Best Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech Companies in Arizona, United States
The 64 best Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech companies in Arizona, United States in 2026, ranked by funding and momentum. Funding, investors, founders, valuation, tech stack and live signals. Top: Vector.
Our analysis of 50 Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech companies
$31.9b in tracked funding; 90% of the stack-profiled cohort runs cloud-native; funding activity peaked in 2021.
Ranked: Best Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech companies in Arizona
| # | Company | Disclosed funding | Last round | Stage | Founder | Founded | Tech stack | Patents & IP focus | Recent signals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vector Provider of solutions for complex national security challenges for government | $103M | 92 mo ago | Series B | Jeffery Lane CTO | 2016 | — | 19 patents Patents concentrated in transport & manufacturing processes | — |
| 2 | Airobotics Provider of automated drone infrastructure for aerial data and surveillance 67News top 20%Partners top 21%Funding top 25%Growth top 25% All 10 signals ▾Newstop 20% Partnerstop 21% Fundingtop 25% Growthtop 25% Talenttop 38% Techtop 45% Globaltop 45% Producttop 46% Moattop 48% Marketbottom 47% News: 5 BI events in 12 mo (of 54 tracked, 11 types) · +400% YoY Partners: 4 contract events in 12 mo · Named contractor/client in 4 deals rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 67/100 | $101M | 19 mo ago | Acquired | Ran Krauss Co-Founder & President | 2014 | WordPressApple iCloud MailMicrosoft 365+35 | — | — |
| 3 | World View Provider of balloon-based space imagery | $95M | 13 mo ago | Acquired | — | 2013 | Webflow EcommerceWebflowApple iCloud Mail+21 | 57 patents High‑altitude lighter‑than‑air balloon platforms for near‑space payloads | 1 launch |
| 4 | Phantom Space Provider of satellite manufacturing, launch services, and cloud data constellations | $37M | 27 mo ago | Series A | Michael Angelo Co-Founder | 2019 | WordPressMySQLPHP+14 | — | 1 expansion |
| 5 | Solestial Manufacturer of silicon photovoltaic products designed for space-based solar power | $26M | 13 mo ago | Acquired | Stan Herasimenka Co-Founder & CTO | 2013 | WordPress Block EditorWordPressApple iCloud Mail+29 | — | 1 job opening |
| 6 | BLUETAIL Provider of business aviation records management and training services | $7M | 25 mo ago | Series B | Stuart Illian Co-Founder | 2019 | WordPress Block EditorElementorWordPress+43 | — | — |
| 7 | Rizse Provider of AI-powered aircraft inspection solutions | $7M | 43 mo ago | Series A | Colby Harvey CEO | 2017 | — | 4 patents UAV-enabled aerial inspection and monitoring of aircraft structures and aviation facilities | — |
| 8 | FreeFall Aerospace Developer of antenna systems for communications and remote sensing applications | $3M | 6 mo ago | Series A | Chris Walker Co-Founder | 2016 | WordPressMySQLPHP+20 | 23 patents Advanced tracking and polarization-control antenna systems for satellite communications | 1 internship · 2 partnerships |
| 9 | Defendry Provider of AI and cloud-based drones for security applications | $3M | 60 mo ago | Seed | — | 2019 | — | — | — |
| 10 | Lunasonde Provider of satellite based imagery solutions | $600K | 67 mo ago | Seed | Jeremiah Pate Founder & CTO | 2018 | WixSentryProton Mail+13 | — | — |
| 11 | Paragon Life support and thermal control solutions for extreme environments | $418K | 111 mo ago | Funding Raised | — | 1993 | WordPressApple iCloud MailMySQL+13 | 857 patents Orthopedic surgical planning, patient-specific guides, and bone fixation/implant systems | — |
| 12 | Strongwatch Provider of integrated imaging systems for detection and surveillance | $250K | 156 mo ago | Seed | — | 2008 | — | 3 patents Advanced wide-area imaging and sensor technologies for surveillance and monitoring systems | — |
| 13 | VirTra Provider of immersive simulation training for frontline professionals skill development | $35K | 203 mo ago | Public | — | 1993 | WordPressMySQLPHP+41 | 5 patents Patents concentrated in computing, sensing & instrumentation | 1 expansion |
Top 12 Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech companies in Arizona
#1
Acquired · Tucson, Arizona · founded 2013 · 96 employees$94.7Mraised▾
World View provides balloon-based space imagery. It uses a high-altitude balloon and pressurized space capsule to fly passengers to the edge of the atmosphere. Its balloon offers services like imagery and analyses high-resolution images and video, IR imagery, radar data to send back to the earth.
- May 2025Series E$2.6B
- Feb 2024Series D$37M
- Sep 2019Series C$7.5M
- Mar 2018Series C$26.5M
#2
Acquired · Tempe, Arizona · founded 2013 · 26 employees$26.2Mraised▾
Manufacturer of silicon photovoltaic products designed for space-based solar power. These products offer radiation-hardened solutions engineered for optimal performance in space environments. The company provides flexible solar power modules that can be integrated with various solar array deployment systems. Integrated solar power modules are also available for spacecraft installation.
- May 2025Series A$17M
- Sep 2024Series A$15.1M
- Oct 2022Seed$11.2M
- Aug 2021Grant (prize money)$999.8K
#3
Acquired · Scottsdale, Arizona · founded 2014 · 40 employees$101Mraised▾
Provider of automated drone infrastructure for aerial data and surveillance. It delivers aerial and data solutions for public safety and law enforcement. The company offers on-demand aerial surveillance of critical assets and perimeters. It provides continuous monitoring of industrial and commercial operations. The infrastructure facilitates remote asset monitoring, safety monitoring, and project progress monitoring.
- Nov 2024Grant (prize money)$1M
- Oct 2018Series D$30M
- Jan 2018Series C$10M
- Sep 2017Series C$32.5M
#4
Series A · Tucson, Arizona · founded 2016 · 16 employees$2.8Mraised▾
Developer of antenna systems for communications and remote sensing applications. The company designs antenna systems to provide high gain communications with reduced mass and complexity. These systems support defense, global connectivity, science, and education. The company’s products include inflatable antenna systems and all-sky antennas for satellite tracking.
- Dec 2025Series A$991.2K
- Aug 2024Conventional Debt$50K
- Oct 2023Series A$1.3M
- Aug 2023Conventional Debt$250K
#5
Series A · Tucson, Arizona · founded 2019 · 40 employees$37Mraised▾
Provider of satellite manufacturing, launch services, and cloud data constellations. The company offers end-to-end solutions for deploying assets into space. It focuses on providing access to space technology and data. The company designs space transportation systems and adheres to supply chain guidelines.
- Mar 2024Series A—
- Jan 2023Series A$150K
- Aug 2021Series A$21.6M
- Apr 2021Seed$5M
#6
Series B · Scottsdale, Arizona · founded 2019 · 27 employees$7.4Mraised▾
Provider of business aviation records management and training services
- May 2024Series B$2.5M
- Feb 2023Series A$2.2M
- Jun 2022Series A$630K
- May 2021Series A$2.1M
#7
Series B · Tucson, Arizona · founded 2016 · 150 employees$102.9Mraised▾
Provider of solutions for complex national security challenges for government. It focuses on addressing difficult issues for intelligence and defense agencies. It delivers capabilities to support various governmental requirements. It aims to provide effective resources for its clients.
- Oct 2018Series B$70M
- Oct 2018Conventional Debt—
- Jun 2017Series A$27.2M
- Apr 2017Series A$4.5M
#8
Series A · Scottsdale, Arizona · founded 2017 · 11 employees$6.8Mraised▾
Provider of AI-powered aircraft inspection solutions. It offers a proprietary autonomous drone platform for detecting damages. It also enables users to view inspection reports, and aircraft damages.
- Nov 2022Series A$6.6M
- Feb 2020Seed$250K
#9
Seed · Scottsdale, Arizona · founded 2019 · 5 employees$2.7Mraised▾
Provider of AI and cloud-based drones for security applications. It offers emergency response, security, and defence drones. Its features include video surveillance and threat detection, remote piloting, safe release of smoke, and aerosol-based deterrents for crime prevention, as well as trespassing dissuasion.
- Jun 2021Seed$352.7K
- Feb 2020Seed$235K
- Jul 2019Seed$2.1M
#10
Seed · Tucson, Arizona · founded 2018 · 9 employees$600Kraised▾
Provider of satellite based imagery solutions. It uses novel radar technology via satellites to see beneath the earth surface and collect data on subsurface resources. Its proprietary satellites can locate aquifers,mineral deposits and other geological resources.
- Nov 2020Seed—
- Jul 2019Seed$600K
#11
Funding Raised · Tucson, Arizona · founded 1993 · 162 employees$418.4Kraised▾
Life support and thermal control solutions for extreme environments. An industry leader providing solutions for space, defense, and commercial markets. Through innovation, they enable human exploration and survival in extreme conditions. Core competencies include life support systems, thermal control, suit systems, softgoods, in-situ resource utilization, systems integration, design, development, analysis, manufacturing, assembly, testing, and product licensing. They offer pathways to send humans farther in space and provide solutions for unique human survival needs.
- Mar 2017Grant (prize money)$418.4K
#12
Seed · Tucson, Arizona · founded 2008 · 6 employees$250Kraised▾
Provider of integrated imaging systems for detection and surveillance. It provides integrated imaging systems for surveillance technology, law enforcement, border security, and asset protection. Its products are available in both fixed and mobile configurations. Its mobile products include vehicle-mounted military reconnaissance and border patrol camera systems for intrusion detection and counter-sniper. Its fixed systems provide autonomous surveillance and interdiction without the need for a human-in-the-loop requirement. Its systems incorporate thermal infrared and color sensors along with advanced laser systems.
- Jun 2013Grant (prize money)$250K
- Sep 2012Seed—
Funding & investor landscape
Notable founders
Market landscape — 10 sub-themes by coverage
Share of Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech coverage by sub-theme.
Regulatory-risk over time rising
Funding & growth over time
funding rising · growth rising
How research on Launch Vehicles is moving in the United States
A read on the academic research around Launch Vehicles — which themes are gaining ground, the institutions and researchers driving them, and how the tone is shifting. Based on 1,518 United States-affiliated papers.
- Marshall Space Flight Center339
- Langley Research Center111
- Jacobs77
- Purdue University West Lafayette61
- Ames Research Center61
- Detonation1→8
- Trajectory2→6
- Rocket (weapon)16→20
- Combustor1→4
- Propellant13→14
- Detonation10→40
- Propulsion26→34
- Liquid-propellant rocket20→28
- Combustor10→15
- Combustion11→16
- Detonation2→11
- Rocket (weapon)20→21
- Rocket engine12→13
Where launch vehicles 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 launch vehicles patents in the United States
United States launch vehicles patent filing is accelerating — 333 filings from 249 assignees (2016–2025), led by Boeing, BLUE Origin, United Technologies; annual filings 29→46.
- Boeing47
- BLUE Origin44
- United Technologies33
- Venus Aerospace25
- 8 Rivers Capital19
- Aerojet Rocketdyne15
- Firehawk Aerospace13
- Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne13
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.