SES completes US$450 million DRS Global acquisition

Satellite operator SES has completed the US$450 million acquisition of DRS Global Enterprise Solutions (GES) from Leonardo DRS via its SES Government Solutions (SES GS) subsidiary. 

The deal, which has now received required regulatory approvals, will combine DRS GES business with SES GS to create a “scaled solutions provider serving the multi-orbit satellite communications needs of the US Government”.

The new organisation will offer flexible medium earth orbit (MEO) services via SES’s soon-to-launch O3b mPOWER system. This will provide a combination of low latency and high throughput per terminal for high-value missions, to an expanded government customer base.

SES said that the merger will unlock US$25 million of annualised run-rate synergies, with the government becoming SES’s largest data business segment in terms of revenue.

The new business is led by David Fields, who joins SES GS from DRS GES and succeeds Brigadier General Pete Hoene, USAF (Retired), who, after 11 years.

Fields, president and CEO of SES GS, said: “I am excited to join SES GS and honored to lead the combined team where we will be delivering best-in-class solutions and state-of-the-art multi-orbit satellite networking capabilities. SES GS will be significantly expanding its differentiated value proposition for the US Government, with a trusted multi-operator network integration and service management solutions. 

“The breadth of our capabilities, now spanning both connectivity and integration, allows for building, managing and supporting the most advanced satellite networks solutions for our US Government customers.”