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Rocket Lab to Acquire Iridium in Historic Deal, Creating A Fully Vertically Integrated Space Powerhouse Primed for Growth

Tuesday, June 30th, 2026

Unites Rocket Lab’s leading launch and satellite manufacturing capabilities with Iridium’s global network, spectrum, and experience to unlock critical space applications.

Adds material revenue scale and is significantly accretive to Rocket Lab’s cash flow generation and profitability.

Long Beach, California and McLean, Virginia. 29 June 2026 – Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab”), a global leader in launch and space systems and Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: IRDM) (“Iridium”), a leading provider of global voice, data, and positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) satellite services, today announced they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Rocket Lab will acquire Iridium. Rocket Lab will acquire all the outstanding shares of Iridium common stock for $54 per share in a cash and stock transaction. This represents an enterprise value for Iridium of approximately $8.0 billion.

The acquisition will be one of the most transformative deals in the space industry, joining together two innovative American companies to play a leading role in the U.S. space economy. It merges Rocket Lab’s leading launch capabilities and satellite manufacturing with Iridium’s global satellite communications network, spectrum, and 500-plus strong partner ecosystem to create a competitive, vertically-integrated space company that designs, builds, launches, and operates its own constellations, delivering critical communications capability to millions of users worldwide.

The transaction will give Rocket Lab an immediate foothold in space-based applications, including both proprietary and standards-based satellite Internet of Things (IoT) and direct-to-device (D2D), PNT, and critical safety-of-life services, creating a formidable challenger in the global telecom market. Rather than simply continuing the Iridium network, Rocket Lab will build upon it to scale into untapped markets and pioneer new space-based services to the benefit of global customers.

Iridium’s globally harmonized L-band spectrum and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network provide a secure, resilient foundation for reliable satellite communications and PNT services across government, defense, aviation, maritime, and commercial markets. Supporting more than 2.55 million active subscribers worldwide, Iridium delivers highly reliable, weather-resilient connectivity and an alternative PNT architecture for applications where Global Positioning Systema (GPS) and other Global Navigation Satellite Systema (GNSS) are degraded or unavailable. Combining Rocket Lab’s launch, spacecraft manufacturing, and space systems expertise with Iridium’s global network and L-band spectrum will accelerate innovation, positioning the combined company to support the development and deployment of Iridium’s next-generation constellation. This includes direct-to-device (D2D/Iridium NTN DirectSM) services, which will grow into an important new capability for U.S. national security and emergency response, helping to ensure reliable, resilient communications when and where they are needed most, particularly where traditional networks are unavailable or compromised.

“This is a defining moment for the space industry and the start of a new era of strategic, accelerated growth for Rocket Lab and Iridium,” said Sir Peter Beck, founder and CEO of Rocket Lab. “Iridium has built the gold standard in secure, safety critical global satellite connectivity. It is relied upon by maritime fleets, the aviation industry, governments, and heavy industrial organizations who operate in the most remote off-the-grid locations. By marrying Iridium’s deep heritage, trusted infrastructure, and highly sought-after spectrum with Rocket Lab’s extensive and proven launch and manufacturing capabilities, we have the capability to unlock entirely new markets. We will go far beyond maintaining a legacy; we are going to build upon it to pioneer next-generation space applications and deliver sought-after capabilities to existing and new customers.”

“As the worlds of space and terrestrial communications continue to converge, more critical services will depend on space-based capabilities,” said Matt Desch, CEO, Iridium. “Success will come from those who can bring new innovations to space quickly and sustain them over time as efficiently as possible. We’re excited about being able to accelerate the next generation of IoT, aviation, maritime, PNT, and national security capabilities, and pursue new innovative applications as part of Rocket Lab – a fully integrated, end-to-end space company. That’s an incredible opportunity for our customers, partners, employees, and stockholders.”

Transaction Highlights:

Strengthens Rocket Lab’s Strategic Vertical Integration: Creates an end-to-end space company spanning launch, spacecraft, spectrum, and on-orbit communications services through a proprietary network. Expected to eliminate third-party launch costs for constellation deployment and replenishment and captures launch margin internally while guaranteeing orbital access as launch capacity tightens, ensuring continuity of service to customers.

Unlocks Entry to Space Applications Market: Provides Rocket Lab with immediate access to a proven constellation of LEO satellites and an established global communications customer base, realizing the company’s long-term strategic vision to expand beyond launch services and spacecraft manufacturing into a vertically-integrated space applications company with recurring revenue from satellite services.

Provides Access to Globally-Coordinated Spectrum: Adds globally-coordinated L-band spectrum that enables reliable user communications.

Unifies Two Trusted Government Partners: The transaction combines two deeply trusted, long-standing defense partners, combining their specialized strengths to deliver highly resilient, next-generation capabilities directly to the warfighter across denied, degraded, and disadvantaged environments.

Accelerates Growth and New Market Opportunities: Positions the combined entity to deliver next-generation satellite communications, resilient PNT, and emerging defense and commercial space services.

Diversifies Financial Profile with Recurring Cash Flow Streams: In 2025, Iridium delivered $871.7M revenue1, $495M OEBITDA[1] or 57% OEBITDA margin1, providing substantial recurring cash flow to fund growth.

Transaction Details

Under the terms of the transaction, Iridium stockholders will receive $27.00 in cash and a number of shares of Rocket Lab common stock calculated pursuant to an exchange ratio (subject to a collar) for each share of Iridium common stock outstanding at the closing. The collar is banded from $67.50 to $112.50. The transaction has a notional value of $54.00 per share of Iridium common stock, implying an enterprise value for Iridium of approximately $8.0 billion.

Complete details on the calculation of the exchange ratio will be in the transaction agreement, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The transaction is expected to be completed in mid-2027, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including approval of Iridium stockholders and required regulatory approvals.

The transaction has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of Iridium and Rocket Lab. Moreover, each director of Iridium holding shares of Iridium common stock has entered into a voting agreement to support the transaction.

As part of the transaction, Rocket Lab has received commitments for a $3.6 billion 364-day senior secured bridge term loan facility from Deutsche Bank and Wells Fargo. Rocket Lab intends to fund the cash component of the transaction through a combination of cash from its balance sheet and other debt and equity financing sources.

Advisors

Deutsche Bank Securities is serving as lead financial advisor and Wells Fargo and PJT Partners as financial advisors, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C. is serving as legal counsel, Goodwin Procter LLP as financing counsel and DLA Piper LLP as regulatory counsel to Rocket Lab. Evercore is serving as exclusive financial advisor, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP is serving as legal counsel, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP is serving as regulatory counsel, and Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher is serving as strategic communications advisor to Iridium.

Investor Presentation

An investor presentation discussing the transaction is hosted on Rocket Lab’s investor relations website at investors.rocketlabcorp.com.

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Surge Capacity: How Anduril Delivered a Month of Production in a Week

Monday, June 29th, 2026

In under a week in March 2026, Anduril delivered more than a full month’s of Pulsar production output off the shelf and directly into active operations for two U.S. government customers. These systems were immediately installed for fixed-site EW protection and aircraft survivability. While the surge was underway, Anduril was already doubling its EW production capacity — a line that once delivered 500 Pulsars per year now delivers 1000.

Anduril built Pulsar to interrogate a wider range of the electromagnetic spectrum autonomously, deploy software updates in hours rather than months, and network multiple EW systems across distributed operations to optimize coverage, locate points of interest, and deliver coordinated effects. That architecture is a force multiplier. Conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have validated the approach — drone-saturation tactics in both theaters have exposed how quickly EW countermeasures need to adapt, and how rapidly traditional systems fall behind when they cannot update in the field. Electronic warfare is increasingly key to either enabling their success on the offensive, or defeating them on the defensive. Since 2022, the Pulsar family has been deployed with operational users across multiple continents in fixed-site, mounted, and airborne configurations — all variants proven in combat and updated continuously based on user feedback.

Anduril built its manufacturing infrastructure with the assumption that demand would not announce itself in advance, and that when it arrived, achieving throughput in weeks, not quarters, would be necessary. A production line that can absorb a massive surge mid-scale-up while simultaneously doubling annual output is not the kind of capacity traditionally available within the defense industrial base.

Deterrence is ultimately a production problem. Anduril will solve it by focusing on the factory.

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LBT Wants To Hear Your Gear Stories

Saturday, June 27th, 2026

We want to hear from our favorite people! If our gear has ever been an asset to you in your military service tell us about it. We’d love to tell your story!

Send it to marketing@lbtinc.com with subject line:

LBT STORY

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Darley Welcomes Jim Johnson to Board of Directors

Thursday, June 25th, 2026

ITASCA, IL – June 25th, 2026 – Darley, a leading provider of defense, fire, and emergency services equipment, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jim Johnson to its Board of Directors. Jim Johnson brings decades of leadership experience and deep industry expertise to support Darley’s continued growth and innovation.

Jim Johnson served as President of Pierce Manufacturing from 2010 to 2023. He also served as an Executive Vice President of Oshkosh Corporation and President of Oshkosh’s Fire & Emergency business segment, with responsibility for the Frontline, Maximetal, and Oshkosh Airport Products brands in addition to Pierce. Most recently, Jim served as President of Oshkosh’s Vocational business segment, with responsibility for refuse vehicles, airport ground support equipment, utility, and concrete truck brands in addition to his Fire & Emergency responsibilities before retiring in 2024. Jim began his career in Indianapolis as an attorney practicing commercial litigation and has served on Darley’s Fire Advisory Board since 2025.

“We are honored to welcome Jim Johnson to Darley’s Board of Directors,” said Paul Darley, Chairman and CEO of Darley. “I have worked with Jim for nearly 20 years and have long respected his leadership, integrity, and strategic perspective. He is a visionary leader with a strong focus on people and innovation. His operational experience, legal background, executive presence, and deep understanding of sound corporate governance make him an outstanding addition to our Board as we continue to build for the future.”

“It is a privilege to join the Board of Directors of W.S. Darley & Co. Darley’s mission supporting our nation’s warfighters and first responders globally is inspiring,” said Jim Johnson. “This 118-year-old family business is shepherded by an exceptional leadership team, and I am honored to serve the organization as they continue on their notable growth trajectory.”

Jim Johnson’s appointment reflects Darley’s ongoing commitment to building on the strength of its Board of Directors with experienced industry leaders who provide strategic guidance and oversight in support of the company’s long-term direction and continued success.

About Darley: You serve others. We serve you. Darley provides the highest quality pump, technology, and equipment solutions for first responders around the world. With origins in Midwest manufacturing, Darley offers a complete line of unmanned systems, immersive training technology, equipment and pumps. Learn more on our websites: www.darley.com and shop.darley.com.

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B&T USA Announces Agreement with B&T AG – Swiss to Establish New Company in US

Thursday, June 25th, 2026

For the past several months B&T USA and B&T AG which is located in Switzerland, have been in a legal battle over the future of the B&T trademark in the United States.

Today, B&T USA announced that they had reached an agreement. It was also posted to the B&T AG website.

It reads:

Thun, Switzerland / Herriman, Utah – B&T AG and B&T USA have reached a comprehensive settlement resolving all outstanding disputes between the parties. All pending litigation will be dismissed.

The settlement establishes a time-limited framework for continued cooperation and allows both organizations to focus on supporting customers, dealers, and the B&T brand.

Both parties are pleased to put these matters behind them and remain committed to delivering the quality, service, and supports customers expect from B&T .

Congratulations would seem to be in order. However, B&T AG has also released this statement:

B&T AG Regains Full Control of the B&T Brand in the United States

B&T AG has reached a comprehensive settlement, resolving all outstanding disputes between the parties. As part of this agreement, all pending litigation will be dismissed, enabling both parties to move forward under a clearly defined transition framework.

Now that the legal matters have been resolved and the U.S. trademarks are back under the control of B&T AG, we are pleased to announce that a new, wholly Swiss-owned U.S. operation will be established later this year. This is an exciting new chapter for B&T in the United States, ensuring that customers will again experience the Swiss engineering, uncompromising craftsmanship and premium service that define B&T.

We are currently establishing the necessary infrastructure, licenses, and team in the United States to provide a reliable supply chain, customer support, and direct access to authentic, Swiss-made firearms and accessories. We are also looking forward to introducing our range of Swiss suppressor designs to the US market, while continuing to support existing B&T platforms.

Having listened carefully to feedback from the US market, we remain fully committed to delivering the quality, service, and long-term customer support that our customers have come to expect from B&T. The establishment of this Swiss-owned operation reflects our commitment to safeguarding the brand’s integrity and maintaining the highest service standards for years to come.

If you would like to be part of this exciting new chapter, please stay tuned for updates on our website.

We look forward to sharing more with you soon.

This begs the question of what the agreement actually looks like considering B&T AG is establishing a new US footprint which we understand will be named B&T Swiss and what that means for B&T USA.

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Army and Industry Align on Common Data Baseline, as Next Generation Command and Control Moves from Prototyping to Delivery

Thursday, June 25th, 2026

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army announced today it has established the Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) common data layer baseline, following NGC2 operational validations at the 4th Infantry Division Ivy Sting-Ivy Mass series and 25th Infantry Division Lightning Surge events.

Anduril Industries will be responsible for leading the common data baseline initiative. They will remain partnered with Palantir to provide an edge-to-cloud data mesh via Anduril’s Lattice and Palantir’s Foundry along with associated software deployment tools. They will also partner with Raft for NGC2 data and services registries, data transformation tools, and data federation via Raft Data Platform.

With this decision, the 4th Infantry Division and 25th Infantry Division will quickly begin to implement NGC2 common components through their respective operational implementation leads as they continue through operational training and campaign exercises at Project Convergence Capstone 6 and Lightning Surge events.

“We are already moving out with the converged data layer architecture,” said Joseph Welch, portfolio acquisition executive for Command and Control (C2)/Counter C2. “Our vendor partners have demonstrated great teamwork and flexibility in helping us establish this baseline and set the groundwork for rapid scaling.”

Vendor Teaming

Anduril Industries will continue to serve as lead for 4th ID operational implementation of the “full stack” of NGC2 hardware and software, with Lockheed Martin continuing to lead the “full stack” operational implementation at 25th ID. These team leads leverage numerous other companies to ensure each division has a tailored “full stack” technology ecosystem, comprised of C2 applications, data, and the underlying infrastructure, network and transport solutions that connect Soldiers on the battlefield, even in contested and denied environments.

Operational implementation leads are also responsible for partnering with units to meet commander priorities by tailoring specific applications, algorithms and hardware relevant to their operational missions and theaters, such as new app development, incorporation of edge compute devices, integration of private 5G and other communications solutions, and fusion of electromagnetic spectrum effectors.

Operational Validation

The Army’s establishment of a common data layer is informed by ten months of feedback and data from operational training events with the 4th ID and 25th ID, where industry formed teams led by Anduril Industries and Lockheed Martin, respectively, have teamed with commanders and Soldiers on the ground to rapidly scale and improve NGC2 capabilities.

Most recently, in May 2026, the 4th ID’s Ivy Mass exercise stressed every element of NGC2 at division scale across the expanse of Fort Carson and Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, Colorado, including fighting through cyber and electromagnetic attacks based on real-world threats. Also in May, the 25th ID conducted Lightning Surge 3 during Exercise Balikatan 2026 demonstrated, simultaneously from Hawaii, the continental United States and the Philippines, the integration of sensors, fires systems and airspace management through a unified data platform providing a real-time view of the battlefield across the Indo-Pacific.

Looking ahead, Project Convergence-Capstone 6, or PC-C6 in July 2026 will serve as the culminating event for a division-scale force-on-force NGC2 validation at the National Training Center, allowing the Army to rapidly advance from prototyping to scaling product delivery.

“This is a major step forward as NGC2 evolves into a phase of continuous delivery and we provide this capability at the speed of relevance,” said Brig. Gen. Shane Taylor, capability program executive for Command and Control Information Network, or CPE C2IN. “We continue to encourage industry self-teaming and collaboration to adjust capabilities to commander priorities, operational needs and emerging technologies.”

– US Army Public Affairs

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UNI&FORMA Named Slovenia’s Exporter of the Year 2026

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2026

KOMENDA, SLOVENIA (18 June 2026)

UNI&FORMA, part of Mehler Systems and the company behind the UF PRO brand, has received Slovenia’s prestigious “Exporter of the Year” (Izvoznik leta) 2026 award, recognising excellence in exports, innovation, and international growth.

Presented annually by Finance, Slovenia’s leading business newspaper, the award is one of the country’s most respected business recognitions. It honours Slovenian companies that successfully compete on international markets while demonstrating innovation, sustainable growth, and the creation of high added value. UNI&FORMA was selected among a strong group of finalists, which also included Atlantic Droga Kolinska, KO-SI, and Mebor.

The award recognises UNI&FORMA’s journey from a Slovenian manufacturer supplying domestic organisations to a globally recognised developer of premium tactical clothing systems. Since its founding in 1997, the company has continuously invested in product development, advanced materials, and proprietary technologies while working closely with professional end users to understand their evolving requirements.

This expertise later formed the foundation of the UF PRO brand, created to address the specific needs of military, law enforcement, and special operations units operating in demanding environments. Today, UF PRO products are used by military, law enforcement, and other professional users in more than 50 countries worldwide. Its users include Slovenia’s Special Police Unit (SEP) and Special Operations Unit (ESD), more than 300 SWAT units in the United States, Germany’s SEK and GSG 9 units, Austria’s EKO COBRA, Latvia’s Omega unit, and many other elite units around the world.

“When I look at how far we have come, I see the contribution of everyone who helped build UNI&FORMA and UF PRO along the way. This award belongs to them. Their expertise, dedication, and commitment to excellence have made our growth and international success possible,” said Jože Kastelic, Managing Director of UNI&FORMA.

During the accompanying conference programme, Kastelic joined representatives of the other finalists to discuss how digitalisation, artificial intelligence, and productivity improvements are shaping the future competitiveness of exporting companies.

“The success of UF PRO has always been built on understanding the needs of the professionals who use our products. As those needs evolve, we will continue investing in innovation, product development, and close cooperation with end users to ensure we remain a trusted partner around the world,” Kastelic added.

For UNI&FORMA, the award recognises nearly three decades of innovation, growth, and international expansion while providing additional motivation for the journey ahead.

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NP Aerospace to Acquire ITEN Defense and Expand Into the US Market

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2026

Coventry, UK — 22 Jun 26 — NP Aerospace, a leading global armour technology manufacturer and vehicle integrator, today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Iten Defense, a U.S. based specialist provider of advanced defence protection solutions, from Edgewater Capital Partners and other minority shareholders.

The acquisition will strengthen NP Aerospace’s and Iten’s portfolio of survivability and protection technologies, enhancing its ability to support defence and security customers with mission-critical armour solutions across global markets.

“This is an important strategic step for NP Aerospace as we continue to invest in advanced protection technologies and expand our capabilities for customers worldwide,” said James Kempston, Chief Executive Officer of NP Aerospace. “Iten Defense brings strong technical expertise, manufacturing capacity, and complementary capabilities, and we look forward to working with the team following completion.”

“In close partnership with Iten’s management team, we’ve transformed the business over the past few years through a series of strategic initiatives and investments in expanded capabilities. We are confident that the combination with NP Aerospace will further accelerate Iten’s growth as a leader in advanced protection solutions,” said Pete Ostergard, Managing Partner of Edgewater Capital.

Iten Defense CEO, Damon Walsh, commented: “This is great news for Iten and, more importantly, for our customers. As a larger global enterprise with combined engineering and technical know-how, we will be well placed to respond to today’s increasingly complex defense requirements at a pace to best serve our customers’ needs.”

Until closing, NP Aerospace and Iten Defense will continue to operate as independent businesses.

Completion of the transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions, including certain government and regulatory approvals. The transaction will close promptly following satisfaction of these conditions. Further details of the transaction were not disclosed.

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