In a dramatic turn of events, Swedish space technology firm Beyond Gravity Sweden AB and U.S. aerospace manufacturer Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Co. have agreed to drop their legal battle over a disputed Amazon satellite contract, ending a contentious fight that threatened to derail a lucrative supply deal.
According to a joint stipulation filed Friday in Connecticut federal court, both companies informed U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams that they had decided to voluntarily dismiss the case without prejudice. The agreement leaves the door open for potential future litigation, but for now, each party will bear its own legal costs and fees.
A Clash Over Pricing and Delays
The lawsuit, filed in December, revolved around Beyond Gravity’s claims that it had placed purchase orders with Ensign-Bickford for critical satellite subsystems at a set price. However, the manufacturer allegedly hiked prices and delayed deliveries, jeopardizing Beyond Gravity’s ability to fulfill a major contract with Amazon’s Project Kuiper—a multibillion-dollar initiative aimed at launching thousands of satellites into orbit.
In a bid to keep the supply chain moving, Beyond Gravity sought a preliminary injunction to compel Ensign-Bickford to continue delivering the subsystems while legal proceedings continued. But less than a month before the case was dismissed, Judge Williams denied Beyond Gravity’s request, weakening its position in the legal standoff.
