LIG Nex1, a South Korean defense technology company, has acquired a 60 percent control stake in Philadelphia-based Ghost Robotics for $240 million.
The acquisition is expected to advance the development and fielding of autonomous robotic platforms, including Ghost Robotics’ Vision 60 ground drone.
Ghost Robotics will use LIG Nex1’s defense sector expertise and manufacturing capabilities to scale operations.
“We are thrilled to partner with LIG Nex1 and embark on this exciting new chapter,” Gavin Kenneally, co-founder and CEO of Ghost Robotics. “Their investment and strategic guidance will accelerate our growth and enhance our ability to deliver groundbreaking robotic solutions to a wider range of industries and applications.”
Shin Ick-hyun, CEO of LIG Nex1, added that the acquisition will enable the two companies to grow together.
Vision 60, a four-legged unmanned ground vehicle, is Ghost Robotics’ flagship product capable of completing a broad range of missions even in unstructured urban and natural environments. In 2023, the company unveiled plans to supply at least six units of the ground drone to the Japan Self-Defense Forces for perimeter security and support intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
Ghost Robotics’ acquisition aligns with LIG Nex1’s efforts to expand its presence in the U.S. defense market. In mid-July, the Korean company demonstrated the firing capability of its 2.75-inch diameter guided rocket Poniard as part of the Department of Defense’s Foreign Comparison Test.