Mynaric Condor Mk2 terminal integration. Photo: Mynaric

Rocket Lab USA intends to acquire German optical communications company Mynaric in a $75 million deal that would bring a key supplier in house, expand its international footprint, and, it highlighted, strengthen the supply chain for laser communications terminals, which the small Munich-based firm has struggled to manufacture.

Rocket Lab announced the deal on March 11, followed by a deal with Airbus Constellation Satellites to provide solar panels for 100 OneWeb satellites for Eutelsat Group under the constellation extension deal announced in December.

Mynaric is supplying its Condor Mk3 optical communications terminals to Rocket Lab, Northrop Grumman, and York Space Systems for satellites each company is building for a space-based mesh network the Space Development Agency envisions for assured, global military data transmission and connectivity. The 300-plus employee company is also supplying the terminals to Loft Federal as part of that company’s work on an SDA experimental testbed called NeXT.

Last year, Mynaric disclosed production delays of the Condor terminals due to “lower-than-expected yields and component supplier shortages of key components.” In August, the company’s CEO Mustafa Veziroglu stepped down after less than two years in the role after the company reported production delays and slashed revenue guidance.

In February and again on Tuesday, the company said it is ramping up and increasing deliveries of the terminals.

As with its existing space-related products, Rocket Lab said it can offer the market Mynaric’s terminals affordably and “at scale” to meet growing demand. In addition to SDA, Mynaric and Rocket Lab share customers including constellation operators, prime contractors, and civil government agencies.

“Rocket Lab intends to scale production and introduce efficiencies to Mynaric’s existing manufacturing capability to further support SDA and other opportunities, providing these customers with improved confidence and assurance their terminals will be delivered on schedule and on budget,” the company said.

Rocket Lab also touted the production assets, intellectual property, products, and backlog it would get through the deal.

The California-based company has launch sites in New Zealand and Virginia. Acquiring Mynaric would be its entrée into Europe, opening “incremental” growth there for its products and services, it said.

The $75 million purchase price would be payable in cash or stock. Deal terms include an additional $75 million in potential earn-out provisions based on Mynaric meeting future sales targets.

Mynaric is undergoing a restructuring under German law. Once completed, Mynaric’s lenders would own the company. Rocket Lab said it has entered into a non-binding term sheet agreement with the lenders to acquire a controlling position in Mynaric. The acquisition is expected to close once the restructuring proceeds are complete.

Rocket Lab said it may fund the Mynaric deal and future acquisitions with proceeds from equity offerings. On Tuesday, the company also said it has filed a prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Commission to sell shares of its stock to raise up to $500 million to fund future growth, including potentially the Mynaric acquisition.

OneWeb Solar Panel Order

Rocket Lab will provide 200 solar panels to Airbus for the 100-satellite OneWeb constellation update. This includes carbon composite panel substrates, solar cells, and photovoltaic assemblies. These panels will be manufactured at Rocket Lab’s 150,000 square-foot space solar production facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Rocket Lab previously supplied more than 450 shipsets of solar array panels for the first fleet of OneWeb satellites. Airbus contracted with solar power supplier SolAero, which Rocket lab acquired in 2021.

“We’re thrilled to extend our partnership with Airbus by providing our world-leading space solar panels to power Eutelsat’s next-gen OneWeb constellation. This collaboration will see 100 more satellites equipped with Rocket Lab technology, ensuring dependable, cutting-edge solutions that advance global connectivity,” Brad Clevenger, vice president of Space Systems at Rocket Lab commented.

A version of this story was first published by Defense Daily