Orbital ATK
2018
$9.2B
Why
Northrop Grumman acquired Orbital ATK to create vertical integration across the space and missile propulsion supply chain, adding solid rocket motor manufacturing, small satellite production, and the Cygnus spacecraft to its portfolio.
Impact
The acquisition transformed Space Systems into Northrop's largest segment and gave it end-to-end control of ICBM propulsion — from Minuteman III sustainment to Sentinel development — eliminating supplier dependencies that competitors face.
Outcome
Space Systems revenue grew from $7.7B pre-acquisition to $13.4B by FY2024, validating the industrial logic. The Orbital ATK workforce integrated successfully despite cultural differences between a large defense prime and a mid-size space company.