KBR finalizes buy of LinQuest, expanding its space support ops

WASHINGTON — Houston-based KBR has finalized its purchase of LinQuest — expanding its reach into the space sector, KBR 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 35,000-strong behemoth providing science and engineering support to governments and companies worldwide, including the US Defense Department. Based in Herndon, Va., LinQuest by contrast is tiny, with a workforce of only some 1,500 people — but sports a speciality in engineering, data analytics, digital integration and other support services related to national security space.

For example, the firm in 2019 won a contract worth $562 million to help the Air Force’s former space acquisition unit, Space and Missile System Center — the predecessor to the Space Force’s Space Systems Command — revamp its process for developing military communications satellites. The firm likewise in 2019 nabbed a contract worth $9.2 million to help re-establish US Space Command; and in 2021 was awarded a $500 million, five-year indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract 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 buy 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.