next‑generation propulsion and in‑space power capabilities.

Falfurrias Management Partners advised by McGuireWoods merged John H. Northrop & Associates, Coherent Technical Services and EXPANSIA Group to create a new national defense technology platform serving U.S. government defense agencies and commercial partners. The combined company will deliver digital engineering, modeling & simulation and advanced fabrication and employs more than 525 professionals across key defense hubs in the United States.

Tikehau Capital’s aerospace and defense fund has acquired ScioTeq, a Belgium-based designer and manufacturer of ruggedized displays and mission-critical visualization systems, from OpenGate Capital. OpenGate will retain a meaningful minority stake and continue to support ScioTeq as the company pursues new markets and product expansion under Tikehau’s sector expertise.

McNally Capital has acquired Airforce Turbine Service, Ltd. (ATS), a Texas-headquartered provider of PT6A turboprop engine MRO and aftermarket services, marking the first investment from McNally Capital Fund III. As part of the transaction, Johannesburg-based TEMRO will join ATS as a wholly owned operating subsidiary and industry executive Rob Wilson will serve as Executive Chairman to support scaling and capability expansion.

Godspeed Capital Management LP has made a strategic growth investment in NextPoint Group (NPG), a Herndon, Virginia-based provider of AI-powered software, cloud modernization, and mission-critical network capabilities for the U.S. intelligence and defense communities. Financial terms were not disclosed; NPG CEO Ron Kattas and other management will retain meaningful ownership while Godspeed partners to build NPG into a mission-technology platform and expand its offerings.

Greenbriar Equity Group has formed a new platform, Applied Aerospace & Defense, by combining Applied Aerospace and PCX Aerosystems to create a scaled supplier of precision flight, space and defense hardware. The combined company brings complementary capabilities in metal, composite and polymer manufacturing, more than 1,300 employees across nine locations in five states, and 1.3 million square feet of production and integration facilities to serve military, commercial aerospace and space customers.

Precision Aviation Group (PAG) has acquired H.E.R.O.S. Inc., a Chandler, Arizona-based specialist in Rolls-Royce M250/RR300 engine MRO services. The deal expands PAG’s M250/RR300 capabilities and geographic footprint, adding a specialized test cell and facility to support commercial, military, and special-mission operators.

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.

ONE Bow River National Defense Fund made a strategic growth investment in Odyssey Space Research, a provider of spaceflight software and engineering services. The investment will support Odyssey's growth with government and commercial customers, and fund expansion into new mission areas and continued development of proprietary tools and software.

Torque Capital Group has acquired Joe Gibbs Manufacturing Solutions from Joe Gibbs Racing and rebranded the business as JGA Space & Defense. The company will focus on supplying advanced specialty composites, precision-machined aerospace and defense components, and rocket propulsion assemblies, and will expand into a ~60,000 sq. ft. facility in Huntersville, North Carolina to support growth into the space and defense supply chain.

Warburg Pincus has acquired Topcast Aviation Supplies Company Limited, the largest independent distributor of civil aircraft parts and MRO service provider in the Asia Pacific, headquartered in Hong Kong. The buyout positions Warburg Pincus to deepen its aviation portfolio and support Topcast’s next phase of growth by expanding capabilities, digital infrastructure, and global supplier and customer relationships.

Prime Appearance acquired Immaculate Flight in a stock deal, combining two leading providers of aircraft appearance and detailing services to expand nationwide coverage. The acquisition adds Immaculate Flight’s operations at more than 200 airports and will be integrated and rebranded under the Prime Appearance brand, expanding service coverage in markets including Atlanta, Austin, Seattle, Nashville, South Florida, Southern California, the Bay Area, and throughout Texas.

Indigenous-owned Flowing River Capital Partners has acquired Marshall Land Systems, a deployable defence-systems manufacturer, in a transaction completed Nov. 21, 2025. The deal transfers ownership from the Marshall Group and positions Flowing River to expand its defence portfolio, accelerate Marshall's global growth, and strengthen Canada’s defence industrial base while advancing Indigenous economic reconciliation.

Chicago-based private equity firm McNally Capital has merged its portfolio company Quiet Professionals with Tampa-based Spathe Systems to form a new defense technology platform aimed at supporting U.S. Special Operations Forces and the broader national security community. Quiet Professionals CEO Andy Wilson will lead the combined company (which will operate under a new name) to expand capabilities across cybersecurity, intelligence, cloud services and advanced analytics. McNally partnered with Nio Advisors on the transactions; Raymond James and Ropes Gray served as McNally's financial and legal advisers, respectively.

Groupe HLD (HLD Europe) acquired Photonis Group (rebranded Exosens) from Ardian in 2021 in a reported €370 million buyout. Under HLD ownership Exosens expanded through nearly ten add-on acquisitions, grew to roughly 1,600–1,900 employees with ~€394m turnover, and completed an IPO on Euronext Paris in June 2024.

ARMADA Parent Inc., a PE-backed maritime and defense services platform majority owned by Carlyle and Stellex Capital Management, has acquired Poseidon Industrial LLC. The acquisition strengthens ARMADA's ship repair, modernization, and systems-integration capabilities to better support U.S. Navy and defense programs.

Jet Parts Engineering (a Vance Street Capital portfolio company) has acquired Cima Aviation, an MRO specialist in fuel and hydraulic component repairs. The add-on expands JPE's aftermarket capabilities and shortens turnaround times for commercial, cargo, regional, and military aircraft customers.

Atlantic Aviation has acquired Jet Center at Santa Fe, a full-service FBO at Santa Fe Regional Airport, adding approximately 16.5 acres of ramp space, a modern executive terminal and ~50,000 sq. ft. of heated hangar space to its network. The facility immediately begins operating as Atlantic Aviation and expands the operator's presence in New Mexico as part of its strategy to add high-quality FBO locations.

Canopy Aerospace & Defense, a portfolio company of Trive Capital, has acquired Tods Technology Ltd., a Portland, Dorset-based designer and manufacturer of advanced composite structures and acoustic materials for the maritime defense sector. The add-on acquisition expands Canopy A&D's technical capabilities in sonar domes and acoustic enclosures, strengthens transatlantic supply-chain resilience, and will see Tods operate under the Canopy A&D umbrella with further investment in infrastructure and people.

Valence Surface Technologies, the largest independent aerospace surface finishing platform in North America, acquired Foresight Finishing, a Tempe, Arizona-based provider of precious metal surface treatment for aerospace and defense electronics. The add-on expands Valence's capabilities in tight-tolerance precious metal plating and provides regional presence in the A&D electronics supply chain; financial terms were not disclosed.

H.I.G. Capital has completed the acquisition of a majority stake in A.L.A. S.p.A., an Italy‑based provider of mission‑critical logistics and distribution services to aerospace and defense manufacturers. The founding families, including co‑founders Fulvio Scannapieco and Vittorio Genna, will retain a significant minority stake as H.I.G. partners with the management to accelerate ALA's growth and strengthen its global supply‑chain position.

DC Capital Partners has acquired Aeronautical & General Instruments Limited (AGI), a UK-based provider of integrated maritime technologies and systems, from Trident Maritime Systems (a portfolio company of investment affiliates of J.F. Lehman & Company). The transaction will spin AGI out to operate independently under DC Capital, which plans strategic investments in technology, engineering talent and infrastructure to expand AGI’s capabilities and global reach in support of naval and maritime customers.

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.

Fairbanks Morse Defense, a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management, has acquired Vestdavit, a Bergen-based supplier of davits and advanced boat-handling systems, from its four owners for an undisclosed amount. The deal expands FMD's marine handling and OEM capabilities and adds Vestdavit's manufacturing site in Poland plus service centers in the Netherlands and Seattle to FMD's global footprint.

Expedition Technology has received a strategic growth investment from Razor's Edge and Enlightenment Capital to accelerate the company's AI/ML-powered C5ISR, signals, and geospatial intelligence capabilities. The partnership will support scaling Expedition's offerings to the Intelligence Community and Department of Defense.

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.

Main Street Capital Corporation completed a $45.0 million investment to facilitate a minority recapitalization of an unnamed, Southeastern U.S.-based specialty aircraft distributor. The transaction provides liquidity to the Company's CEO (the sole owner) and consists of first lien senior secured debt plus a direct minority equity investment.

Barnes Aerospace has completed the acquisition of the East Hartford Operations (EHO) division of ATI Forged Products, a business of ATI Inc. The EHO facility — located in East Hartford, Connecticut — brings more than 75 years of experience and a workforce of over 80 employees, expanding Barnes Aerospace's precision machining capabilities for flight-safety-critical aeroengine and rotorcraft components. Mesirow served as exclusive financial advisor to ATI on the divestiture.

Fundamental Advisors has acquired Trans Aero Ltd, a Cheyenne-based operator of utility, fire suppression and MedEvac helicopter services, adding a fleet of 11 helicopters to the firm's public service helicopter strategy. Terms were not disclosed; the deal is the second acquisition under Fundamental's helicopter investment strategy following an earlier investment in HeloAir and is intended to expand the firm's capability to provide essential aviation services to municipal, government and hospital clients across the United States.

Solestra Group, a North American precision manufacturing platform backed by Emko Capital, has acquired LHM Technologies Inc., a Woodbridge, Ontario-based supplier specializing in landing gear systems. The acquisition expands Solestra's aerospace manufacturing footprint to five North American sites and deepens its capabilities in precision machining, sub-assemblies, and flight-critical landing gear components.

Asylon, Inc. closed a $24 million Series B led by Insight Partners with participation from Veteran Ventures Capital, Allegion Ventures, and the GO PA Fund. The funding will accelerate product development, scale deployments of Asylon’s AI-driven air and ground robotic security solutions, and expand engineering, operations, and go-to-market teams for commercial and government customers.