Kratos Defense & Security Solutions agrees to use Seagate Space offshore launch platform

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions announced on Nov. 10, 2026, from San Diego, a long-term agreement with Seagate Space. The agreement covers use of the company’s initial Gateway offshore launch platform. Kratos plans a first mission from the platform in 2027, with more launches expected in the coming years, and initial use will focus on defense-related launch and target missions.

The Gateway system is modular and mobile, built for offshore government and commercial launch, testing, and recovery work. It offers more flexibility in launch geometry and range access, along with scheduling options, and reduces dependence on fixed land-based infrastructure. Gateway series vessels are meant to provide flexible sea-based platforms that work alongside traditional land-based sites and ranges used for launches and tests. Kratos says the announcement lines up its own experience with Seagate Space‘s modular, mobile offshore platform infrastructure.

Seagate Space has activated its first Gateway platform build contract. The step moves the project into physical construction and toward future operational readiness. Both companies will continue work on Gateway construction, integration, and readiness before Kratos’ first mission from the platform in 2027. Those steps are described as the immediate next phase after the agreement and first build contract, with the goal of readying the platform for Kratos’ first planned mission in 2027.

Eric DeMarco, Kratos President and CEO, said sea-based launch infrastructure offers flexibility, responsiveness, and operational choice, capabilities he described as increasingly important to national security missions. “Sea-based launch infrastructure can provide flexibility, responsiveness, and operational choice – capabilities increasingly important to national security missions,” DeMarco said. He said the deal fits Kratos’ strategy of being first to market with affordable, mission-focused technology for the United States and its allies. The deal gives customers an additional option for critical launch and test missions on sea-based infrastructure, DeMarco said.

Dave Carter, President of Kratos Defense & Rocket Support Services, said the deal opens an important new pathway for customers’ changing launch and test needs. “Gateway has the potential to provide our customers with additional launch flexibility, expanded operating locations, and responsive access to mission-relevant test environments,” Carter said. He made the comment in Kratos’ Nov. 10, 2026 announcement about the long-term agreement with Seagate Space. Kratos said the release shows its focus on affordable, responsive, mission-critical solutions.

Sean Fortener, President, Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of Seagate Space, said his company’s vision has been to open space access as widely as the ocean. He said the first Gateway build contract puts steel behind that vision.

Seagate Space is part of spARK Labs by ARK Invest and has its headquarters in St. Petersburg, Florida. It calls itself space’s maritime partner and works on offshore launch, recovery, and emerging logistics.

Officials from both firms expect that working together will create a basis for broader offshore operations if interest rises in hypersonic tests, ballistic-missile targets, quick-response launch, and related national security missions. Kratos provides real, mission-relevant products and systems such as hypersonic test vehicles, rocket systems, propulsion technologies, target vehicles, and launch services. The company says it makes true internally funded investments to quickly develop affordable solutions for national security missions.

Kratos builds proven, leading-edge products and systems from the start for rapid production, operational deployment, and scalable manufacturing, since it sees affordability as a technology. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. trades on NASDAQ under the ticker KTOS and describes itself as a technology, products, system and software company for defense, national security, and commercial markets. The announcement describes Kratos as a technology company that serves defense, national security, and global markets.

Barclays lowered its price target on Kratos to $80 from $90 and kept an Overweight rating after the company’s third-quarter results, according to The Fly as reported by Yahoo Finance. Yahoo Finance said KTOS shares were down 2.6% at the time of publication. The Barclays price target change appears separately from the partnership announcement in Yahoo! Finance, which links it to Kratos’ third-quarter results.