Exelis [XLS] on Thursday said it has acquired the development and engineering firm Celestech, which has expertise in signals processing and communications to bolster data sharing in the C4ISR realm.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. An Exelis spokeswoman told Defense Daily that Celestech has 25 employees and had $6.2 million in sales last year.

Tell Gates, CEO of Celestech, will remain with the company. Photo: Celestech
Tell Gates, CEO of Celestech, will remain with the company. Photo: Celestech

Celestech is focused on research and development efforts and creating technologies that are “attractive” to Exelis, the spokeswoman said in an email response to questions.

Celestech, which is based in Northern Virginia, provides engineering services and product development for next-generation satellite and terrestrial wireless solutions, Exelis said. It also said that Celestech has expertise in data analytics that supports the company’s intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and analytics strategic growth platform.

“The Celestech acquisition enhances our ability to provide fighting forces with freedom of action through secure, seamless data sharing,” Rich Sorelle, president of Exelis’ Electronic Systems division, said in a statement. “Leveraging Celestech’s capabilities will help us respond to our customers’ increasing needs for greater data throughput and adaptability while strengthening our strategic growth platforms.”

Celestech’s primary customers are with the United States government. The company will become part of the Exelis Electronic Systems division.