Firefly Aerospace to acquire SciTec for $855 million to expand into space defense

Firefly Aerospace is making a bold push into space defense. Just months after its Nasdaq debut, the Texas-based space tech company announced on Sunday that it will acquire national security technology firm SciTec in a deal valued at $855 million. The move signals Firefly’s growing ambitions to become a key player in the intersection of commercial space and national security—a space that’s drawing increasing investor interest amid geopolitical tensions.

The transaction will be funded through $300 million in cash and $555 million in Firefly shares. The company expects to close the deal by the end of the year.

Firefly’s public listing in August sent its valuation soaring to $9.84 billion after its stock jumped 55.6% on debut. It was the largest U.S. listing this year by a space tech firm, setting the stage for a series of strategic plays. The SciTec acquisition is one of the biggest so far, giving Firefly access to a deep bench of defense software analytics capabilities.

“The acquisition of SciTec enhances our ability to support a growing number of defense missions and provides us with a significant operational advantage,” said Jason Kim, CEO of Firefly Aerospace. “SciTec’s mission-proven software and big data processing capabilities provide warfighters with rapid, accurate information to enable informed decisions that protect our homeland from emerging threats. These capabilities significantly enhance our ability to deliver integrated, software-defined solutions for critical national security imperatives, particularly Golden Dome. We are excited to welcome the SciTec team to the Firefly family and look forward to working together to continue to deliver leading-edge solutions to advance our country’s strategic advantage in space.”

From IPO to Expansion: Firefly Aerospace Acquires SciTec in $855M Deal

Based in Princeton, New Jersey, SciTec specializes in missile warning, tracking, and defense, intelligence, and surveillance technologies. By bringing these capabilities in-house, Firefly aims to strengthen its existing launch, lunar, and in-space service lines, creating a more comprehensive offering for military and civil clients. Once the deal is finalized, SciTec will operate as a Firefly unit under its current CEO, Jim Lisowski.

The timing is strategic. Rising geopolitical tensions and deteriorating international relations have shone a spotlight on space and defense contractors. Governments are pouring money into programs that blend national security and space infrastructure, creating a fertile environment for companies that can bridge both.

Firefly’s path to this point has been anything but smooth. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2017 and saw its CEO ousted last year. It’s faced technical setbacks too. In September, its Alpha rocket booster was destroyed during testing, only weeks after it closed an investigation into a failed Alpha rocket mission that left a Lockheed Martin satellite in a shallow orbit.

Still, the company has proven resilient, using its public listing to reposition itself as a more serious contender in space and defense. The SciTec acquisition is the clearest sign yet that Firefly is betting big on becoming a defense heavyweight.

Founded in 2017 by Noosphere Ventures’ Max Polyakov, Firefly has had a turbulent but resilient history. It emerged from the ashes of Firefly Space Systems, a bankrupt startup whose assets were scooped up by EOS Launcher, later rebranded as Firefly Aerospace. Since then, the company has carved out a niche in small to medium launch vehicles and is expanding into on-orbit services with its Elytra platform, supporting satellite hosting, rideshare deployments, and servicing missions.