THE NEW SPACE RACE: Defense budgets on both sides of the Atlantic reshape space industry.

In the United States, investors say a similar surge is underway as companies position themselves for Golden Dome, the Pentagon’s planned next-generation missile defense architecture that is expected to rely heavily on satellite assets.

“I think that’s going to be a big driver for how space-based assets will be acquired, not just for Golden Dome, but how they will be acquired for other programs as well,” said Kirk Konert, managing partner at AE Industrial Partners, a private equity firm with holdings in Firefly Aerospace, York Space Systems, Sierra Space, Redwire, and All.Space.

Firefly, which went public earlier this year, announced this week that it plans to acquire SciTec, a defense analytics company. The acquisition is intended to expand Firefly’s footprint in national security programs, including Golden Dome.

“The current environment is creating opportunities for new entrants in the commercial space sector,” Konert said. “It’s providing a big opportunity for our portfolio companies and investors like us.”

If you think missile defense is expensive, try losing a city.