Best Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Companies in Maryland, United States
The 87 best Aerospace, Maritime and Defense companies in Maryland, United States in 2026, ranked by funding and momentum. Funding, investors, founders, valuation, tech stack and live signals. Top: Comtech Mission Critical Technologies.
Our analysis of 50 Aerospace, Maritime and Defense companies
$6.7b in tracked funding; 89% of the stack-profiled cohort runs cloud-native; funding activity peaked in 2025.
Ranked: Best Aerospace, Maritime and Defense companies in Maryland
| # | Company | Disclosed funding | Last round | Stage | Founder | Founded | Tech stack | Patents & IP focus | Recent signals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Comtech Mission Critical Technologies Provider of government space technology services | $28M | 84 mo ago | Deadpooled | Ken Peterman CEO | 2019 | — | — | — |
| 2 | Lockheed Martin Manufacturer of global security and defense airplanes 83Partners top 22%News top 26%Patents top 27%Funding top 29% All 13 signals ▾Partnerstop 22% Newstop 26% Patentstop 27% Fundingtop 29% Fin. healthtop 29% Markettop 30% Talenttop 32% Techtop 33% Innovationtop 37% Producttop 39% Moattop 41% Growthtop 43% Globaltop 49% Partners: 1 partnership announcement in 12 mo (1 in 24 mo) · 9 contract events in 12 mo News: 59 BI events in 12 mo (of 1170 tracked, 15 types) · -16% YoY rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 83/100 | $25M | 13 mo ago | Public | Jim Taiclet CEO | 1912 | DrupalPHPZURB Foundation+37 | 551 patents Advanced flow‑battery and high‑voltage electrochemical energy storage technologies | 1 launch · 1 partnership |
| 3 | Wave Engine Developer of moving-part-free jet propulsion systems | $8M | 43 mo ago | Seed | — | 2015 | WordPressBugHerdMySQL+17 | — | — |
| 4 | Space Telescope Science Institute Operator of space-based observatories providing astronomical data and research opportunities | $6M | 168 mo ago | Funding Raised | — | 1982 | Atlassian ConfluenceJavaElement UI+17 | — | 4 job openings |
| 5 | RCT Systems Developer of electrical, mechanical, and software engineering solutions for multiple industries | $4M | 189 mo ago | Funding Raised | John Register CHAIRMAN AND CEO | 1990 | WordPressMySQLPHP+21 | — | 10 job openings |
| 6 | Oasis Marinas Marina management services provider | $3M | 59 mo ago | Seed | Dan Cowens Co-Founder & CEO | 2014 | — | — | — |
| 7 | Castellum Provider of cybersecurity, software development, and systems engineering services | $520K | 56 mo ago | Public | Mark Fuller Chairman & CEO | 2019 | Q4MediaElement.jsMicrosoft ASP.NET+11 | 2 patents Optimizing data indexing and retrieval algorithms for electronic search engines | — |
| 8 | Fulcrum Autonomy Provider of flight services, research and development, and pilot training | $500K | 11 mo ago | Seed | Edward Bozeman Co-Founder & CEO | 2023 | — | — | 1 award |
| 9 | Sigma Space Provider of aerospace engineering and development services | $427K | 132 mo ago | Acquired | — | 1998 | — | 24 patents Spaceborne multisensor data fusion and advanced lidar signal processing for satellite imaging | — |
Top 12 Aerospace, Maritime and Defense companies in Maryland
#1
Public · Bethesda, Maryland · founded 1912 · 158 employees$25.1Mraised▾
Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company. It offers research, design, development, manufacture, integration, and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products, and services in aeronautics, missiles, fire control, space, rotary and mission systems. It has operations in 52 nations and territories. The company serves the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. federal government agencies. In 2022, the company recorded annual revenues of $66.15B and a net profit of $5.69B.
- Apr 2025Grant (prize money)$1.2M
- Apr 2025Grant (prize money)$174.8K
- Mar 2025Grant (prize money)$20.8M
- Jan 2025Grant (prize money)$388.4K
#2
Seed · Montgomery Village, Maryland · founded 2023$499.9Kraised▾
Provider of flight services, research and development, and pilot training. They offer training programs for pilots. The company also engages in research, development, testing, and evaluation.
- Jul 2025Seed$499.9K
#3
Seed · College Park, Maryland · founded 2015 · 9 employees$7.8Mraised▾
Developer of moving-part-free jet propulsion systems. It designs and manufactures jet engines leveraging wave engine technology. This technology enables the production of simple, affordable, and scalable jet engines for various applications, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and personal aircraft. The company provides support services to its customers and is actively involved in advancing the technology for high-speed UAVs and air-launched vehicles. Its propulsion systems are designed with simplicity, affordability, and sustainability in mind.
- Nov 2022Seed$3.5M
- 2019Seed$2.9M
- Apr 2018Seed$1.4M
#4
Deadpooled · Annapolis, Maryland · founded 2019 · 87 employees$28.5Mraised▾
Provider of government space technology services
- Jun 2019Grant (prize money)$13.5M
- May 2019Grant (prize money)$15M
#5
Funding Raised · Baltimore, Maryland · founded 1982 · 708 employees$6.4Mraised▾
Operator of space-based observatories providing astronomical data and research opportunities. It supports scientific exploration through operation of telescopes and data archives. The organization facilitates research, proposal planning, and data analysis. It offers access to documentation, software tools, and calibration resources.
- Jun 2012Grant (prize money)$396.1K
- Apr 2012Grant (prize money)$272.9K
- Sep 2011Grant (prize money)$396.6K
- Jan 2010Grant (prize money)$72.9K
#6
Seed · Baltimore, Maryland · founded 2014 · 138 employees$2.9Mraised▾
Oasis Marina is a provider of management services for marinas in & around the Chesapeake Bay area. Offers services for facility management & maintenance, boat dock repair & remodeling, marine construction, fuel docks, and more.
- Jul 2021Seed—
- Aug 2020Seed$300K
- Sep 2017Seed$2.6M
- Sep 2016Conventional Debt$2M
#7
Funding Raised · Baltimore, Maryland · founded 1990$3.8Mraised▾
Developer of electrical, mechanical, and software engineering solutions for multiple industries. The company provides end-to-end solutions for power and intelligence systems. It offers engineering services for the defense, civil, and commercial sectors. The company delivers solutions in power systems and intelligence systems. It provides opportunities for engineers and other professionals.
- Sep 2010Grant (prize money)$3.6M
- Sep 2009Grant (prize money)$198.6K
#8
Public · Bethesda, Maryland · founded 2019 · 207 employees$520Kraised▾
Provider of cybersecurity, software development, and systems engineering services. It offers services including information and electronic warfare, program support, and data analytics. It provides subject matter expertise in artificial intelligence, machine learning, 5G technologies, model-based systems engineering, program management, information assurance, intelligence analysis, and CMMC compliance. The company supports government and commercial clients.
- Oct 2021Post IPO$520K
#9
Acquired · Lanham, Maryland · founded 1998 · 110 employees$426.8Kraised▾
Manufacturer of light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technologies and instruments designed for the aerospace industry. The company is engaged in designing and developing high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) mapping, laser remote sensing and wind speed measurement systems, as well as multichannel scalers, atmospheric sensors and other space instruments thereby helping government agencies to measure, map and monitor the earth's surface above and below the seas.
- Jun 2015Grant (prize money)$173.4K
- Jun 2014Grant (prize money)$173.4K
- May 2008Grant (prize money)$80K
#10
Funding Raised · Glen Arm, Maryland · founded 1989 · 24 employees$58.1Kraised▾
Sensor Concepts & Applications, Inc. has been operating as an expert in the field of sensor technology since 1989. SCA is a small, woman owned company working closely with Department of Homeland Security and Department of Defense agencies in testing, evaluating, modeling, interpreting, and system design of nonintrusive inspection systems and other sensor technologies. We are a sensor company with wide experience in infrared, electro-optics, sonar, radar, active, and passive radiation sensors in applications such as nuclear material and shielding detection, chemical weapon and explosive detection using trace detection technologies, IED detection, vehicle detection.
- Jul 2016Grant (prize money)$19.5K
- Jul 2015Grant (prize money)$38.6K
#11
Late Stage · Hanover, Maryland · founded 2009 · 53 employees—raised▾
Provider of technical services including software development and systems engineering. The company delivers solutions addressing critical mission and planning needs. Expertise includes systems engineering, mission operations, software development, user based testing, and legal and privacy compliance. The focus is on providing support to meet customer needs.
- Mar 2026PE—
#12
Late Stage · Lexington Park, Maryland · founded 1990 · 617 employees—raised▾
Provider of engineering and program support services to the defense sector. These services encompass program management, advanced engineering, software solutions, technical services, integrated product support, and international program support. The company also offers training and information technology solutions, specializing in electronic warfare and model-based systems engineering. Its focus is on delivering expert solutions and cutting-edge support to military clients.
- May 2023PE—
Funding & investor landscape
Notable founders
Market landscape — 10 sub-themes by coverage
Share of Aerospace, Maritime and Defense coverage by sub-theme.
Regulatory-risk over time rising
Funding & growth over time
funding rising · growth rising
How research on Defense Technology is moving in the United States
A read on the academic research around Defense Technology — which themes are gaining ground, the institutions and researchers driving them, and how the tone is shifting. Based on 462 United States-affiliated papers.
- Pennsylvania State University19
- United States Air Force Research Laboratory15
- United States Naval Academy12
- U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology10
- Naval Postgraduate School9
- Photonics2→4
- Jamming6→7
- Electronic warfare55
- Radar36
- Missile32
- Missile defense18
- Jamming12
- Aerospace engineering2→4
- Cruise missile4→5
Where defense tech is researched across United States
Location clusters by institution affiliation — each city's volume, stance tone, and a quick read on its hot topic, what's advancing, the opening opportunity, and the main concern.
Who's filing defense tech patents in the United States
United States defense tech patent filing is accelerating — 57 filings from 65 assignees (2016–2025), led by Raytheon, BAE SYS INF & Elect SYS Integ, AAI; annual filings 3→6.
- Raytheon17
- BAE SYS INF & Elect SYS Integ15
- AAI10
- Leonardo Electronics US10
- Lockheed10
- Rocky Research7
- Huggett James M5
- Stroili Frank D5
Common questions
Rohit lives in the feed. He covers what's moving right now — the funding rounds, launches and shifts breaking across the trade press — and ties them back to where the sector is heading.