Iridium Communications has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Aireon LLC, the operator of the world’s only space-based ADS-B air traffic surveillance network, in a move that significantly expands its aviation capabilities.
The acquisition brings together Aireon’s global aircraft tracking and operational data services with Iridium’s satellite communications and positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) technologies. The combined business will offer an integrated platform covering aircraft surveillance, pilot communications, navigation integrity and operational data analytics.
Aireon’s ADS-B system, certified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), operates via payloads hosted on Iridium’s satellite constellation and tracks around 190,000 flights daily with full global coverage. The platform captures real-time aircraft data including location, altitude, speed and heading, supporting safer and more efficient airspace operations.
Air navigation service providers responsible for more than half of global airspace currently rely on Aireon data to enhance air traffic management and operational safety.
Iridium said the acquisition represents a major step in its strategy to build a comprehensive global aviation safety and communications network, particularly as demand grows for resilient navigation and surveillance capabilities in increasingly contested operating environments.
