Rocket Lab Receives German Regulatory Approval to Acquire Mynaric
82 FOMOGermany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy granted Foreign Direct Investment approval on March 31, 2026 for Rocket Lab's $150 million acquisition of Munich-based laser communications specialist Mynaric AG, clearing the final regulatory hurdle. The transaction is expected to formally close in mid-April 2026. Mynaric will remain headquartered in Munich, establishing Rocket Lab's first European footprint. The acquisition brings Mynaric's CONDOR Mk3 optical inter-satellite link terminals in-house, directly supporting Rocket Lab's two U.S. Space Development Agency prime contracts worth a combined $1.3 billion. RKLB shares surged approximately 12% on the news.
Why it matters
Vertical integration of laser comms is a smart defensive move — controlling a supply-chain bottleneck that was threatening delivery timelines on $1.3B in SDA contracts. Rocket Lab Europe also opens a credible path to Ariane 6 and ESA ecosystem work.
Coverage
-
satellitetoday.com ·
Rocket Lab Gets Approval for Mynaric PurchaseRocket Lab's Mynaric acquisition cleared the last hurdle after German regulators rejected a competing "national solution" narrative pushed by Rheinmetall. CEO Peter Beck cited expanded ability to serve German and European space programs and emphasized the deal will make optical terminals available at commercial scale.
More from Rocket Lab
- Rocket Lab · Launch 68
Rocket Lab 81st Electron Launch — NEONSAT-1A for KAIST, Second Launch in Eight Days
Related moments
- Astra Space · Milestone 70
Astra targets early 2027 for Rocket 4.0 first launch
- Astra Space · Milestone 75
Astra ships 110 satellite engines and hits 2025 financial targets
- African Space Agency (AfSA) · Milestone 82
African Space Agency Officially Inaugurated at Cairo's Space City
- Capella Space · Milestone 65
Acadia-4 / Capella-14 first light and commissioning complete
- SpaceX · Milestone 72
SpaceX Falcon 9 Booster Sets Reusability Record with 34th Flight
- BlackSky · Milestone 74
BlackSky Awarded $99M Air Force Contract for Next-Gen Space Imaging
Veenie.Space Telemetry
Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy granted Foreign Direct Investment approva