Rocket Lab Completes $275M Geost Acquisition to Build Integrated Defense Space Infrastructure

Rocket Lab has finalized its acquisition of Geost, a leading developer of electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) sensor systems, marking a strategic consolidation in the U.S. defense space sector. The deal, valued at $275 million upfront—comprising $125 million in cash and 3,057,588 shares of Rocket Lab common stock—plus up to $50 million in earnout contingent on revenue milestones, represents Rocket Lab’s move to control the full mission stack from launch to payload.

Closing the Gap in Defense Space Capabilities

The transaction closes a critical capability gap for Rocket Lab. While the company has established itself as a launch provider and spacecraft manufacturer, acquiring Geost brings proven EO/IR technologies for missile warning, tracking, and space domain awareness directly into its portfolio. Founded in 2004, Geost brings two decades of proven performance on classified and unclassified national security missions, with over 100 employees and established facilities in Arizona and Virginia.

This vertical integration positions Rocket Lab as a disruptive prime contractor for next-generation defense initiatives, particularly the Pentagon’s Golden Dome for America concept and the Space Development Agency’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWS-A)—both demanding rapid deployment of resilient, mission-ready satellite constellations.

Manufacturing at Scale

Beyond technology, Geost’s acquisition unlocks manufacturing capacity and facilities for Rocket Lab. By combining Geost’s production infrastructure with Rocket Lab’s scaling expertise, the company aims to produce EO/IR systems at volume—a critical advantage as U.S. defense demand for contested space operations accelerates. The company now controls product development, manufacturing, launch, and operational management across the mission lifecycle.

“Being able to quickly build and deploy entire satellite systems is the cornerstone of future U.S. defense strategy,” Rocket Lab founder and CEO Sir Peter Beck stated, emphasizing how the deal accelerates delivery of mission-critical payloads.

Strategic Timing in a Contested Space Environment

Geost’s sensing technologies address an urgent national security need: as space becomes increasingly contested, the U.S. military requires distributed, resilient networks capable of rapid reconstitution. Geost’s portfolio—spanning tactical intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, Earth observation, and space situational awareness—fills that operational gap within Rocket Lab’s broader platform.

The acquisition also expands Rocket Lab’s North American footprint, with manufacturing and R&D operations now spanning California, Arizona, and Virginia. For investors tracking Rocket Lab (RKLB), the deal signals management’s confidence in defense spending momentum and the company’s ability to capture end-to-end mission revenues rather than competing solely on launch capacity.