Satellite antenna maker's acquisition bets on government growth

Satellite antenna manufacturer Kymeta closes an acquisition to both add a services piece to its business and position for government market growth.

Satellite antenna manufacturer Kymeta Corp. has closed on an acquisition that it believes will create better positioning for opportunities with U.S. and international government agencies, including through one key federal contract vehicle.

Kymeta said Tuesday it has acquired Lepton Global Solutions, which will become a subsidiary of the former. Terms of the transaction were undisclosed.

Vienna, Virginia-based Lepton was founded in 2013 and provides satellite-based customized turn-key communications solutions and services to agencies in the U.S. intelligence community, Special Operations Command and other government sectors.

One key contract vehicle in Lepton’s portfolio that Kymeta will gain is the potential $2.5 billion Custom Satcom Solutions program jointly run by the General Services Administration and Defense Information Systems Agency.

Also known as CS3, this contract is intended as a government-wide vehicle for federal agencies to acquire commercial satellite communication services. Twenty-two companies including Lepton won seats on CS3 in 2017.

Lepton currently hosts Redmond, Washington-based Kymeta's satellite connectivity offerings and both companies see the combined entity as having greater ability to offer more complete, bundled solutions.