Starfighters Space
Operator of a commercial fleet of F-104 Starfighter jets, developing the STARLAUNCH air-launch platform.
Starfighters Space (NYSE American: FJET) operates flight-ready F-104 Starfighter aircraft from NASA Kennedy Space Center and Midland Air & Space Port, TX, and is developing the STARLAUNCH air-launch platform, having reached Critical Design Review with GE Aerospace after Feb 2026 wind-tunnel validation of clean F-104 separation. Starfighters, Inc. was founded by Rick Svetkoff in Florida in 1995; holding company Starfighters Space, Inc. incorporated in Delaware in September 2022, IPO'd via Regulation A in December 2025, and took a $7.5M strategic investment in May 2026. Q1 2026: zero revenue, a $4.27M net loss, $22.43M stockholders' equity. Holds a Range User Agreement with the U.S. Space Force, a March 2023 MOA with Space Launch Delta 45, and joins DoD's HyCAT initiative (Defense Innovation Unit) with Innoveering, GE Aerospace, and Spectre Propulsion. Svetkoff stepped down as CEO/Chairman in February 2026 (succeeded by Tim Franta) but remains largest shareholder. Pending: a federal securities-fraud suit (Does 1-10, S.D. Fla., filed May 2026), Svetkoff's breach-of-fiduciary-duty suit (filed April 2026, seeking $6M+, disputed), an auditor transition (Adeptus Partners resigned July 2026, succeeded by CBIZ CPAs), and a TCPA suit (Cindy Bryant, C.D. Cal., filed June 2026) dismissed/settled July 13, 2026.
Overview
- Headquarters
- Cape Canaveral, FL
- Founded
- 1995
- Employees
- Undisclosed
- Total funding
- $40M (Reg A IPO, Dec 2025) + $17.5M (strategic equity, May 2026)
- Stage
- Public
- Status
- public
- Domains
- Space launch, Hypersonic testing, Aviation test services
- Website
- ir.starfightersspace.com
Founders2
- FounderRick SvetkoffFounded Starfighters (the F-104 fleet operator) in Florida in 1995/96 after acquiring an F-104, following a US Navy career flying A-4 Skyhawks (1978-1984) and a stint as a Continental Airlines pilot. Stepped down as Chairman/CEO/President of the public holding company in February 2026 following its NYSE American listing, but remains its largest shareholder at 32.1%.
- FounderTim FrantaCEO of Starfighters Space since February 2026, having joined as VP of Development in October 2022 to lead the STARLAUNCH program. Previously Deputy Director at Energy Florida, Cape Canaveral (2018-2022) and Director of Special Projects (2012-2018); earlier drafted space transportation policy as Chief of Staff for the Florida Space Authority and on Florida Legislature staff.
Investors0
No linked records yet.
Cap table6
Approximate ownership by holder. Indexed holders link to their records.
Percentages marked ~ are not disclosed. Some are a generic VC-pattern model (founders/team weighted heaviest, option pool lightest, other holders evenly) sized to whatever's left undisclosed — a standard industry shape, not this company's actual cap table.
| Holder | Instrument | Ownership |
|---|---|---|
| Common (Nil) | ~33.2% | |
Geoffrey Hickman (Director) | Common (Nil) | ~33.2% |
| Common | 32.1 | |
Sean Bromley (Director) | Common | 1.3 |
David Whitney (CFO) | Common | 0.25 |
Brian Goldmeier (Director) | Common | 0.03 |
Frequently asked
- What does Starfighters Space do?
- Starfighters Space (NYSE American: FJET) operates flight-ready F-104 Starfighter aircraft from NASA Kennedy Space Center and Midland Air & Space Port, TX, and is developing the STARLAUNCH air-launch platform, having reached Critical Design Review with GE Aerospace after Feb 2026 wind-tunnel validation of clean F-104 separation. Starfighters, Inc. was founded by Rick Svetkoff in Florida in 1995; holding company Starfighters Space, Inc. incorporated in Delaware in September 2022, IPO'd via Regulation A in December 2025, and took a $7.5M strategic investment in May 2026. Q1 2026: zero revenue, a $4.27M net loss, $22.43M stockholders' equity. Holds a Range User Agreement with the U.S. Space Force, a March 2023 MOA with Space Launch Delta 45, and joins DoD's HyCAT initiative (Defense Innovation Unit) with Innoveering, GE Aerospace, and Spectre Propulsion. Svetkoff stepped down as CEO/Chairman in February 2026 (succeeded by Tim Franta) but remains largest shareholder. Pending: a federal securities-fraud suit (Does 1-10, S.D. Fla., filed May 2026), Svetkoff's breach-of-fiduciary-duty suit (filed April 2026, seeking $6M+, disputed), an auditor transition (Adeptus Partners resigned July 2026, succeeded by CBIZ CPAs), and a TCPA suit (Cindy Bryant, C.D. Cal., filed June 2026) dismissed/settled July 13, 2026.
- Where is Starfighters Space headquartered?
- Starfighters Space is headquartered in Cape Canaveral, FL and was founded in 1995.
- How much funding has Starfighters Space raised?
- Starfighters Space has raised $40M (Reg A IPO, Dec 2025) + $17.5M (strategic equity, May 2026) in disclosed funding.
- What does Starfighters Space specialize in?
- Starfighters Space works across Space launch, Hypersonic testing, Aviation test services.
- Does Starfighters Space hold government contracts?
- Defense Tech Atlas links Starfighters Space to 1 government contract and 1 program.
Sources & citations11
Each claim links to its underlying source. Confidence reflects how directly the source supports the claim.
- 1
Starfighters Space closes its Regulation A IPO, raising $40M (11,142,061 shares at $3.59); stock began trading on NYSE American under FJET December 18, 2025
Starfighters Space: Starfighters Space Announces Closing of its Reg A Initial Public OfferingVerified2025-12-17 - 2
Starfighters Space secures a $17.5 million strategic private placement investment to advance the STARLAUNCH program
StockTitan: Starfighters Space (NYSE American: FJET) Advances STARLAUNCH Program and Commercial Space Development Through Strategic $17.5 Million InvestmentVerified2026-05-22 - 3
A federal lawsuit, Starfighters Space, Inc. et al. v. Does 1 through 10 (Case No. 1:26-cv-23092, U.S. District Court, S.D. Florida), was filed May 1, 2026, coded as a securities-fraud action; co-plaintiffs include Fortuna Investment Corp., Fortuna Advisors LLC, Blue Bird Capital Enterprises LLC, and Justus Parmar
CourtListener (federal court docket): Starfighters Space, Inc. v. Does 1 through 10Reported2026-05-01 - 4
A separate lawsuit, Cindy Bryant v. Starfighters Space, Inc. (Case No. 2:26-cv-06344, U.S. District Court, C.D. California), was filed June 11, 2026; nature of the claim is not independently confirmed
CourtListener (federal court docket): Cindy Bryant v. Starfighters Space, Inc.Reported2026-06-11 - 5
Starfighters Space's auditor Adeptus Partners, LLC resigned effective immediately July 9, 2026; the company subsequently engaged CBIZ CPAs as its new independent auditor
StockTitan (SEC 8-K filing summary): Starfighters Space (NYSE American: FJET) names CBIZ CPAs as new independent auditorReported2026-07-24 - 6
Starfighters Space founder Rick Svetkoff stepped down as CEO effective February 19, 2026, succeeded by Tim Franta
Starfighters Space: Starfighters Space Founder Rick Svetkoff Steps Down after Listing on NYSE; Tim Franta Appointed as CEOVerified2026-02-23 - 7
Former CEO Rick Svetkoff filed a state-court lawsuit against Starfighters Space in Brevard County, Florida, seeking $26M+ and alleging breach of fiduciary duty, self-dealing, and mismanagement; the company disputes the claims
Investing.com: Starfighters Space faces lawsuit from former CEO alleging breach of dutyReported2026-04-13 - 8
Starfighters Space's STARLAUNCH program reaches Critical Design Review with GE Aerospace; the company operates the world's only commercial fleet of flight-ready F-104 supersonic aircraft, based at NASA Kennedy Space Center and expanding its Midland, TX facility
StockTitan (SEC 8-K filing summary): Starfighters Space (NYSE American: FJET) names CBIZ CPAs as new independent auditorReported2026-07-24 - 9
Starfighters Space, Inc. (Delaware) was incorporated September 6, 2022; its wholly-owned operating subsidiary Starfighters, Inc. (Florida) was incorporated November 16, 1995; beneficial ownership table as of April 13, 2026 (44,173,972 shares outstanding) shows Rick Svetkoff at 14,170,000 shares (32.1%), Sean Bromley at 564,978 shares (1.3%), David Whitney at 112,500 shares (<1%), Brian Goldmeier at 15,000 shares (<1%), Geoffrey Hickman at 0 shares, and all directors/officers as a group at 692,478 shares (1.6%)
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (EDGAR): Starfighters Space, Inc. Form 10-K (FY2025), Item 12Verified2026-04-13 - 10
Cindy Bryant v. Starfighters Space, Inc. (2:26-cv-06344, C.D. Cal.) was a Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) case, filed June 11, 2026; the case was terminated (settled/dismissed without prejudice) July 13, 2026
PacerMonitor: Cindy Bryant v. Starfighters Space, Inc. — docketReported2026-07-13 - 11
STARLAUNCH I, co-developed with Innoveering LLC (acquired by GE Aerospace), completed wind-tunnel validation of clean separation from the F-104 carrier and entered Critical Design Review with GE Aerospace support
Military Aerospace: STARLAUNCH 1 demonstrator enters Critical Design Review after wind-tunnel validationVerified2026-02-20