The Department of War's Office of Strategic Capital (OSC) announced today a $150 million conditional loan commitment with LeoLabs, Inc., a leading provider of Space Domain Awareness (SDA) and Space Traffic Management (STM) solutions. This financing would accelerate the deployment of critical radar infrastructure and advanced decision science software, helping sustain American leadership in the increasingly contested space domain.
In alignment with OSC's mission to attract private capital to national security priorities, the conditional loan is matched dollar-for-dollar with co-investment, resulting in a capital infusion of $300 million. The financing would scale production and deployment of multi-mission phased array radars, significantly expanding U.S. radar manufacturing capacity and sensing infrastructure.
This financing would directly support Department of War priorities by expanding LeoLabs' global footprint and accelerating the production and deployment of advanced sensor hardware, including the company's mobile "Scout" radar units.
"To maintain our strategic advantage, we must leverage the innovation and agility of the American commercial sector," said David A. Lorch, Director of the Office of Strategic Capital and Senior Advisor to Deputy Secretary of War Steve Feinberg. "This financing equips the Department of War with unparalleled Space Domain Awareness capabilities and demonstrates our commitment to unleashing private capital to solve our most pressing national security challenges. By supporting the expansion of a globally distributed, wholly domestic space radar architecture, this transaction bolsters U.S. resilience against geopolitical disruptions in orbit and ensures that next-gen technologies are powered by secure, domestically sourced data."
As the only commercially available provider of ground-based radar space domain awareness in the United States, LeoLabs is uniquely positioned to deliver this critical infrastructure and enhance space monitoring capabilities. LeoLabs' globally distributed radar network allows for rapid, continuous cloud-based data updates and unclassified information sharing, making it a critical commercial capability for national defense and for allied partners.
"High-precision orbital tracking is integral to the U.S. economy and the defense industrial base, and its importance is only going to grow on account of the rapid commercialization of space," said Jordan B. Sebold, Senior Managing Director (Investments) at OSC. "OSC's investment in LeoLabs will help ensure we maintain persistent custody of the objects that matter most."
The conditional loan commitment specifies additional steps LeoLabs must complete before financial close, including satisfying various financial, legal, technical, investment, due diligence, and other requirements.
"I applaud OSC for another strategic investment in the important space domain sector," said Emil Michael, Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering. "Maintaining American space superiority means we must scale commercial capabilities that enhance decision-making for the Joint Force. This OSC financing ensures the United States and our allies control the data needed to maintain our decision advantage in orbit."
