A&D Weekly News & Transactions - Week 11

Industry Headline News

Collins Aerospace has opened a new Engineering Development and Test Center in Bengaluru to enhance local testing, certification, and product development
Mar. 16, 2025 - The facility will simulate extreme conditions to improve product design and support avionics, advanced structures, interiors, and power systems, with plans to expand across RTX businesses. This investment strengthens Collins' presence in India, creating skilled jobs and aligning with the 'Make in India' initiative. (Aviation Week)

GE Aerospace secured a U.S. Air Force contract worth up to $5B to supply F110-GE-129 engines for F-15 and F-16 fighter jets under an IDIQ agreement
Mar. 14, 2025 - This deal supports the U.S. government's foreign military sales program. Additionally, GE plans to invest nearly $1 billion in its U.S. factories and supply chain in 2025 to enhance manufacturing and technology development. (Reuters)

The U.S. Army has awarded 10 companies a potential 10-year, $4.19B contract to produce aerostats, tethered platforms, and elevated sensors
Mar. 14, 2025 - The contract, managed by the Army Contracting Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground, will allocate funding and work locations per task order. Work is expected to continue through March 12, 2035, with awardees including Leidos, Raytheon (RTX), QinetiQ, and others. (GovCon Wire)

Collins Aerospace will lay off 160 workers, including those at its Cedar Rapids campus, effective April 14th
Mar. 14, 2025 - The company states that the job cuts are part of a global effort to reduce costs, streamline operations, and reinvest in high-priority aerospace programs. (KWWL)

Pratt & Whitney secured a three-year, $1.5B contract to sustain F119 engines for the US Air Force’s F-22 fighter jets, aiming to enhance readiness and reduce costs
Mar. 13, 2025 - The company is improving engine reliability, efficiency, and lifespan through its Usage Based Lifing program and control schedule updates, ensuring the F-22 maintains its combat edge. This initiative supports safety, availability, and modernization while leveraging the F-22’s supercruise capability for superior speed and agility. (Machinery Market)

GE Aerospace plans to invest nearly $1B in U.S. manufacturing and supply chains in 2025, nearly doubling last year’s investment to meet rising demand for engines and parts
Mar. 12, 2025 - The company will allocate $500 million to expand engine production, particularly for its CFM LEAP engine, and invest over $100 million to support suppliers. Additionally, GE aims to hire 5,000 U.S. workers, strengthening its manufacturing and engineering operations. (Reuters)

The Netherlands and other partner countries remain fully committed to the F-35 program, with no signs that the U.S. is backtracking
Mar. 11, 2025 - Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans emphasized the importance of European defense self-sufficiency while maintaining strong U.S. cooperation, as NATO allies work to strengthen their military capabilities. Additionally, the Netherlands is considering increasing defense spending, expanding its land forces, and discussing nuclear deterrence amid growing security concerns. (Defense News)

Thales Alenia Space has secured an order from Japan's SKY Perfect JSAT to build the JSAT-32 geostationary communications satellite
Mar. 11, 2025 - Scheduled for launch in 2027, the satellite will have an in-orbit lifespan exceeding 15 years. (Reuters)

Weekly Transaction Review

No.	Parties Involved	Transaction Metrics			Location	Segment
	Target [Parent] Acquirer [Parent]	Price ($M)	Price/ Revenue	Price/ EBITDA	Target	Target
1	NeXolve Applied Aerospace Structures [Greenbriar Equity]	-	-	-	Huntsville, AL	Composites
2	AirRobot [Nu Group] Quantum-Systems	-	-	-	Arnsberg, Germany	Unmanned Vehicles
3	Global Marine Systems [J.F. Lehman] Keppel	-	-	-	Chelmsford, United Kingdom	Navy/Maritime
4	Alpha-Numero Technology Solutions Quest Global	-	-	-	Irvine, CA	Engineering & Project Management
5	Mynaric Rocket Lab USA	$150.0	-	-	Munich, Germany	Satellite, Satellite Services & Space Systems

No.	Target Descriptions
1	NeXolve manufactures and designs high performance polymer materials for electronics, display, and aerospace applications. These advanced polymer products are in a wide array of commercial uses, as well as ongoing space and aeronautic flight use.
2	AirRobot is a supplier of compact, robust UAV solutions for military and government applications. The company's flagship drone platform, the AR100-H, is a lightweight, quick-deploy drone with advanced thermal technology and encrypted communications, engineered for reliable performance in harsh conditions.
3	Global Marine Systems is a provider of subsea telecom maintenance and installation services, supporting mission-critical global communications infrastructure. The company operates a fleet of six vessels providing maintenance and installation services for the global subsea fibre optic cable network.
4	Alpha-Numero Technology Solutions specializes in avionic design and verification solutions, with expertise in Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) design and Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). The company provides hardware design, development, prototyping, system architecture, integration, system requirements capture, and testing services.
5	Mynaric develops laser communication terminals for aerospace and defense applications, enabling high-speed, secure data transmission in space and airborne networks. The company provides optical communication solutions for satellites, unmanned aerial systems, and other airborne platforms, supporting resilient and scalable connectivity.