ATL Partners Sells Geost to Rocket Lab, Launches Trident Solutions for Defense Electronics

ATL Partners has sold Geost, LLC to Rocket Lab USA, enhancing Rocket Lab's EO/IR capabilities. ATL has launched Trident Solutions, focusing on defense electronics, mission-critical components, and airborne payloads. The sale and formation of Trident Solutions position ATL for growth in national security and defense markets. The Geost sale is pending regulatory approval, expected in H2 2025.

Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB), a leading provider of launch services and space systems, has acquired Geost, LLC, a subsidiary of LightRidge Solutions, a portfolio company of ATL Partners. The acquisition, valued at $275 million, marks Rocket Lab's entry into the satellite payload segment, enhancing its position as a provider of end-to-end national security space solutions.

Geost, founded in 2004, specializes in advanced electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) sensor systems for high-priority national security satellites. The company has a strong track record in delivering mission-critical payloads for missile warning, tactical intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, Earth observation, and space domain awareness. This acquisition will enable Rocket Lab to rapidly deliver integrated spacecraft systems tailored to U.S. national security needs, reducing integration risk and accelerating timelines.

The acquisition includes Geost's extensive product assets, manufacturing facilities, intellectual property, and a team of 115 highly trained professionals. The addition of these resources will bring Rocket Lab's total headcount to more than 2,600 employees across its global operations. The acquisition is expected to close in the second half of 2025, pending regulatory approval [1].

ATL Partners, the seller, has announced the formation of Trident Solutions, focusing on defense electronics, mission-critical components, and airborne payloads. This strategic move positions ATL for growth in the national security and defense markets. The Geost sale is a significant exit for ATL, which acquired the company in 2021 and scaled its business into a market leader in EO/IR sensing technologies [2].

Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, stated, "Rocket Lab was founded to disrupt the traditional space industry, and we're doing just that by expanding our ability to deliver complete, mission-critical space solutions. With the acquisition of Geost, we're bringing advanced electro-optical and infrared payloads in-house to support secure, responsive, and cost-effective systems at scale." Bill Gattle, Geost's General Manager and CEO of Lightridge Solutions, added, "Integrating Geost's advanced optical capabilities is a natural next step for Rocket Lab as the company expands its end-to-end space systems."

This acquisition underscores Rocket Lab's commitment to innovation and its strategic positioning in the national security space. The company's ability to deliver rapid, integrated, and mission-critical solutions is expected to further strengthen its role as a trusted provider of end-to-end space capabilities for the United States and its allies.

References:
[1] https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250524371387/en/Rocket-Lab-Enters-Payload-Market-with-Agreement-to-Acquire-Geost-Positioning-Itself-as-Disruptive-Prime-to-U.S.-National-Security
[2] https://www.citybiz.co/article/699260/atl-partners-announces-sale-of-geost-to-rocket-lab/