Firefly Aerospace announced Sunday that it has agreed to acquire defense analytics company SciTec in a deal valued at $855 million in cash and stock, a move that underscores its growing ambitions in the U.S. defense sector.
Under the terms of the agreement, Firefly will pay $300 million in cash and $555 million in new shares, with the deal expected to close by the end of 2025.
Based in Princeton, New Jersey, SciTec develops missile-warning and tracking systems, space domain awareness tools, and analytics platforms for defense and intelligence agencies. The company reported $164 million in annual revenue as of June 2025 and earlier this year secured a $259 million Space Force contract to build a ground system for missile-detection satellites.
The acquisition comes two months after Firefly’s IPO, which valued the company at nearly $10 billion, and reflects its strategy to transition from a launch and spacecraft manufacturer to a vertically integrated defense contractor.
Bringing SciTec under its umbrella is expected to strengthen Firefly’s capabilities as the Pentagon increases collaboration with private sector partners on missile tracking and early-warning programs, including its ambitious “Golden Dome” missile-defense initiative.
Once finalized, SciTec will operate as a subsidiary of Firefly Aerospace, continuing under the leadership of its current CEO, Jim Lisowski.
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With this acquisition, Firefly is positioning itself to play a central role in national security and defense analytics, integrating launch services, spacecraft manufacturing, and advanced data systems into a unified operation.
