Rocket One Inc. (RKTO) announced on September 22 that it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire all issued and outstanding membership interests of Tracer Drone Technologies, a New Jersey-based drone services company. The agreement was executed on September 18. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Following the announcement, RKTO shares were trading 7.59% higher at $0.8055. The stock had closed Monday’s session down 5.23%. In Tuesday pre-market trading, it was down 0.36% at $0.7460 before moving higher after the acquisition news.

Tracer is already generating revenue and will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Rocket One after the transaction closes. The deal remains subject to customary closing conditions, and no closing date has been announced. Rocket One said additional information will be included in filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which makes those filings — along with the closing timeline — the near-term items to watch on the deal.

Tracer provides a range of drone hardware, software, and related services. Its offerings include NDAA-compliant options, thermal systems, and drone detection technology. The company also provides FAA Part 107 training, repairs, maintenance, 3D mapping, and LiDAR managed services. NDAA compliance is relevant to U.S. public-sector buyers because the National Defense Authorization Act restricts federal agencies from purchasing drones from certain covered foreign manufacturers, a framework that directs federal procurement toward domestically sourced platforms. FAA Part 107, meanwhile, is the Federal Aviation Administration’s rule set for commercial small-drone operations, covering pilot certification and operating rules.

Its customer base includes public safety, commercial, and enterprise organizations. The acquisition will therefore add an existing sales, systems integration, training, maintenance, and customer-support operation to Rocket One’s portfolio.

CEO Robb Knie said the transaction gives Rocket One “a revenue-generating foundation in the drone market, with established sales, service, training and customer-support capabilities.” Because Tracer already earns revenue, the transaction would give Rocket One an operating commercial footprint in the sector, with the sales, service, training and support functions the CEO cited already in place.

The acquisition also provides Rocket One with a direct sales channel for its AI and autonomous drone technologies. The company describes its broader focus as including AI infrastructure, advanced semiconductor technologies, space and defense systems, and autonomous platforms.

Rocket One is also developing Swarm Stage AI, a drone-swarm threat-emulation and counter-UAS training platform. Tracer’s existing drone operations align with Rocket One’s activities in autonomous and defense-related technology, and its drone detection offering falls within the counter-UAS field that Swarm Stage AI addresses.

The membership interest purchase agreement covers all of Tracer Drone Technologies’ issued and outstanding membership interests. Rocket One’s announcement did not disclose the financial terms of the transaction or a planned closing date.

Source: CoinCentral