Rocket Lab Acquires Geost for $275 Million to Boost Space Security Tech and U.S. Defense Roles
August 25, 2025
Rocket Lab has finalized its $275 million acquisition of Geost, LLC, a leader in electro-optical and infrared sensor systems for space security, in a deal completed on August 13, 2025.
Geost will continue operations in Arizona and Virginia, maintaining its manufacturing facilities, laboratories, and intellectual property, thereby expanding Rocket Lab's presence in North America.
Geost's advanced EO/IR systems are designed for both classified and unclassified missions in contested space environments, supporting critical national security functions.
According to Bill Gattle, CEO of Lightridge Solutions, joining Rocket Lab will enable Geost to accelerate its sensing technology development and production capacity.
This acquisition allows Rocket Lab to scale high-volume production of EO/IR payloads, leveraging its manufacturing expertise to make these critical defense systems more widely available.
This move enhances Rocket Lab's role as a prime contractor for U.S. defense programs, including the Golden Dome initiative and the Space Development Agency's Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture.
Rocket Lab CEO Sir Peter Beck emphasized that acquiring Geost accelerates the delivery of space systems vital to U.S. national security and supports resilient, responsive space architectures.
Geost's technologies support missile warning, tracking, surveillance, Earth observation, and space domain awareness, which are essential for protecting U.S. assets in contested environments.
The deal involved $125 million in cash, over 3 million Rocket Lab shares, and a potential $50 million earnout based on future revenue from Geost.
The acquisition was finalized on August 13, 2025, with Geost's parent company being purchased from Lightridge Solutions, a portfolio firm of ATL Partners.
Summary based on 2 sources
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Cyprus Shipping News • Aug 25, 2025
Rocket Lab closes acquisition of Geost, Expanding its National Security Capabilities with Launch, Spacecraft, and Now Payloads