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
-
![DSEI 2025: New AR3 EVO puts Tekever’s modularity ambitions under the spotlight]()
DSEI 2025: New AR3 EVO puts Tekever’s modularity ambitions under the spotlight
An evolution of the Tekever AR3, the AR3 EVO that broke cover at DSEI incorporates the thousands of incremental evolutions the company has implemented through its spiral development, geared towards delivering a constant stream of improved aircraft to Ukraine.
-
![DSEI 2025: Schiebel reveals two weaponised Camcopter UAVs]()
DSEI 2025: Schiebel reveals two weaponised Camcopter UAVs
The new capabilities are based on platforms already in use or in development, and are designed to perform in demanding defence missions.
-
![DSEI 2025: GCAP Electronics Evolution emerges as new consortium for 6th-gen programme]()
DSEI 2025: GCAP Electronics Evolution emerges as new consortium for 6th-gen programme
The consortium, known as G2E, is formed of four leading national defence electronics companies: Mitsubishi for Japan, Leonardo UK for the UK and both Leonardo and ELT Group for Italy.
-
![DSEI 2025: BAE Systems FalconWorks and Lockheed Martin Skunk Works to collaborate on new UAV range]()
DSEI 2025: BAE Systems FalconWorks and Lockheed Martin Skunk Works to collaborate on new UAV range
The uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) will start off in the electronic warfare space, according to the companies, to support existing crewed frontline platforms, with many major details still to be disclosed.
-
![DSEI 2025: MGI Engineering launches new deep strike OWE TigerShark]()
DSEI 2025: MGI Engineering launches new deep strike OWE TigerShark
The British-built long-range strike one-way effector (OWE) is the latest offering from the company, which demonstrated its smaller OWE SkyShark in July.
