WINDSOR, CO, Jan 29, 2026 – Slingshot Aerospace has named Nik Smith executive vice president (EVM) & general manager (GM) of its International Business Unit. Smith will join the company at the end of Feb’2026, taking responsibility for international operations and business development.
Smith brings more than 25 years of leadership experience and will oversee Slingshot Aerospace’s international operations and growth. He recently led strategy and new business development for Lockheed Martin Space in the UK and Europe. Earlier in his career, he held senior roles within the UK Ministry of Defense and the Royal Air Force, working with multinational partners.
Smith will lead Slingshot’s international business, overseeing global expansion and partnerships with government and commercial customers. The role also covers use of the company’s AI-driven capabilities for space domain awareness, traffic coordination, and operational decision-support across international markets.
“Nik brings a powerful combination of strategic insight, operational credibility, and trusted relationships across the global defense and space ecosystem,” said Tim Solms, CEO of Slingshot Aerospace. “As demand for space security, safety, and resilience continues to grow worldwide, his leadership will be instrumental in advancing our international strategy and supporting our allies with the relevant capabilities needed to operate confidently in an increasingly contested domain.”
Smith holds a Master’s degree in defense studies from King’s College London and a Bachelor’s degree in engineering from Sheffield Hallam University.
Source: Slingshot Aerospace
About Slingshot Aerospace
Founded in 2017, Slingshot Aerospace delivers space simulation and analytics solutions to enhance situational awareness in complex environments. Its platform combines data from satellites, drones, aircraft, and ground sensors, applying AI and machine learning to support space object tracking, traffic coordination, and simulation. The system integrates inputs from Slingshot’s Global Sensor Network, the Seradata database, satellite operators, and other sources to create a unified view of space activity – past, present, and projected – used for planning, training, and operations. Slingshot serves both government and commercial clients, including NASA and the U.S. Space Force, aiming to reduce risk and improve safety in space operations. As of 2024, the company has about 137 employees and maintains offices in Colorado and the UK. It secured $30M in funding in September 2024. Slingshot aims to ensure safe, sustainable space operations using modeling, astrodynamics, and data fusion.