Jason Kim, chief executive officer of Firefly Aerospace, center, during the company’s initial public offering at the Nasdaq MarketSite in New York, US, on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
Michael Nagle | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Firefly Aerospace stock gained 5% Monday, after the space company said it is buying defense technology contractor SciTec for $855 million as it looks to strengthen its national security offering.
The deal, announced Sunday, is slated to close at the end of the year and includes $300 million in cash and $555 million in Firefly shares.
“These capabilities significantly enhance our ability to deliver integrated, software-defined solutions for critical national security imperatives, particularly Golden Dome,” said CEO Jason Kim in a release.
The company plans to integrate SciTec’s software into its tools. Capabilities such as missile warning, tracking and defense and autonomous command control will also support Firefly’s launch and space services, the company said.
Last week, Firefly shares sank more than 20% in one trading session after the company said a rocket exploded during a ground test at its Texas facility. That came shortly after the Federal Aviation Administration cleared Firefly in an investigation over another rocket failure.
Firefly shares debuted on the Nasdaq this summer to strong investor demand. The public listing marked the third significant space tech debut of 2025, and shares surged more than 30% on its first day of trading. The stock has since pulled back.
Firefly carries a growing list of key government and defense partners as it builds its position in the national security space. That includes a recent $177 million contract with NASA and a $50 million investment from Northrop Grumman.
Once the acquisition closes, Princeton, New Jersey-based SciTec will operate as a subsidiary run by current CEO Jim Lisowski.
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