Iridium Communications announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Aireon, operator of the world’s only space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) air traffic surveillance system. The transaction is designed to strengthen Iridium’s position in aviation safety by combining space-based surveillance, satellite communications, positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services, and aviation operational data on a single global network.
The acquisition brings together Aireon’s surveillance and aviation data services with Iridium’s satellite communications infrastructure. Aireon’s system, certified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, operates as a payload on the Iridium satellite constellation and currently tracks an average of 190,000 flights per day with full global coverage. Air Navigation Service Providers covering more than 50% of global airspace rely on Aireon’s data to support safer and more efficient air traffic management.
Iridium CEO Matt Desch said the transaction positions the company to support the future of aviation amid increasing air traffic, denser airspace, the development of autonomous aircraft, and rising expectations for safety and resiliency. The company also highlighted future plans involving space-based VHF communications that would extend pilot-to-controller communications into oceanic and remote regions without requiring additional aircraft equipment.
Aireon’s shareholder and Air Navigation Service Provider partners, including NAV CANADA, NATS, AirNav Ireland, ENAV, and Naviair, played foundational roles in developing and commercializing the Aireon platform. As part of the transaction, NAV CANADA and NATS will extend their Aireon data services agreements through 2035 and beyond, including provisions for continued collaboration around future space-based VHF communications capabilities.
Don Thoma said the acquisition represents a natural next step for Aireon as the company expands into areas including turbulence detection and aviation analytics. Aireon’s growing aviation data services business provides real-time and historical aviation data to airlines, airports, OEMs, governments, and aerospace operators, with offerings including GPS jamming and spoofing detection, turbulence monitoring, and safety analytics.
Under the terms of the transaction, Iridium, which already owns a minority stake in Aireon, will acquire the remaining 61% equity interest for approximately $366.7 million. The company will pay half of the purchase price at closing and the remaining half one year later. Iridium will also assume approximately $155 million of Aireon’s outstanding debt.
Iridium said the acquisition is expected to contribute at least an additional $100 million in annualized service revenue and approximately $30 million in annualized OEBITDA. Aireon has grown total revenue at a compound annual growth rate of 10% over the last three years.
The transaction is expected to close in early July 2026. Evercore served as financial advisor to Iridium, while PJT Partners advised Aireon.
KEY QUOTES:
“Aireon has always been part of Iridium’s aviation safety strategy. We founded it in partnership with the world’s leading Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), because we believed space-based aviation safety was a generational opportunity. The aviation industry is now entering an era of growing air traffic, denser airspace, autonomous aircraft, and greater expectations for safety and resiliency. Bringing Aireon fully inside Iridium better positions us to build what’s needed to support the future of aviation, including more innovations like the future introduction of space-based VHF communications.”
Matt Desch, CEO, Iridium Communications
“Aireon and Iridium have been partners since day one, and that partnership is the reason we have been able to build the world’s only space-based air traffic surveillance system and a fast-growing aviation data services business alongside it. Becoming part of Iridium is a natural next step for our team, our customers, and our roadmap, particularly as our data products expand into new areas like turbulence detection and aviation data analytics. Together, we are building the foundation for the future of global aviation.”
Don Thoma, CEO, Aireon
“NAV CANADA is proud of our foundational role in establishing Aireon’s world-first technology. This sale sharpens our focus on our core expertise: keeping Canada’s skies safe. As a fellow founding partner, Iridium is the ideal owner to guide Aireon’s continued commercial growth. We wish the entire team continued success and look forward to our ongoing relationship as a customer.”
Mark Cooper, President and CEO, NAV CANADA
“We have been proud to be a part of Aireon’s successes, most notably making real-time aircraft surveillance over the Atlantic a reality for the first time in history, enabling even safer operations across the North Atlantic. As a shareholder for the past eight years, it is now the right time for us to divest. We are confident Aireon is well positioned for the future and wish the team every success in the next stage of its development.”
Martin Rolfe, CEO, NATS
