WASHINGTON — U.S. defense contractor KBR has agreed to acquire LinQuest Corp., a specialist in national security space systems, for $737 million. The deal, announced July 16, would allow KBR to bolster its footprint in the national security space sector.

LinQuest in 2018 was acquired by the private equity firm Madison Dearborn Partners. The company focuses on engineering, data analytics and digital integration for national security space missions. The company has secured several major contracts with the U.S. Space Force, including a $500 million, five-year deal in 2021 for analysis support, and a potential nine-year, $200 million contract to advise and assist the Space Force’s Space Operations Command.

KBR provides a broad range of services to governments worldwide. The Houston-based company has grown its presence in the military space market following its $827 million purchase of Centauri in 2020.

The deal to acquire LinQuest from Madison Dearborn Partners, which is subject to regulatory approvals, is expected to close in the third or fourth quarter of 2024. 

Sandra Erwin writes about military space programs, policy, technology and the industry that supports this sector. She has covered the military, the Pentagon, Congress and the defense industry for nearly two decades as editor of NDIA’s National Defense...