Kratos Defense vs KSAT: Ground stations compared

November 2026 edition · assessment by Frontier Tech Intelligence

KSAT ranks 19 on the Space 100 with a score of 81; Kratos Defense ranks 42 with 76. Kratos Defense is ahead on production. KSAT is ahead on deployment, progress and positioning. Level on commercials, technology, firepower and leverage. Kratos Defense is based in San Diego, United States, KSAT in Tromsø, Norway. Kratos Defense: public. KSAT: Private, founded 2002. Kratos Defense is named in 0 signals and KSAT in 16.

Kratos Defense →

San Diego, California, United States · Space · Ground & data / Ground stations · public · kratosdefense.com

Kratos supplies GAIA antenna systems for Earth-observation and satellite-communications applications, directly fitting space RF and antenna components.

Space 100 · rank 42 · score 76Robotics · watchlist · score 50

Scores, Space (of 10)

Deployment8
Production8
Commercials8
Progress8
Technology6
Positioning8
Firepower8
Leverage8

Darker bar: ahead of the other company on that measure.

Positioning

Kratos Defense is a US defense company (Nasdaq:KTOS, ~$1.1-1.2B group) whose space and satellite division runs at a 3:1 book-to-bill, with its OpenSpace virtualized ground platform deployed commercially and a major US Space Force MEO constellation ground-network contract as its 2026 anchor. It is the virtualization-of-ground-infrastructure incumbent as software eats the teleport, also in hypersonics and jet drones. A flag: negative free cash flow is expected in 2026 with a $393.2M shelf registration (dilution risk); space is one division of the consolidated group.

Facts, with sources

  • Contract valued at more than USD 20 million to deliver mobile SATCOM gateways for a defense customer in Asiakratosdefense.com
  • Approximate USD 35 million National Security-related military-grade hardware production program awardkratosdefense.com
  • [object Object]Kratos Defense — 2026-08

12 facts on file.

KSAT →

Tromsø, Troms, Norway · Space · Ground & data / Ground stations · Private · founded 2002 · www.ksat.no

KSAT operates a worldwide ground-station and antenna network, providing satellite operations, communications and data delivery for customers such as ESA and defense constellations.

Space 100 · rank 19 · score 81

Scores, Space (of 10)

Deployment10
Production6
Commercials8
Progress9
Technology6
Positioning10
Firepower8
Leverage8

Darker bar: ahead of the other company on that measure.

Positioning

KSAT is a Norwegian ground-station operator (a 50/50 JV of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and Space Norway) running 200+ antennas across 23 sites, including the largest polar ground station on Earth at Svalbard (78N), a structural monopoly in polar ground segment. It is a NASA Near Space Network provider (including lunar services), added Australia and Maspalomas sites under a Maxar extension, and is moving its product into orbit via the Hyper program of orbiting ground stations (launch contract December 2025). A CEO transition occurred in January 2026, and standalone financials are equity-accounted and not separately filed (estimated 10-100m to 100-500m).

Latest signals

  • KSAT is advancing construction of its third lunar communications ground station near Yuma, Arizona.PR Newswire, all releases
  • AnyLink began aggregating multiple ground networks into a single optimized communications path.Payload
  • KSAT plans to expand its ground-station network into orbit with the Hyper relay network.Via Satellite

16 signals name KSAT.

Facts, with sources

  • Currently operates 17 satellitesVia Satellite
  • Has 20 more satellites in the pipelineVia Satellite
  • Currently operates 17 satellites for five customersVia Satellite

59 facts on file.

More comparisons

Questions this page answers

Kratos Defense or KSAT: which is ahead in space?

KSAT ranks 19 on the Space 100 with a score of 81; Kratos Defense ranks 42 with 76. Kratos Defense is ahead on production. KSAT is ahead on deployment, progress and positioning. Level on commercials, technology, firepower and leverage. Kratos Defense is based in San Diego, United States, KSAT in Tromsø, Norway. Kratos Defense: public. KSAT: Private, founded 2002. Kratos Defense is named in 0 signals and KSAT in 16.

How do Kratos Defense and KSAT compare?

KSAT ranks 19 on the Space 100 with a score of 81; Kratos Defense ranks 42 with 76. Kratos Defense is ahead on production. KSAT is ahead on deployment, progress and positioning. Level on commercials, technology, firepower and leverage. Kratos Defense is based in San Diego, United States, KSAT in Tromsø, Norway. Kratos Defense: public. KSAT: Private, founded 2002. Kratos Defense is named in 0 signals and KSAT in 16. Both company files carry the scores on eight measures, the facts with sources and the latest signals.

Every comparison here comes from the same files members use every day.

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