Best Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech Companies in Virginia, United States
The 133 best Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech companies in Virginia, United States in 2026, ranked by funding and momentum. Funding, investors, founders, valuation, tech stack and live signals. Top: Orbital ATK.
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 Virginia
| # | Company | Disclosed funding | Last round | Employees | Founder | Tech stack | Patents & IP focus | Recent signals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orbital ATK Satellites, spacecraft and commercial space-launch systems | $400M | 128 mo ago | 13,000 | — | — | 244 patents Advanced aerospace pyrotechnics, propulsion chemicals, and electric thruster satellite systems. | — |
| 2 | HawkEye 360 Developer of satellite-based geographic monitoring and communication solutions 67Funding top 9%News top 18%Talent top 25%Moat top 28% All 11 signals ▾Fundingtop 9% Newstop 18% Talenttop 25% Moattop 28% Growthtop 30% Patentstop 31% Innovationtop 36% Producttop 39% Techtop 41% Globalbottom 39% Marketbottom 33% Funding: Raised $387M across 13 rounds · 13 rounds over 10 yrs (1.3/yr) News: 17 BI events in 12 mo (of 71 tracked, 8 types) · +55% YoY rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 67/100 | $387M | 3 mo ago | 21 | Robert Mcgwier Founder and Technical Adviser | WordPressMySQLPHP+27 | 74 patents RF signal geolocation and emitter identification for spectrum monitoring | — |
| 3 | Electra Developer of hybrid-electric aircraft for short takeoff and landing capabilities 40Funding top 21%Moat top 42%Talent bottom 49%Tech bottom 48% All 6 signals ▾Fundingtop 21% Moattop 42% Talentbottom 49% Techbottom 48% Marketbottom 41% Globalbottom 37% Funding: Raised $115M across 3 rounds · 3 rounds over 4 yrs (0.8/yr) Moat: Editorial + unicorn rating 4/10 · Soonicorn rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 40/100 | $115M | 14 mo ago | 28 | John Langford Founder and Chairman | WebflowApple iCloud MailMicrosoft Clarity+9 | — | 1 launch · 1 partnership |
| 4 | Omnispace Hybrid satellite wireless broadband services provider | $107M | 64 mo ago | 25 | — | WordPressMySQLPHP+19 | — | 1 partnership |
| 5 | Parry Labs Manufacturer and supplier of aerostructures, engines, and machining parts | $91M | 21 mo ago | 104 | John Parkes Co-Founder & CEO | WordPressMySQLMariaDB+21 | 48 patents Secure, safety‑critical software verification and virtual integration platforms for isolated networks | — |
| 6 | Lynk Provider of direct-to-device connectivity system using commercially licensed and patented technology | $78M | 24 mo ago | 47 | Margo Deckard Co-Founder & COO | WordPressApple iCloud MailGoogle Workspace+22 | 337 patents Space-based cellular communication infrastructure and advanced multi‑voltage LED lighting solutions | 1 partnership |
| 7 | LeoSat Provider of a low earth orbit satellite constellation technology | $50M | 80 mo ago | 5 | — | — | 11 patents Optimizing data routing protocols for low‑latency satellite communication networks | — |
| 8 | Pixia Provider of data-access solution for Wide Area Imagery | $50M | 82 mo ago | 37 | — | — | 128 patents Enterprise data file management and retrieval, especially wide-area motion imagery on object storage | — |
| 9 | Logos Technologies Provider of augmented camera systems for detecting enemy threats | $44M | 173 mo ago | 77 | Greg Poe CEO | WordPressApple iCloud MailMySQL+22 | 109 patents Homomorphic encryption using geometric algebra, Hensel codes, and p-adic RSA for blockchain security | — |
| 10 | Defcon Developer of AI-driven software for resilient optimization of complex systems | $44M | 22 mo ago | 17 | Paul Selva Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer | WordPressApple iCloud MailMicrosoft 365+11 | — | 2 job openings · 1 launch |
| 11 | Skydweller Manufacturer of autonomous, solar-powered aircraft for surveillance and communications missions | $40M | 27 mo ago | 129 | Robert Miller Co-Founder & CEO | WordPressMySQLPHP+16 | — | 1 internship · 1 award |
| 12 | Solsys Medical Provider of human skin allograft and dressing for wound care | $37M | 103 mo ago | 80 | Guy Levy Co-Founder & CSO | — | — | — |
| 13 | HySpecIQ Platform offering advanced imaging and geospatial intelligence solutions | $35M | 57 mo ago | 5 | Bill Schuster Co-Founder | — | — | — |
| 14 | Umbra Developer of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite technology and data services | $32M | 65 mo ago | 87 | Gabe Dominocielo Co-Founder | WordPress Block EditorWordPressMySQL+26 | 404 patents Patents concentrated in health & consumer products | — |
| 15 | Satelles Provider of satellite time and location technology solutions for various industries | $30M | 56 mo ago | 59 | — | WordPressMySQLPHP+16 | 20 patents Secure satellite-based positioning, navigation, timing validation and low‑SWaP geolocation | — |
| 16 | DroneShield Provider of AI-powered counter-drone systems | $26M | 24 mo ago | 91 | — | Cart FunctionalitySquarespace CommerceSquarespace+36 | — | 1 expansion |
| 17 | ePlane Online marketplace for aircraft parts & MRO services | $18M | 74 mo ago | 14 | Itsik Maaravi ex-CEO | WordPressMySQLPHP+24 | — | — |
| 18 | Culmen International Global solutions provider enhancing safety, security, and operational effectiveness worldwide | $15M | 7 mo ago | 238 238 → 385 (+62%) | — | Wix eCommerceWixSentry+16 | — | 8 job openings |
| 19 | Psionic Developer of GPS-independent navigation systems for land, air, and space 42Growth top 28%Patents top 35%Innovation top 40%Moat top 42% All 9 signals ▾Growthtop 28% Patentstop 35% Innovationtop 40% Moattop 42% Fundingtop 43% Talentbottom 49% Globalbottom 37% Marketbottom 32% Techbottom 30% Growth: Headcount 25 → 33 (+32%) across vintages · Fresh capital in last 24 mo Patents: 14 patents matched (strict assignee match) · 9 filings since 2022 vs 5 in 2017-21 rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 42/100 | $14M | 2 mo ago | 33 33 → 64 (+94%) | Steve Sandford Founder & CEO | WordPressMySQLPHP+15 | 14 patents GPS‑denied inertial navigation and velocity‑vector tracking for aerial and ground systems | 1 award |
| 20 | DataShapes AI Provider of AI-powered software solutions for signal and waveform intelligence | $12M | 27 mo ago | — | Logan Selby Co-Founder & CEO | — | 26 patents Multidimensional data structures for AI pattern recognition and relevance-based content retrieval | — |
| 21 | DroneUp Provider of airspace management and unmanned aircraft system operation solutions | $9M | 29 mo ago | 376 | John Vernon CEO & ex-Co-Founder | SquarespaceCart FunctionalitySquarespace Commerce+25 | 38 patents Autonomous drone navigation, mission planning, and automated package grasp/release systems. | — |
| 22 | Tworx Provides a platform for rifles and accessories to command centers on and off the battlefield | $7M | 80 mo ago | 3 | Don Mclaughlin Co-Founder | — | — | — |
| 23 | Aurora Developer of advanced aircraft and enabling technologies for government and commercial sectors | $7M | 123 mo ago | 900 900 → 803 (-11%) | — | WordPressApple iCloud MailMySQL+25 | — | — |
| 24 | Autonomous Marine Systems Self-righting catamaran | $6M | 91 mo ago | 2 | — | — | — | — |
| 25 | OmniEarth A geospatial analytics firm | $5M | 124 mo ago | 32 | — | — | 35 patents Geospatial image analytics for agricultural and oil‑field production forecasting | — |
| 26 | ConvergentAI Predictive Analytics Solutions for Multiple Industries | $1M | 122 mo ago | 3 | Tom Brock Chief Executive Officer | — | — | — |
| 27 | NanTrak Industries Provider of weapon detection systems for the military and law enforcement | $1M | 107 mo ago | — | Evan Parker Founder & President | — | — | — |
| 28 | Iris Unmanned Provides commercial flight services using third-party drones | $655K | 133 mo ago | — | Brian Golden Co-Founder & CPO | — | — | — |
| 29 | Advanced Aircraft Company Manufacturer of composite aircraft structures, components, and related engineering services | $575K | 27 mo ago | 11 | William Fredericks Founder & CEO | — | — | — |
| 30 | Linebird Provider of a line measurement system that can be attached with industrial drones | $520K | 18 mo ago | 4 | David Homfray Co-Founder & CTO | — | 8 patents UAV-based power line inspection, measurement, and payload mounting solutions | — |
| 31 | Aeroprobe Aeroprobe provides air data measurement systems to aerospace, automotive, turbo machinery, wind turbine, and… | $278K | 172 mo ago | 31 | — | — | 28 patents Solid-state friction‑stir additive manufacturing of metal alloys and composites, including repair. | 2 job openings |
| 32 | Blue Vigil Autonomous aerial lighting solutions for safer, more productive nighttime work zones 37Innovation top 34%Patents top 34%Growth top 35%Talent top 38% All 10 signals ▾Innovationtop 34% Patentstop 34% Growthtop 35% Talenttop 38% Producttop 43% Techbottom 49% Moatbottom 49% Fundingbottom 36% Globalbottom 29% Marketbottom 20% Innovation: 20 patents (top 51% of patent-holders) · 17 filings since 2022 vs 3 in 2017-21 Patents: 20 patents matched (strict assignee match) · 17 filings since 2022 vs 3 in 2017-21 rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 37/100 | $250K | 2 mo ago | 10 | Robert Schumann Co-Founder & CTO & CEO | WordPressMySQLPHP+24 | 20 patents Thermal management and power systems for tethered and autonomous drones | 1 launch |
| 33 | SPARC Research Provider of propulsion systems for satellites | $162K | 13 mo ago | — | Patrick Hewitt Founder | WordPressMySQLPHP+13 | — | — |
| 34 | Scout Space Developer of sensor systems, autonomy software, and data platforms for space | $100K | 1 mo ago | 11 | Philip Hover-Smoot CEO | WebflowGSAPUnpkg+9 | — | 1 job opening · 1 internship · 1 expansion |
| 35 | ANRA Technologies Provider of a communication technology for drones | $25K | 43 mo ago | 47 | — | WordPressMySQLPHP+26 | — | 1 partnership |
| 36 | Iridium Communications Network of satellite communications providing voice, data, and messaging services | $22K | 77 mo ago | 760 | — | WordPressApple iCloud MailMicrosoft 365+28 | — | — |
Top 12 Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech companies in Virginia
#1
Public · Herndon, Virginia · founded 2015 · 21 employees$386.7Mraised▾
Developer of satellite-based geographic monitoring and communication solutions. It provides users with a constellation of small satellites in low Earth orbit, to generate reports on wireless signals that can be used to track and monitor global transportation networks, assist with emergencies, and provide other data analytics services to various industries. It also provides maritime situational awareness, collecting information about vessels to create a wealth of current and historical data useful for commercial planning and monitoring, and emergency response.
- Mar 2026Series E$23M
- Dec 2025Conventional Debt—
- Dec 2025Series E$150M
- Apr 2024Conventional Debt$40M
#2
Series A · Hampton, Virginia · founded 2016 · 33 employees$13.6Mraised▾
Developer of GPS-independent navigation systems for land, air, and space. These systems provide precise position and velocity data, even in GPS-denied or contested environments. The technology utilizes proprietary Doppler lidar and is adaptable to various platforms, including autonomous vehicles and spacecraft. Applications span commercial and defense sectors, addressing the vulnerability of reliance on centralized navigation systems. The systems are designed for seamless integration into existing infrastructure and offer low probability of detection.
- Apr 2026Series A$200K
- May 2025Series A$509K
- Jun 2024Series A$16.5M
- Nov 2020Seed$500K
#3
Series B · Falls Church, Virginia · founded 2020 · 28 employees$115.3Mraised▾
Developer of hybrid-electric aircraft for short takeoff and landing capabilities. The company focuses on creating aircraft designed for regional air mobility. The aircraft utilizes blown-lift technology, enabling operations from short distances. The hybrid-electric propulsion system allows flexibility in energy use, with electric power for operations in populated areas.
- Apr 2025Series B$115M
- Jan 2025Grant (prize money)$175K
- Jul 2024Grant (prize money)$175K
- Jul 2023Series A—
#4
Series B · Alexandria, Virginia · founded 2004 · 238 employees$15Mraised▾
Global solutions provider enhancing safety, security, and operational effectiveness worldwide. The organization delivers technical and management expertise, develops innovative technology solutions, facilitates global logistics, delivers training, and provides language services across diverse sectors. These sectors include border, aviation, and maritime security, counterterrorism, humanitarian assistance, health security, international development, law enforcement, nonproliferation, and security cooperation. Services encompass AI and cloud solutions, capacity building, data analytics, facility operations, global data provision, event logistics, procurement, laboratory operations, monitoring, program management, and research support. The company aims to strengthen homeland defense, advance humanitarian missions, and optimize government operations, serving as a trusted advisor for international security initiatives.
- Nov 2025Grant (prize money)$13.8M
- Oct 2025Grant (prize money)$13.8M
- Jul 2025Grant (prize money)$27.6M
- Mar 2025Grant (prize money)$13.8M
#5
Series C · Alexandria, Virginia · founded 2016 · 104 employees$90.7Mraised▾
Provider of mission-proven modular systems integration. They specialize in developing software stacks, edge compute hardware, and digital engineering environments for defense applications. Their focus is on creating open and intelligent systems that enable continuous upgrades to weapon systems, improving interoperability and connectivity across various domains. This approach reduces deployment timelines and modernizes legacy systems, providing a significant advantage in the modern battlespace. The company also offers solutions for mission systems and adheres to a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) framework.
- Sep 2024PE$80M
- Dec 2023Series C$90.7M
- Oct 2023Grant (prize money)—
#6
Seed · Mclean, Virginia · founded 2022 · 17 employees$44Mraised▾
Developer of AI-driven software for resilient optimization of complex systems. The software models complex scenarios and evaluates responses using intelligent agents. It integrates next-generation technologies with mathematical optimization for informative training. The software reshapes response planning in disrupted and non-disrupted networks, aligning outcomes with operational goals.
- Aug 2024Seed$44M
#7
Seed · Harrisonburg, Virginia · founded 2015 · 10 employees$250Kraised▾
Autonomous aerial lighting solutions for safer, more productive nighttime work zones. They provide innovative portable lighting solutions using tethered UAVs with high-intensity LEDs, replacing traditional light towers. Their aerial lights offer superior illumination, eliminating shadows and glare, enhancing safety and productivity in various applications. These include construction, police investigations, disaster response, public utilities, and sports events. The company's products are person-portable, easy to set up, and offer all-weather operation. They provide a cleaner, more cost-effective, and flexible lighting solution, improving worker and motorist safety while reducing the need for frequent repositioning. This is a B2B solution.
- Apr 2026Seed—
- May 2025Seed$125K
- Sep 2015Seed$250K
#8
Series B · Falls Church, Virginia · founded 2017 · 47 employees$77.5Mraised▾
Provider of direct-to-device connectivity system using commercially licensed and patented technology. The system allows ubiquitous coverage through existing mobile network operators. It requires no change to user mobile phones. The company defends against a complaint alleging breach of business combination agreement obligations.
- Jun 2024Series B$85.2M
- Jul 2022Series A—
- Oct 2020Seed$4.8M
- Jul 2019Seed$5.2M
#9
Series A · Reston, Virginia · founded 2019 · 11 employees$100Kraised▾
Developer of sensor systems, autonomy software, and data platforms for space. The company builds electro-optical and infrared sensors designed for missions in low Earth orbit, geosynchronous orbit, and beyond. It offers mission autonomy software enabling spacecraft to perform complex operations. Custom compute configurations for various missions and mission design modeling are also provided.
- May 2026Series A$18M
- Apr 2026Series A$10.9M
- Jun 2023Seed—
- May 2022Grant (prize money)$100K
#10
Public · Herndon, Virginia · founded 2014$26.2Mraised▾
Provider of AI-powered counter-drone systems. It provides users with technology that identifies unauthorized drones based on real-time alerts generated by acoustic detection systems. It senses drones invisible to radar or lacking radio-frequency links. Its product portfolio comprises drone nodes, drone sentries, Omnidirectional sensors, and a drone shield user interface for online monitoring of local drone activity.
- May 2024Grant (prize money)$3.8M
- Nov 2022Post IPO$2.5M
- Aug 2020Post IPO$7.5M
- Nov 2018Post IPO$1.7M
#11
Series A · Alexandria, Virginia · founded 2019 · 129 employees$40Mraised▾
Manufacturer of autonomous, solar-powered aircraft for surveillance and communications missions. The aircraft are constructed from carbon fiber and designed for uncrewed perpetual flight. These aircraft can support missions such as maritime domain awareness, intelligence gathering, and emergency services. The company combines artificial intelligence and aerospace systems to enable long-duration operations.
- Feb 2024Venture Debt—
- Sep 2021Series A$40M
- Nov 2019Series A—
- Sep 2019Series A$10.7M
#12
Series A · Charlottesville, Virginia · founded 2019$12Mraised▾
Provider of AI-powered software solutions for signal and waveform intelligence. It provides users with a company offering a range of software tools for defense and commercial applications. It also enables real-time operational signature analysis, RF spectrum attack detection, and wireless network verification.
- Feb 2024Series A$6.8M
- Apr 2022Grant (prize money)$256K
- Mar 2022Seed$5M
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
What Virginia researches in launch vehicles
University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia University lead Virginia's rocket propulsion and spacecraft design research across 20 papers, with a cautiously optimistic mean stance of 0.29 skewed toward advancement.
- University of Virginia12
- Virginia Tech6
- West Virginia University2
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.