What Orb Aerospace does

Orb Aerospace, Inc. is a privately held U.S. aerospace and communications-equipment manufacturer headquartered in Lowell, Michigan (Kent County), founded in 2016 and operating with 11–50 employees under an ISO 9001-aligned quality system. The company designs and sells two core products: LASSIE, a 19 lb Group 1 VTOL small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) built for small-team C5ISR operations across vehicles, vessels, and dismounted elements, featuring fully autonomous flight, single-operator multi-asset swarming, modular payload bays with sub-60-second swap, and 60+ mile aircraft-to-asset mesh communications; and ARC EDGE, a rugged, portable SD-WAN communications system fusing Dual-SIM LTE, satellite broadband, and Wi-Fi-as-WAN with Dynamic Multipath Optimization, edge compute, and AES 128/256-bit (PQC-ready) encryption, deployable in under 10 minutes.

Orb's revenue model is direct enterprise/government hardware sales of these configured systems, supplemented by custom integration and professional services, all sold on quote-based, multi-year contracts through a consultative field-sales motion triggered by "Book a Demo" CTAs and direct contact forms. Its primary customer segment is Government and Defense (U.S. Navy coalition participation, counter-UAS, ISR), with a secondary humanitarian/NGO segment for disaster response and communications restoration; the company has been publicly validated through the U.S. Navy's UNITAS 2025 multinational exercise alongside partners AGIS and McQ, Inc.

Operationally, Orb pursues a mission-driven positioning — "rebuilding aviation from first principles" to deliver general-purpose, rugged, infrastructure-independent autonomous aircraft and communications — and demonstrates its capabilities through military exercises (UNITAS 2025), state-level demonstrations (Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, 2023), and a growing technology ecosystem including integrations with AGIS LifeRing, ATAK, and Persistent Systems MPU5 radios. The company is venture-backed (notably a $4.5M Praxis round in August 2025, plus Centrepolis Accelerator / MEDC support), remains privately held with no disclosed parent, and has no public listing.

Name

Orb Aerospace

Legal name

Orb Aerospace, Inc.

Website

https://orb.aero

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Orb Aerospace is a Michigan-based private manufacturer of autonomous aircraft (LASSIE sUAS) and resilient mesh communications systems (ARC EDGE) for U.S. and allied government, defense, and humanitarian customers operating in infrastructure-denied environments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Unmanned Aerial Systems and Tactical Communications

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Communications Equipment, Nec (3669)

akta.pro primary industry

Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) & Multirotor Drones (IMABAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

VTOL & Hybrid UAV Platforms (IMABAIAC), Autonomy Software, AI & Mission Management (UAS/UXV) (IMABAIAH), UAS Communications, Datalinks, SATCOM & Remote Control Systems (IMABAIAJ), Autonomous Flight Control & Guidance Systems (UAS/Urban Air Mobility) (IMABAFAO)

Keywords

• Autonomous aircraft
• Tactical communications
• Unmanned aerial systems
• Mesh networking
• Defense aerospace

Headquarters

HQ city

Lowell

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Autonomous Aircraft Hardware Sales: Sale of LASSIE sUAS and related drone platforms as hardware products to government and defense customers. Products feature modular payload bays and ruggedized designs for military applications.
2. Communications Equipment Systems: Sale of Arc Edge integrated communication systems including SD-WAN hardware, switches, power banks, and accessories configured for tactical deployments.
3. Custom Integration and Professional Services: Custom integration of COTS components into seamless operational systems, deployment support, and potentially ongoing managed services for defense customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Orb Aerospace develops and manufactures autonomous aircraft and resilient communications systems for government, defense, and humanitarian operations. Its core products include the LASSIE small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) for small-team C5ISR missions and the ARC EDGE portable communications system that fuses cellular, satellite, and Wi-Fi networks with automatic failover for infrastructure-independent connectivity.

Product overview

Orb Aerospace is rebuilding aviation from first principles, developing autonomous aircraft that become global infrastructure and operating what they describe as the world's humanitarian air force. Their product portfolio consists of two core offerings: LASSIE is a 19 lb. Group 1 sUAS (small unmanned aircraft system) designed for C5ISR operations across vehicles, vessels, and dismounted elements with autonomous capabilities and resilient mesh communications; ARC EDGE is a rugged, portable communications system that provides always-on connectivity by fusing cellular, satellite, and Wi-Fi networks with SD-WAN routing, delivering situational awareness through AGIS platform integration. Both products are designed for operation in contested, remote, or disaster-affected areas without requiring fixed infrastructure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Arc Edge: Resilient, interoperable communications system that fuses Dual-SIM LTE, satellite broadband, and Wi-Fi-as-WAN into a single network with SD-WAN routing and automatic failover. Features multipath communications, 256-bit encryption, mesh networking, and situational awareness capabilities for military and defense operations.
• LASSIE

Products and services

• LASSIE sUAS A 19 lb Group 1 vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) small unmanned aerial system designed for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Combat Systems, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) operations. Operates fully autonomously or via remote pilot from any global location, supports single-operator multi-asset swarming, delivers 24/7 secure global IP backhaul with encrypted connectivity, and provides resilient mesh communications with 60+ mile aircraft-to-asset links without infrastructure requirements. Features modular multi-mission payload bays with payload swap in under 60 seconds.
• ARC EDGE Communications System A resilient, portable communication system fusing Dual-SIM LTE, satellite broadband, and Wi-Fi-as-WAN into a single network with SD-WAN routing and automatic failover using Dynamic Multipath Optimization (DMPO). Provides up to 950 Mbps throughput, situational awareness through AGIS platform integration, edge compute with distributed architecture, secure encrypted video and voice communications (TEV with AES 128/256-bit VPN), and 6-12+ hours of power autonomy with 379 Wh total capacity. Deployable in under 120 seconds with full system in under 10 minutes.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60+ mile aircraft-to-asset mesh communication links
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• AGIScoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025AGIS and Orb Aerospace participated together in the U.S. Navy's UNITAS 2025 exercise. Orb's LASSIE sUAS integrated with AGIS's LifeRing command and control software, successfully combining tactical voice, data, video, and real-time sensor data from multiple assets into a Common Operating Picture. This integration enables counter-UAS data sharing and early warning capabilities across coalition forces.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Anduril Industries: Anduril builds autonomous aircraft (e.g., Ghost, Roadrunner) and Lattice software for defense and homeland security. Like Orb, it sells integrated autonomy and mission systems to military and government customers, but at vastly greater scale and capital depth.
• Shield AI: Shield AI develops the Hivemind autonomy stack and autonomous sUAS/Group 1-2 aircraft (V-BAT) for defense and coalition operations. It is the closest direct peer in combining VTOL/group-1 autonomous aircraft with AI-driven mission autonomy for government buyers.
• Skydio: Skydio produces autonomous small drones (X10, R10) widely used by defense, public safety, and enterprise customers. Comparable to LASSIE in Group 1 sUAS form factor and autonomous operation, with a stronger commercial and short-range reconnaissance footprint.
• Red Cat Holdings (Teal Drones): Red Cat's Teal unit builds the Teal 2 Group 1 sUAS explicitly targeting military and government reconnaissance missions, making it one of the most direct size-and-stage peers to Orb's LASSIE in the tactical sUAS segment.

Broad incumbents

• AeroVironment: AeroVironment is an established military UAS manufacturer (Puma, Raven, Switchblade) with deep DoD program-of-record relationships and a much larger installed base. It overlaps Orb on tactical small UAS for C5ISR, but spans a much broader portfolio including loitering munitions.
• Kratos Defense & Security Solutions: Kratos manufactures tactical and target UAS (e.g., MQM-178 Firejet, Valkyrie) and offers unmanned systems integration for DoD customers. It competes in the broader military UAS market but at higher performance tiers and with a more established prime contractor posture.
• Parrot Drones: Parrot manufactures professional and defense-grade small UAS (e.g., ANAFI series) for reconnaissance and ISR. It overlaps Orb on small tactical drones for security forces, though its heritage is more commercial/European.

Others

• Persistent Systems: Persistent Systems builds the MPU5 MANET radio, which Orb already integrates with via Arc Edge. It is an enabling ecosystem partner/comparable in tactical mesh communications rather than a direct drone competitor, but shapes the architecture Orb's comms must interoperate with.
• AGIS (Advanced Ground Information Systems): AGIS provides the LifeRing command-and-control platform that Orb integrated with during UNITAS 2025. It is an ecosystem partner and situational-awareness software peer that defines the joint operating picture Orb's aircraft feed into.

Emerging players

• Doodle Labs: Doodle Labs provides long-range mesh radio and datalink technology for drones and robotics in defense and industrial markets. Comparable to Orb in enabling infrastructure-independent multi-asset communications, particularly for autonomous swarming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/orbaerospace
• Facebookfacebook.com/orbaerospace
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/orbaerospace

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Orb Aerospace