Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. is a U.S. defense and aerospace contractor (now a BAE Systems subsidiary) that designs satellite payloads, precision optical systems, and Earth observation instruments for NASA, the U.S. Department of Defense, and U.S. Space Systems Command.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1956
- HeadquartersBoulder, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
- Legal name
- Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
- Website
- https://ball.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1956
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. is a U.S. defense and aerospace contractor (now a BAE Systems subsidiary) that designs satellite payloads, precision optical systems, and Earth observation instruments for NASA, the U.S. Department of Defense, and U.S. Space Systems Command.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Defense and Aerospace Systems
- NAICS
- Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)
- SIC
- Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial) (IMABACAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Military Space Systems (Defense Spacecraft) (IMABACAC), Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD), Space Defense & Missile Warning (BPAIAHAF), Spacecraft Avionics, Flight Computers & Software (IMABACAI)
Keywords
Where Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boulder
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels1 record
Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ball Aerospace designs and manufactures advanced satellite payloads, optical instruments, and space-based sensing systems for defense and civil space customers. Core offerings include Earth observation instruments (e.g., Operational Land Imager for Landsat 8/9), space telescope optical systems (e.g., James Webb Space Telescope mirrors, Hubble corrective optics), spacecraft cameras (e.g., Kepler), satellite data link antennas for missile systems, and jamming-resistant satellites for hypersonic missile tracking.
Product overview
Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. was a defense and space technology company providing advanced instruments, sensors, and systems for aerospace, defense, and space applications. The company specialized in building sophisticated Earth observation instruments, optical systems, and satellite components before being acquired by BAE Systems in 2024. Key products included the Operational Land Imager for NASA's Landsat program and optical technology for the James Webb Space Telescope.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- BAE SystemscoreBAE Systems acquired Ball Aerospace in February 2024 for approximately $5.56 billion. The acquisition strengthens BAE Systems' space-based C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) capabilities, combining Ball Aerospace's expertise in satellite payloads and optical systems with BAE Systems' defense portfolio.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Northrop Grumman: U.S. defense prime with a Space Systems division covering military satellites, space-based sensors, and space telescope prime integration (Ball partner on JWST). Directly competes with Ball for defense and civil space payload and bus awards.
- Lockheed Martin Space: Major U.S. space prime producing military satellites, missile warning systems, and Earth-observation platforms. Competes head-to-head with Ball for Space Systems Command, NRO, and NASA contracts across the same customer set.
- L3Harris Technologies: Defense and space electronics prime focused on sensors, payloads, and resilient satellite communications. Direct overlap with Ball in space-based ISR payloads and missile-tracking satellite programs.
- RTX (Raytheon): Through Raytheon Missiles & Defense and Collins Aerospace, RTX competes in missile-warning satellites, EO/IR sensors, and space electronics. Ball's Tomahawk data-link antennas and hypersonic-tracking work put it in direct overlap.
- BAE Systems Electronic Systems: Acquirer of Ball Aerospace (Feb 2024, $5.56B) and parent organization. Now competes with former Ball peers as an integrated space C4ISR prime, particularly in missile warning and tactical space payloads.
- Boeing Defense, Space & Security: Boeing's space division builds military and commercial satellites, including wideband and GEO platforms. Competes with Ball for NASA science mission work and DoD space procurements.
- Maxar Technologies: Commercial and government Earth-observation satellite manufacturer (WorldView Legion, Legion-class). Closely comparable to Ball's Landsat OLI heritage and competes for EO and intelligence payload contracts.
Broad incumbents
- Honeywell Aerospace: Large aerospace supplier producing satellite avionics, guidance systems, and space-qualified electronics. Adjacent competitor in spacecraft avionics and components where Ball's data-link antenna and flight hardware compete.
- Leidos: Federal systems integrator with growing space and intelligence business, including payload and mission integration work for NRO and DoD. Provides an adjacent bidding competitor to Ball on integrated space mission programs.
Emerging players
- General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems: Emerging space-systems contractor with growing work in satellite payloads, laser comms, and missile-tracking satellites for SSC. A rising direct competitor to Ball in the hypersonic-tracking constellation market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. social profiles
Digital presenceBall Aerospace & Technologies Corp. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles17 records
Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
What does Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. do?
Ball Aerospace designs and manufactures advanced satellite payloads, optical instruments, and space-based sensing systems for defense and civil space customers. Core offerings include Earth observation instruments (e.g., Operational Land Imager for Landsat 8/9), space telescope optical systems (e.g., James Webb Space Telescope mirrors, Hubble corrective optics), spacecraft cameras (e.g., Kepler), satellite data link antennas for missile systems, and jamming-resistant satellites for hypersonic missile tracking.
Is Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. a public or private company?
Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. founded?
Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. was founded in 1956. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. based?
Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. is headquartered in Boulder, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin Space, L3Harris Technologies, RTX (Raytheon), BAE Systems Electronic Systems, Boeing Defense, Space & Security and Maxar Technologies. Broad incumbents are Honeywell Aerospace and Leidos. General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems is listed as an emerging player.
Does Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp..
What industry is Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. in?
Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.'s product category is Defense and Aerospace Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABACAB, Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial), with a secondary code of IMABACAC, Military Space Systems (Defense Spacecraft). Its NAICS code is 336414 and its SIC code is 3760.