Defense Contractors Invest in Small Satellites; Raytheon’s Dave Wajsgras Quoted

Some defense companies such as Raytheon, Lockheed Martin and Boeing have made investments in startups that develop small satellites as the Pentagon and intelligence agencies work to counter space security threats through the use of Cubesats, the Washington Post reported Sunday.

Raytheon announced a partnership with Herndon, Va.-based satellite firm HawkEye 360 on Monday, Sept. 10, to develop geospatial systems in support of the government’s situational awareness missions.

“We operate similar to a venture capital or private equity firm, but for us our focus is on the ‘solution’ side of things rather than on financial returns,” said Dave Wajsgras, president of Raytheon’s intelligence, information and services business unit.

“Today with the requirements that commercial and government customers have around the world, there is a need to take some of those mission capabilities and provide them at lower cost, and provide them in a different way,” added Wajsgras, a four-time Wash 100 awardee.

Boeing’s venture capital arm HorizonX invested in Denver-based BridgeSat to help the latter field an optical platform for space-based connectivity services, while Lockheed expanded its support to nanosatellite firm Terran Orbital through a new funding round in August.