Houston-based KBR has finalized its purchase of LinQuest, expanding its reach into the space sector, as announced today.
“The acquisition strengthens KBR’s capabilities across space, air dominance, and connected battlespace missions. LinQuest also has a heritage of serving important U.S. government customers including the U.S. Space Force, U.S. Air Force, and other U.S. Department of Defense and intelligence agencies,” the announcement explained.
KBR is a behemoth with a workforce of 35,000, providing science and engineering support to governments and companies worldwide, including the U.S. Defense Department. In contrast, LinQuest is smaller with around 1,500 employees, but it specializes in engineering, data analytics, digital integration, and other support services related to national security space.
For example, in 2019, the firm won a contract worth $562 million to assist the Air Force’s former space acquisition unit, the Space and Missile System Center — the predecessor to the Space Force’s Space Systems Command — in revamping its process for developing military communications satellites. The company also secured a $9.2 million contract in 2019 to help re-establish the U.S. Space Command and was awarded a $500 million, five-year indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract in 2021 to provide analysis support to the Space Force.
LinQuest was acquired in 2018 by equity firms Madison Dearborn Partners and CoVant Management.
KBR announced the planned acquisition on July 16, for a sum of $737 million. With today’s announcement, the company will begin to integrate LinQuest into its “Government Solutions” segment and “Defense and Intel” business unit, according to the release.
“LinQuest’s portfolio of capabilities significantly expands KBR’s ability to meet growing customer demands and continues KBR’s goal of transforming and enhancing key high-end digital solutions,” said Stuart Bradie, KBR president and CEO
