Iridium buys Aireon to expand space-based aircraft tracking capabilities

Iridium Communications has agreed to buy Aireon, the company behind a space-based aircraft tracking system used by air navigation service providers around the world.

The deal brings Aireon fully inside Iridium, whose satellite constellation already carries Aireon’s Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology. Aireon uses these receivers to track ADS-B-equipped aircraft from space, including over oceans, polar regions and remote areas where ground-based surveillance systems cannot reach.

Iridium already owns part of Aireon. Under the agreement announced May 14, 2026, Iridium will buy the remaining 61% of the company for about $366.7 million from NAV CANADA, AirNav Ireland, ENAV, NATS and Naviair. Iridium will also assume Aireon debt expected to total about $155 million at closing.

Aireon says its system tracks an average of 190,000 flights per day with global coverage. The company’s data is used by air navigation service providers that cover more than 50% of global airspace.

Because aircraft already transmit their position, altitude, speed, heading and identity through ADS-B, ground receivers on land can easily pick up those signals. Aireon put ADS-B receivers in space, using Iridium’s satellites, so the same aircraft can be tracked anywhere across the globe and far beyond the reach of existing ground infrastructure.

NAV CANADA and NATS, which manage heavily traveled North Atlantic airspace, were among Aireon’s founding partners and early users. As part of the acquisition, both organizations will extend data service agreements with Aireon through 2035 and beyond.

Iridium said the deal fits into a broader aviation safety strategy that includes aircraft surveillance, safety communications, positioning, navigation and timing services, and aviation data.

The company also pointed to new Aireon data products, including GPS jamming and spoofing detection, turbulence detection, and safety and efficiency analytics.

The company also sees space-based VHF communications as a future growth area. That technology could allow air traffic controllers and pilots to use VHF-style voice communications in oceanic and remote airspace without requiring additional aircraft equipment, according to Iridium.

“Aireon has always been part of Iridium’s aviation safety strategy,” said Matt Desch, CEO of Iridium. “Bringing Aireon fully inside Iridium better positions us to build what’s needed to support the future of aviation.”

Aireon CEO Don Thoma called the transaction “a natural next step” for the company, its customers and its product roadmap.

Iridium expects the acquisition to close in early July 2026. The company said Aireon will continue business-as-usual operations in the near term, with no planned change in business strategy.The post Iridium buys Aireon to expand space-based aircraft tracking capabilities appeared first on AeroTime.

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