Transactions
February 3 2026
KippsDeSanto & Co. advises RKF Engineering Solutions, LLC and Kythera Software Inc. on their sale to Auria Space, a portfolio company of Enlightenment Capital
KippsDeSanto & Co. is pleased to announce the sale of its clients, RKF Engineering Solutions, LLC (“RKF”) and Kythera (“Kythera Space Solutions”, "Kythera", or collectively, the "Companies"), to Auria Space (“Auria”), a portfolio company of Enlightenment Capital.
Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Bethesda, MD, RKF is a leading provider of satellite communications (“SATCOM”) engineering and spectrum management solutions to the U.S. Space Force and other federal and commercial customers, supporting satellite and terrestrial network connectivity and management in an increasingly complex spectrum and orbital domain. Founded in 2018 and based in Bethesda, MD, Kythera provides a proprietary software suite focused on the autonomous management of next-generation software-defined satellite payloads. Kythera’s software suite, including the Kythera Operating System (“KOS”), serves as the intelligence layer for modern space networks in the public and private space economy, allowing operators to autonomously manage in-orbit SATCOM and spectrum resources.
The acquisition by Auria serves to deepen its technical capabilities in SATCOM and expand its software product portfolio by adding engineering tools and satellite payload software suites, enabling Auria to deliver an end-to-end solution for managing the full C3 lifecycle, from the space asset and payload to the ground systems and the warfighter.
This transaction highlights several key trends in the government technology solutions M&A market:
- Robust demand for specialized engineering firms that possess intellectual property capable of solving complex satellite communications, spectrum congestion, and interference challenges
- Increasing value placed on software-defined space capabilities that enable legacy and next-generation assets to operate dynamically and autonomously
- Continued consolidation of space technology providers that can bridge the gap between commercial innovation and government requirements
About KippsDeSanto & Co.
KippsDeSanto & Co. is an investment banking firm focused on serving growth-oriented Aerospace & Defense, Government Technology Solutions, and Enterprise Technology companies. We are focused on delivering exceptional M&A and financing transaction results to our clients via leveraging our scale, creativity, and industry experience. We help market leaders realize their full strategic value. Having advised on more than 250 industry transactions, KippsDeSanto is recognized for its analytical rigor, market insight, and broad industry relationships. There’s no substitute for experience. For more information, visit www.kippsdesanto.com.
Investment Banking products and services are offered through KippsDeSanto & Co., a non-bank subsidiary of Capital One, N.A., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Capital One Financial Corporation, and a member of FINRA and SIPC. Products and services are Not FDIC insured, Not Bank Guaranteed, May Lose Value, Not a Deposit, and Not Insured by Any Federal Government Agency
KippsDeSanto & Co. is pleased to announce the sale of its clients, RKF Engineering Solutions, LLC (“RKF”) and Kythera (“Kythera Space Solutions”, "Kythera", or collectively, the "Companies"), to Auria Space (“Auria”), a portfolio company of Enlightenment Capital.
Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Bethesda, MD, RKF is a leading provider of satellite communications (“SATCOM”) engineering and spectrum management solutions to the U.S. Space Force and other federal and commercial customers, supporting satellite and terrestrial network connectivity and management in an increasingly complex spectrum and orbital domain. Founded in 2018 and based in Bethesda, MD, Kythera provides a proprietary software suite focused on the autonomous management of next-generation software-defined satellite payloads. Kythera’s software suite, including the Kythera Operating System (“KOS”), serves as the intelligence layer for modern space networks in the public and private space economy, allowing operators to autonomously manage in-orbit SATCOM and spectrum resources.
The acquisition by Auria serves to deepen its technical capabilities in SATCOM and expand its software product portfolio by adding engineering tools and satellite payload software suites, enabling Auria to deliver an end-to-end solution for managing the full C3 lifecycle, from the space asset and payload to the ground systems and the warfighter.
This transaction highlights several key trends in the government technology solutions M&A market:
- Robust demand for specialized engineering firms that possess intellectual property capable of solving complex satellite communications, spectrum congestion, and interference challenges
- Increasing value placed on software-defined space capabilities that enable legacy and next-generation assets to operate dynamically and autonomously
- Continued consolidation of space technology providers that can bridge the gap between commercial innovation and government requirements
About KippsDeSanto & Co.
KippsDeSanto & Co. is an investment banking firm focused on serving growth-oriented Aerospace & Defense, Government Technology Solutions, and Enterprise Technology companies. We are focused on delivering exceptional M&A and financing transaction results to our clients via leveraging our scale, creativity, and industry experience. We help market leaders realize their full strategic value. Having advised on more than 250 industry transactions, KippsDeSanto is recognized for its analytical rigor, market insight, and broad industry relationships. There’s no substitute for experience. For more information, visit www.kippsdesanto.com.
Investment Banking products and services are offered through KippsDeSanto & Co., a non-bank subsidiary of Capital One, N.A., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Capital One Financial Corporation, and a member of FINRA and SIPC. Products and services are Not FDIC insured, Not Bank Guaranteed, May Lose Value, Not a Deposit, and Not Insured by Any Federal Government Agency
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