Guardian RF
Guardian RF builds passive RF drone detection sensors (Scout, Full Spectrum) and the DroneView intelligence platform, serving U.S. defense, law enforcement, critical infrastructure, major events, and aviation/emergency response markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2024
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Guardian RF does
Guardian RF is a Washington, DC-based defense and security technology company founded in 2024 by three Georgetown University classmates with backgrounds in physics and signal processing. The company builds passive radio frequency (RF) sensing systems and a cloud-native intelligence platform for persistent low-altitude airspace monitoring and drone detection. Its product portfolio consists of two hardware lines — the Scout sensor (low-SWaP, ~10W draw, ~60-second setup, LTE/LEO backhaul) optimized for COTS and GOTS drone detection, and the Full Spectrum sensor (wideband SDR) for non-cooperative and analog FPV drones — feeding the DroneView browser-based command interface and Intelligence Platform that delivers detection, correlation, geolocation, operator attribution, and longitudinal pattern analysis across multi-site deployments.
The company serves five primary verticals: Defense & National Security (e.g., U.S. Air Force Security Forces, USNORTHCOM), Law Enforcement & Public Safety (e.g., Prince George's County PD), Critical Infrastructure & Energy, Stadiums/Campuses/Events (2026 CFP Championship, Boston Marathon, Bruno Mars concerts), and Aviation & Emergency Response (Maryland statewide SAR exercise). Revenue is generated through hardware sales of Scout and Full Spectrum sensors, recurring software subscriptions for the DroneView intelligence platform, and multi-year government contracts including SBIR and DIU procurement vehicles. The business is venture-backed by Y Combinator, Space Capital, Valor Equity Partners, D3 Venture Capital, and General Catalyst, with a small team of approximately 3-10 employees and a headquarters in Washington, DC.
Guardian RF differentiates through a passive (receive-only) sensing architecture that requires no active emissions, enabling discreet monitoring that does not reveal operator position — a meaningful tactical advantage in defense settings. The technology has been externally validated through selection as the Passive RF winner of the DIU Counter-UAS Low-Cost Sensing Challenge (one of ten finalists from 118 submissions) and a $1.195M AFWERX SBIR Phase II contract. Distribution leverages technology integration partnerships, notably with Picogrid for joint deployments at installations such as Vandenberg Space Force Base, and Constellis as an integration partner. The company's GTM is enterprise field sales targeting government and defense buyers through procurement programs and direct engagement, supplemented by event-driven demonstrations at high-visibility public events.
Guardian RF firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Guardian RF
- Legal name
- Guardian RF Corporation
- Website
- https://guardianrf.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2024
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Guardian RF builds passive RF drone detection sensors (Scout, Full Spectrum) and the DroneView intelligence platform, serving U.S. defense, law enforcement, critical infrastructure, major events, and aviation/emergency response markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Guardian RF industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Drone Detection Systems
- NAICS
- Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Counter-UAS (C-UAS) Detection & Defeat Systems (IMABAOAN)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Counter-UAS (C-UAS) Systems & Drone Defense (IMABAIAG), Counter-UAS Detection Sensors & Integrated Sensor Suites (IMABAGAK)
Keywords
Where Guardian RF is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Guardian RF business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales (Scout and Full Spectrum Sensors): Guardian RF manufactures and sells passive RF sensor hardware (Scout and Full Spectrum product lines) designed for defense, critical infrastructure, and law enforcement deployments. Sensors are sold as part of integrated counter-drone solutions.
- Software Subscriptions (DroneView Platform): Guardian RF provides DroneView, a browser-based command interface subscription service for authorized customers to monitor, classify, alert on, and review RF-detected UAS activity. The platform is delivered as a service with role-based access, telemetry, alerts, and integrations.
- Government Defense Contracts: Guardian RF secures government contracts through programs such as the AFWERX SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) Phase II award ($1,195,000 for Department of the Air Force) and participation in DIU-led challenges. These are multi-year government procurement contracts.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Enterprise/Government Subscription - Custom pricing based on deployment scale |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Guardian RF product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Guardian RF manufactures low-SWaP passive radio frequency sensors (Scout and Full Spectrum) that detect and classify drone activity without transmitting, and operates DroneView, a cloud-native intelligence platform that converts RF detections into attributable, longitudinal airspace intelligence. The integrated solution is sold to defense, federal, law enforcement, critical infrastructure, and event security customers for persistent low-altitude airspace monitoring and counter-UAS operations.
Product overview
Guardian RF offers a counter-drone intelligence platform consisting of two complementary hardware product lines (Scout and Full Spectrum sensors) feeding a unified cloud-native Intelligence Platform accessed via the DroneView browser-based command interface. Scout sensors provide persistent detection of COTS/GOTS drones via control link and telemetry monitoring, while Full Spectrum extends coverage to non-cooperative and modified drones using wideband SDR. Both sensor types are low-SWaP, attritable, and passive (receive-only). The Intelligence Platform converts RF observations into structured intelligence with multi-site visibility, longitudinal pattern analysis, operator geolocation, and cross-site correlation, delivered through DroneView's alerting and analytics interface.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Scout: Deployable RF sensing platform optimized for detection and classification of commercially available and government-operated drones. Features low power consumption, LTE and LEO backhaul connectivity, and rapid deployment (~60 seconds setup time).
- Full Spectrum
- DroneView
Products and services
- Scout
Quantifiable outcome
- Selected as winner of DIU C-UAS Low-Cost Sensing Challenge out of 118 submissions, validated for persistent detection at a fraction of the cost of traditional systems
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Guardian RF
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Guardian RF technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature6 records
Guardian RF partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- PicogridcorePicogrid and Guardian RF announced a joint contract to support security operations at Vandenberg Space Force Base. Guardian RF's passive RF Scout sensors integrate into Picogrid's Expeditionary Command and Control Nodes, delivering real-time airspace monitoring to strengthen perimeter protection. The collaboration involves deploying Guardian RF's sensors integrated into Picogrid's control nodes to enhance perimeter security and early threat detection. The partnership also includes advancing key integrations with Picogrid's Legion system for public-safety and national security drone protection.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Guardian RF competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Anduril Industries: Anduril builds the Lattice counter-UAS platform combining RF, radar, and EO/IR sensors with effectors for DoD and DHS customers. Directly comparable as a sensor-and-software counter-drone intelligence stack targeting the same federal procurement channels as Guardian RF, but with a much broader, multi-modal architecture and substantially more capital.
- Dedrone: Dedrone provides multi-sensor drone detection (RF, radar, camera) and command-and-control software for defense, critical infrastructure, and event security. Directly comparable on the intelligence-platform layer and the same vertical mix (defense, law enforcement, venues), with overlapping product positioning at Guardian RF's customer segments.
- DroneShield: DroneShield offers RF-based drone detection and soft-kill defeat products (DroneGun, RfPatrol) sold to defense, law enforcement, and critical infrastructure customers globally. Closely comparable on RF-centric C-UAS detection hardware, target verticals, and government procurement GTM.
- D-Fend Solutions: D-Fend Solutions builds passive RF cyber-takeover counter-drone systems (EnforceAir) for military, homeland security, and airport customers. Directly comparable passive RF detection approach, similar defense/homeland-security customer base, and overlapping sales motion into federal and aviation agencies.
- SkySafe: SkySafe provides passive RF drone detection, classification, and operator geolocation for defense, prisons, stadiums, and critical infrastructure. Closely comparable on passive RF-only detection architecture, target verticals (defense, venues, critical infrastructure), and small-scale startup stage.
- Fortem Technologies: Fortem Technologies develops radar-based drone detection (TrueView) and interceptor drones (DroneHunter) for defense and airport customers. Comparable as a counter-drone hardware-and-software vendor with overlapping defense and aviation customer segments, though differentiated by radar versus RF approach.
- Department 13: Department 13 builds RF-based counter-UAS detection and soft-kill systems (MESMER) for defense and homeland security. Comparable as a smaller, RF-centric C-UAS vendor competing for similar defense procurement dollars and event-security deployments.
Emerging players
- Liteye Systems: Liteye Systems is a Colorado-based defense integrator offering counter-UAS solutions combining third-party radar, RF, and EO/IR sensors for DoD and DHS customers. Comparable as a counter-drone integrator addressing the same federal customer set, though focused on multi-vendor integration rather than proprietary RF sensing.
- Blighter Surveillance Systems: Blighter builds radar-based drone detection systems (A800, A400) integrated with EO cameras for defense, border security, and critical infrastructure. Comparable as a C-UAS detection hardware vendor in adjacent sensor modality (radar vs. passive RF), targeting overlapping defense and infrastructure customer verticals.
Broad incumbents
- CACI International: CACI is a large federal IT and defense services prime with counter-UAS, RF sensing, and electronic warfare capabilities sold across DoD and intelligence community customers. Comparable as a counter-drone and RF sensing vendor to the same federal customer set, though operating at much larger scale and as a broad incumbent rather than a specialized C-UAS startup.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Guardian RF social profiles
Digital presenceGuardian RF financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Guardian RF leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Guardian RF funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Guardian RF M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Guardian RF
What does Guardian RF do?
Guardian RF manufactures low-SWaP passive radio frequency sensors (Scout and Full Spectrum) that detect and classify drone activity without transmitting, and operates DroneView, a cloud-native intelligence platform that converts RF detections into attributable, longitudinal airspace intelligence. The integrated solution is sold to defense, federal, law enforcement, critical infrastructure, and event security customers for persistent low-altitude airspace monitoring and counter-UAS operations.
Is Guardian RF a public or private company?
Guardian RF is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Guardian RF founded?
Guardian RF was founded in 2024. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Guardian RF based?
Guardian RF is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Guardian RF make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Hardware Sales (Scout and Full Spectrum Sensors) is the primary driver. The others are software Subscriptions (DroneView Platform) and government Defense Contracts.
Who are Guardian RF's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Anduril Industries, Dedrone, DroneShield, D-Fend Solutions, SkySafe, Fortem Technologies and Department 13. Emerging players are Liteye Systems and Blighter Surveillance Systems. CACI International is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Guardian RF have an API?
No public API is recorded for Guardian RF.
What industry is Guardian RF in?
Guardian RF's product category is Drone Detection Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAOAN, Counter-UAS (C-UAS) Detection & Defeat Systems, with a secondary code of IMABAIAG, Counter-UAS (C-UAS) Systems & Drone Defense. Its NAICS code is 334511 and its SIC code is 3812.