US-based Firefly Aerospace has announced its intention to acquire defense contractor SciTec for approx $855 millions. The agreement provides $300 million in cash and $555 million in Firefly shares. Expected, that the deal will be completed to the end 2025 year after receiving all necessary regulatory approvals.
The acquisition opens Firefly's entry into the defense technology market, where the company plans to expand its presence within the Golden Dome initiative. SciTec, which is headquartered in Princeton (New Jersey), specializes in remote sensing software development, missile launch warning systems, space awareness and autonomous control.
According to the results 12 months, that have ended 30 June 2025 year, SciTec received approx $164 million in revenue, mainly from defense and intelligence contracts. Among the key agreements is the US Air Force contract for $259 million within the framework of the FORGE program (Future Operationally Resilient Ground Evolution) for the development of ground-based software for missile threat warning systems. The company also fulfills previous FORGE contracts on $272 millions, which involve the creation of applications for data processing of systems for early detection of missile launches.
Upon completion of the deal, SciTec will become a subsidiary of Firefly and continue to operate under current CEO Jim Lisowski. The integration of SciTec will allow Firefly to strengthen its software and analytical capabilities for the implementation of national defense projects, in particular in the field of anti-missile defense.
Firefly, which went public on Nasdaq in August 2025 year, actively develops directions of launches, lunar missions and transport platforms. As part of the Golden Dome program, the company offers the use of its Alpha rocket to launch targets as part of tests of air defense systems, as well as the space platform Elytra - for placement of orbital interceptors.
At the same time, Firefly continues to work on resuming the flights of the Alpha rocket, which was suspended after a first-stage explosion during ground tests 29 September in Texas. This happened shortly after, how the Federal Aviation Administration allowed the company to resume launches after the failure of the Alpha Flight mission 6 in April. The incident delayed another launch with a Lockheed Martin payload, however, Firefly states, which is preparing an updated plan to return the missile to service.
Source: https://spacenews.com