Firefly Aerospace has revealed its intentions to acquire defense contractor SciTec in a deal valued at approximately $855 million. The agreement, announced on October 5th, will be structured with $300 million in cash and $555 million in Firefly shares, priced at $50 per share, issued to SciTec owners. This move signifies Firefly’s strategic expansion into the defense sector, complementing its existing capabilities in launch services and lunar exploration.
Based in Cedar Park, Texas, Firefly specializes in developing launch vehicles, lunar landers, and in-space transportation systems for both commercial and national security endeavors. The company became a publicly traded entity on the Nasdaq on August 7th. The acquisition, anticipated to be finalized by the end of 2025 pending regulatory approvals, aims to solidify Firefly’s position in the defense market, particularly in pursuing opportunities within the Golden Dome program. SciTec, a specialist in software and data processing, focuses on remote sensing, missile defense, space domain awareness, and autonomous command and control systems.
The Golden Dome program, an initiative launched by the Trump administration, aims to create a missile defense shield using advanced space-based detection and tracking systems. SciTec, headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, also operates a software development facility in Boulder, Colorado, specializing in missile detection software. The company employs around 475 individuals, many of whom hold security clearances.
Firefly reported that SciTec generated approximately $164 million in revenue for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2025, primarily through defense and intelligence contracts. SciTec has secured significant contracts with the U.S. Space Force for developing next-generation missile warning data systems utilizing artificial intelligence and machine learning. Notably, in May, the U.S. Space Force awarded SciTec a $259 million contract for developing ground system software for military missile-warning satellites under the Future Operationally Resilient Ground Evolution (FORGE) program. This program aims to establish a government-owned ground system for missile warning satellite command and control. SciTec had previously secured other FORGE deals, including a $272 million contract for missile-warning data processing applications.
The FORGE program is designed to replace aging ground infrastructure supporting the military’s constellation of missile warning satellites, which provide early detection of ballistic missile launches worldwide. Upon completion of the acquisition, SciTec will function as a Firefly subsidiary, led by current CEO of SciTec, Jim Lisowski, who will report to Firefly’s CEO Jason Kim. Kim stated that integrating SciTec’s software and data capabilities will "significantly enhance Firefly’s ability to deliver comprehensive, software-defined solutions for critical national security missions, especially in support of the Golden Dome missile defense program."
This transaction occurs as space technology companies are increasingly seeking to diversify their revenue streams through defense contracts. The Golden Dome program, estimated to cost hundreds of billions of dollars over its lifetime, has garnered considerable interest from commercial space firms. During a recent industry event, Kim highlighted Firefly’s Alpha rocket as a potential asset for launching missile-defense test targets, and suggested the company’s Elytra spacecraft platform could serve as a host for space-based interceptors. “SciTec is well positioned to provide the fire control and common ground elements for Golden Dome,” Kim said Oct. 5 during a webcast presentation announcing the acquisition. Firefly and SciTec, he said, "can launch and deliver space-based interceptors, launch surrogate targets and hypersonic tests, and integrate data processing from a network of sensors."
At the start of the webcast, Kim addressed the company’s efforts to return its Alpha launch vehicle to flight. The rocket is currently grounded following an explosion during ground acceptance testing of the first stage booster for its upcoming Flight 7 mission at the company’s Briggs, Texas, facility on September 29th. “I have full confidence in our Alpha team to return to flight safely,” Kim said. “We will have more information to share in the weeks ahead, and we’ll provide a go-forward plan for Alpha in a separate update.” This mishap occurred shortly after Alpha received clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration to resume launches following a failure during Alpha Flight 6 in April 2025, where the vehicle disintegrated shortly after stage separation. The booster destroyed in the test was intended for a Lockheed Martin payload demonstration, and the grounding is expected to cause delays in upcoming missions.