Anduril acquires ExoAnalytic to expand missile tracking network as space becomes the next warfighting domain

Space is no longer treated as a quiet backdrop for satellites and research missions. Military planners now view it as a strategic front, and defense tech startups are moving quickly to secure a role there.

Defense technology company Anduril Industries announced Wednesday that it has signed an agreement to acquire ExoAnalytic Solutions, a national security firm known for its global network of telescopes and expertise in missile defense tracking. The deal gives Anduril access to a powerful data engine that monitors orbital activity and tracks missile launches worldwide.

The acquisition marks a major step in Anduril’s push into space defense. The company plans to combine ExoAnalytic’s sensing and analytics capabilities with its own command-and-control software and autonomous systems. The goal is simple: give the U.S. military a clearer picture of what is happening beyond Earth’s atmosphere.

ExoAnalytic built its reputation through a network of more than 400 telescope systems deployed worldwide, capable of tracking thousands of objects moving through orbit. Those sensors generate continuous observations of satellites, debris, and potential threats in space. The company started with missile defense algorithms and later expanded into space domain awareness, a field focused on cataloging and monitoring everything operating in orbit.

Defense Startup Anduril Acquires ExoAnalytic to Strengthen U.S. Space and Missile Tracking Capabilities

Anduril intends to plug that sensor network into its existing defense platforms, creating a system that blends space sensing, missile tracking, and battlefield decision tools. The combined system is expected to feed data into military command systems that coordinate missile warning, targeting, and interception.

“We believe the [Department of Defense] deserves the best catalog of everything going on in space across commercial and government-specific investments,” said Gokul Subramanian, Anduril’s senior vice president of engineering for software programs. “We want to be part of that solution for the warfighter.”

The move arrives as Washington ramps up its attention on space-based defense systems. President Donald Trump has proposed a $175 billion missile defense initiative known as the “Golden Dome,” a project intended to build a space-based shield capable of intercepting ballistic, cruise, and hypersonic missiles.

Hundreds of companies are already positioning themselves for a share of that effort. Satellite tracking networks and missile detection systems will play a central role in the architecture, placing companies like Anduril directly in the competition for future contracts. The company already secured smaller awards tied to space-based interceptor work last November.

Founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, Brian Schimpf, Joseph Chen, Matt Grimm, and Trae Stephens, Anduril built its reputation on autonomous defense systems, including surveillance platforms, border-monitoring technology, and unmanned aircraft. Luckey previously founded Oculus, which Facebook acquired for $2 billion in 2014.

The acquisition signals a clear shift in Anduril’s ambitions. Space sensing, satellite tracking, and orbital monitoring are becoming central to its defense strategy.

Subramanian told reporters that integrating ExoAnalytic’s capabilities will significantly expand what Anduril can deliver to military programs.

“We expect this acquisition to enable us to tap into those capabilities more and more,” he said.

The purchase is the first acquisition tied to Anduril’s space business unit and the company’s 11th acquisition overall. Financial terms were not disclosed, and the deal still requires regulatory approval.

The company’s momentum continues to build. This month, media reports said Anduril is exploring a new funding round that could raise billions and double its valuation. Its last round, completed in June, brought in $2.5 billion at a $30.5 billion valuation.

At the same time, Anduril remains involved in major U.S. defense programs on the ground. The company is helping the U.S. Army develop its $22 billion augmented reality headset program, a project aimed at giving soldiers enhanced battlefield awareness, CNBC reported.

The addition of ExoAnalytic’s global telescope network extends that vision beyond Earth’s surface. For Anduril, the next battlefield may stretch far above it.

Anduril Founder and CEO Palmer Luckey