Mynaric

What Mynaric does

Mynaric AG was a German manufacturer of laser communication equipment specializing in free-space optical communications terminals for air, space, and ground applications. Founded in 2009 by former German Aerospace Centre (DLR) employees and headquartered in Munich/Gilching, the company built its core products — the CONDOR Mk3 (and successor Mk3.1) for satellite-to-satellite and satellite-to-ground optical links, the HAWK terminal for airborne applications, and supporting optical ground stations — around proprietary beam-pointing and tracking technology capable of up to 10 Gbps data rates without spectrum licensing. Mynaric was first to demonstrate compliance with the US Space Development Agency's Optical Inter-Satellite Link (OISL) standard, a qualification that secured its position on the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) Tranche 1 programs as a subcontractor to Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Loft Federal, and Rocket Lab.

The company monetized primarily through long-cycle, quote-based B2B hardware sales to defense primes and government agencies, supplemented by commercial satellite operator contracts (WARPSPACE, Telesat Government Solutions, ReOrbit) and emerging European sovereign communications work (IRIS² consortium, ESA HydRON). L3Harris Technologies held a 7.2% strategic stake acquired in July 2022, signaling defense prime validation. After a 2017 Frankfurt IPO and a 2021 US Nasdaq listing that together raised roughly $96 million, Mynaric encountered production-quality setbacks on CONDOR Mk3 in 2024, leading to leadership turnover, multiple bridge loans, Nasdaq delisting, and a StaRUG restructuring in August 2025 that eliminated existing equity. Rocket Lab completed its acquisition of Mynaric on April 14, 2026 for $155.3 million, integrating the company as a Munich-headquartered subsidiary and the prime's first European footprint.

Name

Mynaric

Legal name

Mynaric AG

Website

https://mynaric.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Mynaric AG manufactured free-space optical communication terminals (CONDOR for space, HAWK for airborne) for US defense primes, the Space Development Agency, and satellite operators. Acquired by Rocket Lab in April 2026 for $155.3M, it now operates as the prime's Munich-based laser communications subsidiary.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Laser Communication Equipment

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)

akta.pro primary industry

Avionics Communication Systems (VHF/UHF/SATCOM/Data Link) (IMABAFAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD), Military Space Systems (Defense Spacecraft) (IMABACAC), Satellite Broadband Terminals & Gateways (VSAT/LEO CPE) (HDAFAIAM)

Keywords

• Laser communication terminals
• Free-space optical communications
• Inter-satellite links
• Satellite communication hardware
• Optical ground stations

Headquarters

HQ city

Gilching

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Laser Communication Terminal Sales: Sale of optical communications terminals including CONDOR Mk3 for space applications and HAWK for airborne applications to government and commercial customers. Primarily long-term contracts with defense contractors and satellite operators.
2. Defense/Government Contracts: Contracts with US government agencies including Space Development Agency, defense primes like Northrop Grumman and Raytheon for satellite communication terminals.
3. Commercial Satellite Constellation Programs: Sales to commercial satellite operators for mega-constellation deployments including interoperability with SDA standards.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Mynaric designs, manufactures, and sells industrialized laser communication terminals (free-space optical communications equipment) for high-speed, secure wireless data transmission between space-to-space, space-to-ground, air-to-ground, and air-to-air platforms. Its flagship products include the CONDOR family of space terminals and the HAWK airborne terminal, supplied to defense primes, government agencies, and commercial satellite operators for LEO constellation deployments.

Product overview

Mynaric produces industrialized, cost-effective, and scalable laser communications products for air, space, and ground applications. The product portfolio centers on the CONDOR family of optical communications terminals for satellite constellations (space domain) and the HAWK product line for airborne platforms. Supporting infrastructure includes optical ground stations for space-to-ground links. CONDOR Mk3 serves as the flagship space terminal in volume production, with CONDOR Mk3.1 under development as the next-generation variant. The company has delivered 100+ terminals for defense programs and is a key supplier to U.S. government space programs including the Space Development Agency's Tranche 1 and Tranche 2 Transport Layer programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CONDOR Mk3: Flaghip free-space optical communications terminal for space-to-space and space-to-ground applications
• CONDOR Mk2
• HAWK

Quantifiable outcome

• Data transmission speeds up to 10 Gbps
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• Rocket LabcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2026Rocket Lab completed acquisition of Mynaric for $155.3 million in April 2026. Mynaric was already a key subcontractor supplying CONDOR Mk3 terminals for Rocket Lab's $1.3 billion SDA contracts. Acquisition establishes Rocket Lab's first European footprint.
• European Space Agency (ESA) - HydRONsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2026Selected for ESA HydRON User Segment Demonstration Activities under Element 3 - European quantum communications infrastructure.
• ReOrbitminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2024ReOrbit selected CONDOR Mk3 for space-to-space and space-to-ground laser communications demonstration.
• DARPAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 January 2024Selected as key development partner for Phase 2 of Space-based adaptive communications node (Space-BACN) program. Previously Phase 1 participant developing benchtop model of next-generation optical communications terminal.
• Raytheon TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 June 2023Selected to supply optical communications terminals for SDA Tranche 1 Tracking Layer program alongside Raytheon. Part of major US government space defense initiatives.
• Loft Federal (Loft Orbital)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 May 2023Definitive agreement for sale of CONDOR Mk3 terminals to support SDA's Experimental Testbed (NExT) program.
• DARPA (Space-BACN Phase 1)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 August 2022Phase 1 goal to develop benchtop model of next-generation optical communications terminal for proliferated space domain. Downselected to 7 contractors in Phase 2 from initial 11 in Phase 1.
• L3Harris TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 July 2022Strategic investment of approximately EUR 11.2 million granting L3Harris a 7.2% stake in Mynaric. Collaboration scope expanded from airborne domain to cover space, air, maritime, and ground domains. Includes collaboration privileges in testing and deployment of laser communication assets.
• Airbus U.S. Space & DefensesecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 June 2022Contract for laser communication demonstration on ISS Bartolomeo platform to demonstrate Mynaric's laser communication product on the International Space Station.
• European Space Agency (ESA)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2022Selected to investigate optical technologies for next generation high-throughput optical inter-satellite links. Program working towards 1 Terabit per second data transmission speeds.
• UN:IO ConsortiumsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 December 2021Mynaric-co-led consortium selected by European Commission for initial work on independent European satellite communications constellation (IRIS²).
• Northrop GrummancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2021Multi-year strategic agreement identifying Mynaric as a strategic supplier for laser communication in the space domain. Multiple contracts awarded including $36M, $25M, and $33M orders for CONDOR terminals supporting SDA programs.
• Telesat Government SolutionssecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 October 2021Deal for CONDOR laser communication terminals for DARPA's Blackjack satellite program. Included establishment of industry's first laser communication interoperability lab.
• SpaceLinksecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 May 2021Multi-million dollar deal for optical communications terminals and partnership for expansion of product portfolio including OISL terminals for MEO satellites.
• CEA LetisecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 April 2021Exclusive partnership with French research institute positioning Mynaric as prime supplier for constellation networks with several hundred interconnected aircraft, drones and satellites.
• Airborne Wireless NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2017MOU and later design/manufacturing services agreement for laser terminal flight units for airborne wireless network demonstration using commercial aircraft as network nodes.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Tesat-Spacecom: German-headquartered direct competitor in space-grade laser communication terminals, supplying inter-satellite links to government and commercial programs (including DLR/ESA heritage). Closest functional peer to Mynaric in free-space optical communications for space.
• CACI International: Competing supplier of optical communications terminals for the Space Development Agency's Tranche programs. Directly comparable as a rival bidder for proliferated LEO OISL contracts.

Broad incumbents

• L3Harris Technologies: Major US defense prime that is both a Mynaric strategic shareholder (7.2% stake since 2022) and a broader supplier of space and communications systems. Comparable because it pursues similar optical communications and SDA-adjacent opportunities across space, air, maritime, and ground domains.
• Ball Aerospace (Booz Allen Hamilton / BAE Systems space portfolio): Established US space hardware manufacturer with a portfolio spanning optical payloads, spacecraft components, and communications subsystems. Comparable as a wider aerospace prime pursuing adjacent optical/laser comm opportunities.
• Honeywell Aerospace: Large diversified aerospace and defense supplier with optical communications R&D (e.g., Honeywell's laser comm terminal programs). Comparable as a broader incumbent with overlapping free-space optical communications capabilities.
• Thales Alenia Space: European space prime building satellite platforms and communications payloads, including optical inter-satellite link technology. Comparable because it operates across the same European IRIS² / ESA value chain that Mynaric addresses.
• Airbus Defence and Space: European aerospace prime and direct counterparty in Mynaric's ISS Bartolomeo demonstration partnership. Comparable as a large incumbent building sovereign satellite communications and optical payloads.

Emerging players

• General Atomics: Selected by SDA for optical communications terminal supply and broader space payloads. A peer because it competes for the same Tranche-layer contract dollars that drive Mynaric's revenue.
• BridgeComm: US-based specialist in free-space optical communications and optical ground stations. Comparable as a smaller, focused optical comm peer serving adjacent commercial and government segments.

Others

• Rocket Lab: Parent company of Mynaric since April 2026 and previously its largest customer via SDA prime contracts. Listed for context as the acquirer and the vertically integrated platform through which Mynaric's terminals reach orbit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mynaric
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mynaric

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds15 records

Investors7 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mynaric