Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. has signed an agreement to acquire Stellar Blu Solutions LLC, a maker of SATCOM terminal solutions, in a move to further its push into in-flight connectivity (IFC).
Besides the IFC technologies arena, Petah Tikva, Israel-based Gilat will also gain solutions for commercial and business aviation as well as high-end mobility markets for electronically steered antenna (ESA) solutions.
Under the deal, Gilat will pay an initial cash payment of $98 million at closing and up to an additional $147 million in cash subject to post-closing financial and business goals. Gilat said the acquisition could help annual revenues increase between $100 million to $150 million beginning next year.
Stellar Blu is an aerospace startup developing next-generation SATCOM terminal solutions for the IFC market. The solutions specialize in connectivity, network and electronics for satellite networks. Its Sidewinder is an open architecture full ESA terminal for multi-orbit applications. Sidewinder architecture is modular and extensible into other aerospace and mobility applications. The platform has been adopted by:
- Intelsat
- Panasonic
- OneWebb
Additionally, the technology is potentially embraced by the largest airlines globally.
