Iridium Communications reports Q2 2026 results

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On October 20, 2026 , Iridium Communications Inc. issued a press release announcing its financial results for the second quarter ended September 30, 2026.¹ The text of this press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.^{2 2}Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such exhibit and the information set forth therein and herein are deemed to be furnished and shall not be deemed to be filed.²

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit Number Description

99.1 Press release dated October 20, 2026

104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)*

* Submitted electronically with this Report in accordance with the provisions of Regulation S-T

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

IRIDIUM COMMUNICATIONS INC.

Date: October 20, 2026³

By: /s/ Vincent J. O'Neill³

Vincent J. O'Neill

Chief Financial Officer³

FOR RELEASE Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Investor Contact: Press Contact:

Kenneth Levy

Iridium Communications Inc.

+1 (703) 287-7570

ken.levy@iridium.com

Jordan Hassin

Iridium Communications Inc.

+1 (703) 287-7421

jordan.hassin@iridium.com

Iridium Announces Third Quarter 2026 Results⁴

Completes acquisition of Aireon; Pending acquisition by Rocket Lab receives stockholder approval

MCLEAN, Va. – October 20, 2026 – Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: IRDM) ("Iridium" or the "Company"), a leading provider of global voice, data, aircraft surveillance, and positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) satellite services, today reported financial results for the third quarter of 2026.

Update on Pending Transaction with Rocket Lab

On June 28, 2026, the Company entered into a definitive agreement with Rocket Lab Corporation⁸ (Nasdaq: RKLB) ("Rocket Lab") under which Rocket Lab will acquire the Company. Iridium stockholders approved the transaction at a Special Meeting of Stockholders on September 24, 2026 with 99.6% of the votes cast voting in favor of the transaction⁹, representing 81.4% of Iridium's outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote. The transaction is expected to be completed by mid-2027, subject to the satisfaction of the remaining regulatory approvals and closing conditions.¹⁰

"Last month's stockholder approval for Rocket Lab's acquisition of Iridium was an important milestone in creating a next generation space powerhouse," said Matt Desch, CEO, Iridium. Desch continued, "The combination of these two leading space companies will unlock new innovation in the space industry and accelerate our growth in critical space-based missions."

Third Quarter 2026 Financial Results

Iridium reported third quarter total revenue of $245.7 million, an 8% increase versus the comparable period of 2025.⁵ Service revenue grew 13% from the year-ago period, primarily due to the acquisition of Aireon, and was 76% of total revenue for the third quarter of 2026.

Income from Operations

Net income was $106.9 million, or $0.98 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2026, as compared to net income of $37.1 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2025.⁶ The increase was primarily the result of the $103.9 million gain related to the acquisition of Aireon⁶, which is included in the Company's condensed consolidated statements starting in the third quarter. Operational EBITDA ("OEBITDA") (1) for the third quarter of 2026 was $135.6 million, as compared to $136.6 million for the prior-year period. The year-over-year change in OEBITDA was partly due to $4.5 million in higher expenses related to the previously disclosed change to pay annual incentive compensation solely in cash.

Subscribers

The Company ended the third quarter with 2,696,000 total billable subscribers, up from 2,542,000 for the year-ago period and 2,627,000 for the quarter ended June 30, 2026. Total billable subscribers grew 6% year-over-year, led by growth in commercial Internet of Things (IoT).

Business Highlights

Service – Commercial

Commercial service remained the largest part of Iridium's business, representing 65% of the Company's total revenue during the third quarter. Commercial service revenue was $159.9 million, up 16% from the comparable period last year, primarily due to the acquisition of Aireon. Hosted payload and other data service revenue increased $22.7 million, or 121%, in the third quarter, primarily due to the acquisition of Aireon.

Service – U.S. Government

Government service revenue grew 2% to $27.6 million in the third quarter, reflecting contractual rate increases in the Enhanced Mobile Satellite Services contract (the "EMSS Contract") over the prior year. The U.S. government continues to be Iridium's largest single customer, representing 15% of service revenue and nearly all of the Company's engineering services and support business.

On September 11, 2026, the U.S. Space Force exercised its option to extend the EMSS Contract with Iridium through March 2027, at the same contractual rate. Iridium continues to expect a renewal of the EMSS Contract in 2027.

Equipment

Equipment revenue was $19.0 million in the third quarter, compared to $21.5 million in the prior-year quarter.

Engineering & Support

Engineering and support revenue was $39.2 million during the third quarter, compared to $40.2 million in the prior-year quarter.

Closing of Aireon Acquisition

Iridium completed its acquisition of Aireon, operator of the world's only space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) air traffic surveillance system, on July 2, 2026.⁷ The acquisition solidifies Iridium as the premier global provider of integrated communications, navigation, and surveillance solutions for airlines and air navigation service providers to enable a safer, more connected, and more efficient aviation ecosystem.

Capital Allocation

Capital expenditures were $27.4 million for the third quarter, including $2.2 million in capitalized interest. The Company ended the third quarter with gross debt of $2.2 billion, and a cash and cash equivalents balance of $97.9 million, for a net debt balance of $2.1 billion.

In conjunction with the Company's acquisition of Aireon, Iridium assumed Aireon's existing credit facility with an aggregate principal balance of $154.7 million with a scheduled maturi