German Regulators Greenlight $150M Mynaric Acquisition
Rocket Lab announced on March 30, 2026, that it has secured regulatory approval from Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy for its acquisition of Mynaric AG. The clearance paves the way for the roughly $150 million transaction to close in April, a year after the deal was initially proposed. The approval resolves months of uncertainty, as German officials had scrutinized the transaction over national security concerns related to a foreign company acquiring a key domestic space technology provider.
The decision signals that regulators are satisfied that strategic interests can be managed, allowing the California-based Rocket Lab to absorb the Munich-based laser communications specialist. The acquisition deepens an existing partnership, as Mynaric already supplies its CONDOR Mk3 optical terminals for satellites Rocket Lab is building under contracts for the U.S. Space Development Agency.
Acquisition Secures Critical Laser Tech for Satellites
This acquisition is a key move in Rocket Lab's strategy to vertically integrate its space systems business. Mynaric produces optical communications terminals that allow satellites to transmit vast amounts of data via laser links, a technology considered fundamental for the next generation of commercial and military satellite constellations. These components enable higher data rates and more secure communications than traditional radio-frequency systems but have faced a supply bottleneck as manufacturers struggle to scale production.
By acquiring Mynaric, Rocket Lab gains in-house control over a critical and high-demand component, aiming to scale manufacturing and reduce costs for the wider market. Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck emphasized the strategic value of the technology.
Laser communications are a critical enabler for the constellations of today and tomorrow, and Rocket Lab is going to make them available at scale.
— Sir Peter Beck, Founder and CEO, Rocket Lab.
The move strengthens Rocket Lab’s position as an end-to-end space company, combining launch services with satellite manufacturing. Mynaric will remain headquartered in Munich, establishing Rocket Lab's first significant operational base in Europe and positioning it to better serve the German and broader European space markets.
