Satellite ground systems provider Gilat Satellite Networks wants to create a U.S. subsidiary specifically dedicated to the U.S. government market and is hunting for acquisition targets that could jump-start the effort, according to Joshua Levinberg, Gilat’s vice president and co-founder.

PetahTikva, Israel-based Gilat said the new U.S. operation would be separate from Gilat’s McLean, Va.-based Spacenet operation and would be staffed with people with sufficient security clearance to bid for and manage U.S. military contracts.

Levinberg said Gilat has about $150 million in cash and access to a line of credit to finance an acquisition that could be part of the effort to position the company for more U.S. government work.