
York Space Systems to acquire ATLAS Space Operations
York Space Systems, a US-based defence technology company known for redefining how space-based capabilities are built and operated, has announced its agreement to acquire ATLAS Space Operations. A Ground Software as a Service (GSaaS) provider, ATLAS is expected to significantly enhance Yorks software-driven approach to satellite communications and ground systems.
With this acquisition, York gains access to a software-led ground architecture designed to streamline satellite operations, eliminate integration barriers, and improve space-to-ground resiliency. The deal is set to accelerate Yorks mission of delivering secure, high-performance space systems with greater speed and efficiency. ATLAS will play a critical role in supporting Yorks Golden Dome architecture, an advanced defense platform integrating spacecraft, software, and ground operations to offer comprehensive capabilities in contested space environments.
ATLAS, which was founded in 2015, will continue to operate independently under its established brand. Its Freedom software platform, which provides cloud-native satellite connectivity through a single API and a global network of more than 50 antennas in over 20 countries, is the only GSaaS solution developed and based in the US. The platform shifts the burden of satellite communications from hardware to software, allowing for real-time tasking, automated scheduling, and cloud delivery of mission data, resulting in a cost-effective, scalable, and flexible solution for both government and commercial clients.
Dirk Wallinger, CEO of York, said: 'ATLAS has built one of the most sophisticated and secure ground communications platforms in the industry. This acquisition will enhance York's ability to deliver mission-ready systems on the timelines our customers demand while continuing to support the broader space ecosystem with best-in-class ground solutions.'
The Freedom platform enables operatorswhether managing a single satellite or a vast constellationto onboard quickly, stream data to the cloud, and access a global infrastructure without the need for additional physical buildout.
Corey Geer, CEO of ATLAS, added: 'York shares our vision for a future where space systems are faster, smarter, and seamlessly integrated. Together, we are building the infrastructure to meet that future head-on, reducing risk, increasing resilience, and enabling critical data delivery on demand.'
Pending regulatory approvals including from the FCC, the acquisition is expected to significantly strengthen Yorks ability to deliver integrated, mission-ready space systems by combining its high-performance spacecraft and software-defined operations with ATLASs trusted ground communications capabilities. The result will be faster deployment, improved data throughput, and more autonomous, resilient operations supporting both commercial ventures and national security missions.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Arabian Post
4 hours ago
- Arabian Post
Arada Developments Seeks Debt Financing Amid GCC Boom
Arada Developments has turned to the debt markets for financing, following its decision to issue a sukuk bond aimed at capitalising on the construction boom within the Gulf Cooperation Council region. With its credit ratings from Moody's and Fitch at B1 and B+, respectively, the company has mandated a consortium of major banks to facilitate the issuance of a five-year fixed-rate sukuk. The sukuk will be issued under Arada Sukuk 2 Limited's $1 billion Trust Certificate Issuance Programme, a key structure that offers Arada the flexibility to issue sukuk over a period. The bond is expected to receive a combined rating of B1 from Moody's and BB- from Fitch, which is indicative of a relatively higher risk investment but one with potential returns, especially in the current market context. Several prominent financial institutions have been enlisted to help manage the deal. Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Dubai Islamic Bank, Emirates NBD Capital, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Mashreq, and Standard Chartered Bank are acting as the joint global coordinators for the issuance. Alongside them, a range of other banks, including Arab Bank, Arqaam Capital, Bank ABC, RAKBANK, Sharjah Islamic Bank, and Warba Bank, are involved as joint lead managers and bookrunners. ADVERTISEMENT The move comes at a time when GCC-based developers are increasingly turning to debt markets to raise funds, particularly as demand for real estate continues to soar in the region. A series of fixed income investor calls kicked off last Thursday, giving potential investors an opportunity to engage with Arada's plans and the offering's prospects. The sukuk offering is poised to benefit from the strong growth momentum in the GCC construction and real estate sector, driven by both government-led infrastructure projects and private sector initiatives. The UAE, in particular, has seen a substantial influx of investments in the property sector, driven by both foreign capital and domestic demand. Major projects across residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments are fueling optimism about the sector's future. In the case of Arada, the company has seen rapid growth since its inception. Founded with the ambition to drive innovation in urban developments, Arada has made strides with large-scale projects in key cities like Sharjah and Dubai. The company's flagship projects, such as the Aljada development in Sharjah, showcase its position as one of the leading developers in the region. However, like many other developers, Arada has faced challenges related to financing and liquidity, with the sukuk issuance being a strategic move to secure funds for continued expansion. The growing reliance on sukuk issuances by real estate developers in the GCC highlights an emerging trend. Developers are increasingly tapping debt markets as a means to fund large-scale projects. Sukuk bonds, due to their compliance with Islamic finance principles, are particularly attractive to investors in the region and beyond. This trend is also a result of the favourable financing conditions that have been available in recent years, with lower interest rates and increased liquidity in regional markets. As the sukuk market expands, there are concerns over the sustainability of such growth, especially in the context of rising interest rates and economic uncertainty in global markets. However, the demand for high-yielding, fixed-income instruments continues to remain strong among investors looking to diversify their portfolios, particularly those seeking assets that align with Islamic finance principles.


Khaleej Times
15 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Trump, Fed chief Powell bicker during tense central bank visit
Donald Trump and US Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell appeared together for a tense meeting Thursday as the president toured the central bank after ramping up his attacks on its management of the economy. Trump — who wants to oust Powell for refusing to lower interest rates but likely lacks the legal authority to do so — has threatened to fire the Fed chief over cost overruns for a renovation of its Washington headquarters. During a brief but painfully awkward exchange in front of reporters during a tour of the building, the pair bickered over the price tag for the makeover, which Trump said was $3.1 billion. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. The actual cost of the facelift has been put at $2.5 billion and Powell was quick to correct the president, telling him, "I haven't heard that from anybody." Trump produced a sheet of paper apparently listing construction costs and was told curtly that he was including work on the William McChesney Martin Jr. Building, which was not part of the project. "You're including the Martin renovation — you just added in a third building," Powell scolded. Trump stuck to his guns, saying it was part of the overall redevelopment. Powell shot back, "No, it was built five years ago. We finished Martin five years ago... It's not new." Trump moved on but the tense atmosphere between the pair was almost palpable, with the Republican leader unaccustomed to being contradicted live on air. The tour came with Trump desperate to shift the focus away from the crisis engulfing his administration over its decision to close the file on multi-millionaire sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial on trafficking charges. Attorney General Pam Bondi informed the president in the spring that his name appeared in the Epstein files, according to the Wall Street Journal. Epstein was accused of procuring underage girls for sex with his circle of wealthy, high-profile associates when he died by suicide in a New York jail cell. Trump has picked all manner of targets, including his Democratic predecessors and former chiefs of the security and intelligence services, as he tries to move Epstein out of the headlines. He berated Powell over interest rates on Wednesday, and alluded to his annoyance over the cost of borrowing more than 10 times during Thursday's tour. "As good as we're doing, we'd do better if we had lower interest rates," he told reporters. 'Do the right thing' Presidential visits to the Federal Reserve are not unheard of — Franklin D. Roosevelt, Gerald Ford and George W. Bush all made the trip — but they are rare. Trump has criticized Powell for months over his insistence on keeping the short-term interest rate at 4.3 percent this year, after cutting it three times last year, when Joe Biden was in office. Powell says he is monitoring the response of the economy to Trump's dizzying array of import tariffs, which he has warned could lead to a hike in inflation. But Trump has angrily accused Powell of holding back the economy, calling the man he nominated in his first term "stupid" and a "loser." The president struck a more conciliatory tone later Thursday, telling reporters they'd had a "productive talk" on the economy, with "no tension." "It may be a little too late, as the expression goes, but I believe he's going to do the right thing," Trump said. Soaring costs for the Fed's facelift of its 88-year-old Washington headquarters and a neighboring building — up by $600 million from an initial $1.9 billion estimate — have caught Trump's eye. A significant driver of the cost is security, including blast-resistant windows and measures to prevent the building from collapsing in the event of an explosion. The Federal Reserve, the world's most important central bank, makes independent monetary policy decisions and its board members typically serve under both Republican and Democratic presidents. Experts question whether Trump has the authority to fire Powell, especially since a Supreme Court opinion in May that allowed the president to remove other independent agency members but suggested that this did not apply to the Fed.


Dubai Eye
16 hours ago
- Dubai Eye
ENEC–Westinghouse pact to advance nuclear energy deployment in US
The Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) and Westinghouse Electric have signed an agreement focused on deploying advanced nuclear energy solutions in the United States. The Memorandum of Understanding, signed in Washington DC, aims to support America's goal of quadrupling its nuclear power capacity by 2050—driven by growing energy demands from sectors like artificial intelligence and technology. ENEC brings experience from its work on the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the UAE, while Westinghouse offers cutting-edge nuclear technology, including its fully licensed AP1000 reactor. Both companies will also explore opportunities in new builds, reactor restarts, fuel supply chains and operational services. ENEC CEO Mohamed Al Hammadi said the agreement reinforces the UAE's commitment to global energy security, while Westinghouse's interim CEO Dan Sumner emphasized the AP1000's role in meeting the US target of ten large reactors under construction by 2030. The deal marks a deepening of the UAE-US energy partnership and a shared push for clean, reliable and scalable nuclear power.