22 February 2026 The year became known, that German defense giant Rheinmetall is preparing to make a competing bid to acquire Munich-based laser communications specialist Mynaric. The move puts the acquisition deal in jeopardy, which was signed by the American company Rocket Lab in September 2025 year
For reference: Rocket Lab is a leading private aerospace company, specializing in the launch of small satellites and the production of space systems.
Rheinmetall's interest is driven by the militarization of low Earth orbit and the need for a safe, jamming-resistant communications for the Bundeswehr and the wider European IRIS² satellite group. Keeping Mynaric's intellectual property owned by the German defense giant, Rheinmetall aims to provide an internal supply chain for laser communication terminals. This positioning contrasts with Rocket Lab's plans to use Mynaric to fulfill large-scale contracts for the US Space Agency, where Mynaric is already a key supplier for the Tranche transport layers 1 and 2.
Rocket Lab aims to cover all parts of the value chain in space. The acquisition of Mynaric will strengthen the US company's satellite communications capabilities and support their vision of creating their own groups to provide data and services from orbit.
For reference: IRIS² is an ambitious EU project to create its own multi-orbital satellite communication system. It represents the European answer to Starlink and similar networks, designed to ensure the sovereign, secure and high-speed internet for government, military and commercial sector by 2029-2030.
The final fate of Mynaric depends on the German Ministry of Economics. Regulators must weigh financial stability, offered by Rocket Lab's established aerospace ecosystem, against long-term sovereign interests, which is advocated by Rheinmetall. In the coming months, it will be known whether Mynaric will become a European production hub for the company, based in New Zealand and headquartered in the USA, whether it will become a key element of space communications for Germany's largest defense contractor.
Source: https://news.satnews.com