CACI to acquire space intelligence firm ARKA in $2.6 billion all-cash deal

U.S. defense contractor CACI International said it will buy space technology provider ARKA Group from funds managed by Blackstone Tactical Opportunities in an all-cash deal valued at $2.6 billion, a move that deepens CACI’s reach across national security and space-based intelligence.

The announcement comes at a time when defense and intelligence spending continues to rise. Washington and its allies are allocating more funding to space systems, cyber operations, and advanced surveillance as geopolitical pressure mounts. For CACI, the acquisition slots neatly into that shift.

“The acquisition of ARKA represents a significant step forward in our space strategy,” said John Mengucci, CACI President and Chief Executive Officer. “They bring deep experience and proven performance as a best-in-class provider of national security space and defense capabilities, which has been enhanced by Blackstone’s constructive stewardship of the business during their ownership. With a shared heritage spanning more than sixty years, CACI and ARKA address complex mission requirements and deliver future-ready solutions at the speed and scale required to expand the limits of national security.”

ARKA develops space-based sensor systems and software used across sensitive national security missions. Its tools help collect, process, and analyze data for military and intelligence customers, including work tied to the U.S. Space Force. Folding that capability into CACI gives the company a broader space portfolio and more exposure to long-term government programs.

Chief executive John Mengucci framed the deal as a growth play focused on free cash flow over time, signaling confidence that demand for intelligence and space services will stay strong. CACI said the transaction should close in the third quarter of fiscal 2026 and expects a tax benefit with a present value of about $225 million.

The purchase underscores how defense contractors are leaning into space and intelligence assets as the next major engine of government spending, with CACI placing a sizable bet that those priorities will define the coming decade.