Rocket Lab buys Iridium in $8 billion deal, to expand beyond launches
The deal adds a global satellite network and recurring service revenue as Rocket Lab expands beyond launches, with Iridium stockholders set to receive $27 per share.
- On Monday, June 29, 2026, Rocket Lab Corporation announced a definitive agreement to acquire Iridium Communications Inc. in a cash-and-stock deal valued at approximately $8.0 billion.
- By acquiring Iridium, Rocket Lab aims to shift its revenue model from one-time launches to recurring subscription services, helping sidestep "big challenges" like long deployment lead times.
- Financing for the transaction includes a $3.6 billion bridge loan from Deutsche Bank and Wells Fargo, with Rocket Lab planning to launch future satellites in-house using Neutron.
- Combining Rocket Lab's launch capabilities with Iridium's 500-plus partner ecosystem creates a vertically integrated space company, which Sir Peter Beck, founder and CEO of Rocket Lab, called a "defining moment."
- Subject to regulatory approvals, the deal is expected to close in mid-2027, as Matt Desch, CEO of Iridium, said success requires "bringing new innovations to space quickly and sustaining them efficiently.
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