Rocket Lab has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Geost, a leading developer of electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) sensor systems, in a $275 million deal aimed at accelerating its growth in national security space. The acquisition, which includes $125 million in cash and $150 million in Rocket Lab common stock, with an additional $50 million earnout tied to performance, adds advanced optical payload capabilities to Rocket Lab’s vertically integrated space systems platform. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2025.
Based in Tucson, Arizona, Geost specializes in EO/IR systems used in missile warning and tracking, tactical ISR, and space domain awareness. With more than two decades of mission heritage, Geost’s optical payloads support proliferated defense constellations including the Space Development Agency’s Tracking Layer and the proposed Golden Dome architecture. By bringing these capabilities in-house, Rocket Lab gains strategic control over high-performance sensing technologies critical to defense and intelligence customers.
The acquisition establishes a new Optical Systems category within Rocket Lab’s portfolio, enhancing its ability to deliver end-to-end, responsive satellite solutions for national security. Geost’s facilities in Tucson and Northern Virginia, along with 115 optical specialists, will join Rocket Lab’s global operations, expanding its total workforce to over 2,600 across North America, New Zealand, and Canada.
- Rocket Lab to acquire Geost for $275 million plus up to $50 million in earnout incentives.
- Adds EO/IR optical payloads for missile warning, ISR, Earth observation, and SDA.
- Brings in-house optical design, development, and manufacturing capabilities.
- Expands U.S. footprint with new facilities in Arizona and Virginia.
- Optical Systems to become a new product line in Rocket Lab’s space solutions.
“With the acquisition of Geost, we’re bringing advanced electro-optical and infrared payloads in-house to support secure, responsive, and cost-effective systems at scale,” said Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck. “These technologies enable spacecraft that can detect, interpret, and respond to threats in real time, enhancing our role as a trusted provider of end-to-end space capabilities for the United States and its allies.”
