BAE Systems buys Ball Aerospace for whopping $5.5 billion
Ball Aerospace will become a fourth operating sector of BAE Systems. (Photo: BAE Systems)
BAE Systems has received the greenlight to acquire Ball Aerospace in a move that will bolster its space technology portfolio and deepen its presence in the lucrative US defence and intelligence market.
UK defence giant BAE Systems has been given approval to complete the acquisition of Ball Aerospace, allowing it to augment its portfolio with the US company’s space technologies.
The £4.4 billion (US$5.5 billion) acquisition will also allow BAE to align with the priorities of US intelligence and the Department of Defense, leading to a potential “substantial increase” in US revenue.
All that remains to complete will be the “customary steps at the end of a transaction”, said Tom Arseneault, president and chief executive of BAE Systems.
“We’re hoping to complete that in the coming days,” he remarked.
Once the deal has been finalised, Ball Aerospace will become a fourth operating sector of BAE Systems, dubbed Space and Mission Systems. It will incorporate Ball Aerospace’s more than 5,200 employees and its Colorado manufacturing facility.
Dave Kaufman, president of Ball Aerospace who will lead the Space and Mission Systems unit, said that being part of BAE would allow it to bid for more ambitious programmes.
“BAE has different expertise than we do,” Kaufman remarked. “It gives us the ability to move up the food chain and contribute in bigger ways.”
More from Air Warfare
-
![XTEND wins contract for precision strike drone]()
XTEND wins contract for precision strike drone
XTEND is supplying its Scorpio UAS to meet a US DoD requirement for an indoor/outdoor strike drone.
-
![US Congress limits F-35 procurement]()
US Congress limits F-35 procurement
Restrictions cover new purchases of the three variants of the multirole fighter and require the DoD to correct issues in the acquisition programme.
-
![Spain makes order for 25 Eurofighter Typhoons]()
Spain makes order for 25 Eurofighter Typhoons
Known as the Halcon II programme, the order covers 21 single-seat and four twin-seat aircraft, set to be delivered between 2030 and 2035.
-
![T-6 Texan II trainers deepen their footprint in Asia]()
T-6 Texan II trainers deepen their footprint in Asia
Textron Aviation Defense has said it is confident it can continue to grow orders across Asia as Japan selects the T-6 Texan II to replace the Fuji T-7.
-
![Northrop gets $3.5 billion contract to integrate mission systems for E-6B successor]()
Northrop gets $3.5 billion contract to integrate mission systems for E-6B successor
The E-130J aircraft will take over the E-6B for the US Navy’s Take Charge and Move Out system.
-
![Bell selects Fort Worth site to build V-280s for the FLRAA programme]()
Bell selects Fort Worth site to build V-280s for the FLRAA programme
The facility will work towards readiness for Low-Rate Initial Production on the V-280 by 2028.
