Anduril is acquiring ExoAnalytic Solutions, which operates more than 400 telescopes delivering cues on objects in space for the US military. The deal doubles Anduril’s space team and positions it well for Trump’s Golden Dome project.
Highlights
- Anduril reached an agreement to acquire ExoAnalytic Solutions, a space tracking and missile defence business.
- ExoAnalytic operates over 400 telescope systems globally to monitor space 24/7.
- The agreement marks Anduril’s first buy under its space business and its 11th acquisition overall.
- Anduril is poised to win a bigger role in Trump’s Golden Dome missile defence project.
- The acquisition will effectively double the size of Anduril’s space team upon closing.
Anduril Acquired a Firm That Monitors Space Around the Clock
This week, a company called Anduril Industries announced that it was acquiring ExoAnalytic Solutions, which tracks satellites and missiles and other objects flying through space. ExoAnalytic has built its business by watching what is going on in orbit and relaying that information back to the US military and other national security agencies. It all began with missile defence software, and spiralled from there into something much bigger.
The company operates over 400 telescope systems worldwide. Those telescopes monitor thousands of objects in deep space every hour of the day and pass that information along to people who need to understand precisely what is up there, and where it is headed. The deal, would double the space size of Anduril’s team as soon as it closes, according to a statement from the company.
Golden Dome, Reason This Deal Makes So Much Sense
Trump has been promoting a project known as Golden Dome, which would create an orbital shield to follow and intercept ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and hypersonic missiles before they reach the US. It is a term of art for a massive, costly project, and hundreds of defence contractors are already angling for their slice.
Back in late November, Anduril already won a smaller contract for space-based interceptors. Acquiring ExoAnalytic is one way to demonstrate that it can do far more than build interceptors. Being able to stop missiles and objects in space is important, but tracking them before they become a threat is equally vital. This deal gives Anduril both sides of that equation in a single stroke.
What ExoAnalytic Really Brings to the Table
ExoAnalytic is more than a telescope company. It also does modelling and simulation work for national security space programs that are classified. It develops software for missile warning systems and helps the military figure out what is happening in space at any given time. But that sort of depth of knowledge is difficult to create from the ground up and here you have Anduril getting all on one deal.
Anduril already had a $99.7 million five-year contract from the US Space Force to assist with improving the country’s space surveillance network. The 400 or so telescopes that ExoAnalytic has should plug directly into that kind of work. The deal would be an exponential leap for the company across space sensing, tracking, battle management and fire control capabilities at once, Anduril head of engineering Gokul Subramanian told reporters.
Anduril Is Making Something Bigger Than Just Drones
Many people know Anduril by virtue of its autonomous drones. The company was founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, the inventor of the Oculus VR headset. But Anduril has over the past few years been quietly entering into a much broader array of defence work. It is now aiding the US Army’s development of a $22 billion augmented reality headset program and marching hard into space.
The company collected $2.5 billion at a valuation of $30.5 billion in June but reports this month suggested that it is now in discussions to raise more capital and essentially double that value. Acquiring ExoAnalytic is a perfect fit with an approach of acquiring companies that fill holes in what Anduril can give the Pentagon. The deal still has to get regulatory clearance before it all goes completely through but the signalling is very clear.
FAQs
- Why is Anduril buying Exoanalytic?
Anduril is looking to grow its space defence business and compete for a bigger role in Trump’s Golden Dome missile defence program.
2. Is it Anduril’s first deal in space?
Yes, it’s the first acquisition from Anduril’s space business unit, but also the company’s 11th overall acquisition.
3. What was the sale price for ExoAnalytic?
Neither company disclosed the financial terms of the deal.
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