Sagetech
Sagetech Avionics designs and manufactures certified micro transponders and ACAS X-based Detect and Avoid systems for military and commercial unmanned aircraft, serving the U.S. Army, DHS, UAV OEMs, and eVTOL operators worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Sagetech does
Sagetech Avionics, Inc. is a privately held aerospace company headquartered in Bingen, Washington, with additional regional offices in Portland, Phoenix, and Knoxville. The company designs and manufactures certified micro transponders and ACAS X-based Detect and Avoid (DAA) systems that enable situational awareness and safe airspace integration for both crewed and uncrewed aircraft, with a focus on small and mid-sized unmanned aerial systems that cannot accommodate traditional avionics. Its product portfolio includes the AIMS-certified MX12B Mode 5 IFF transponder for military applications, the FAA TSO-certified MXS Mode S transponder with integrated ADS-B In/Out for civil markets, legacy XPC/XPS/XPG units, the ACX-3200 integrated ACAS X transponder, ACAS sXu/Xu/Xr collision avoidance modules, and the AN/APX-128 advanced IFF transponder developed under a U.S. Army SBIR program with R Cubed Engineering. A patented omnidirectional interrogation approach and a common hardware platform spanning military and civil variants underpin the technology stack.
Sagetech generates revenue primarily through one-time hardware sales of certified transponders and DAA systems, supplemented by systems integration services that help OEMs, governments, and commercial operators launch UAV operations in national airspace. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with standard lead times of 4-6 weeks ARO (8-10 weeks including export license). The company sells through a multi-channel go-to-market motion combining U.S. government direct sales (supported by Carahsoft as a strategic reseller), OEM embedding partnerships with UAV manufacturers such as American Aerospace Technologies (AATI), Griffon Aerospace, Pen Aviation, and Joby Aviation, and an international reseller network spanning 20+ countries. Customer segments are organized vertically into Government-Defense (U.S. Army, Department of War), Government-Civil (DHS, Customs and Border Protection), and Commercial (UAV OEMs, eVTOL operators, general aviation).
The company was carved out of Sagetech Corporation's avionics division in 2019 under CEO Tom Furey and raised $12 million in June 2021 led by Due West Partners. In April 2026, Sagetech was awarded a 10-year, $248.5 million IDIQ contract by the U.S. Army for production of the AN/APX-128 advanced IFF transponder, representing the largest commercial event in its history and a defining catalyst for forward revenue.
Sagetech firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sagetech
- Legal name
- Sagetech Avionics, Inc.
- Website
- https://sagetech.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Sagetech Avionics designs and manufactures certified micro transponders and ACAS X-based Detect and Avoid systems for military and commercial unmanned aircraft, serving the U.S. Army, DHS, UAV OEMs, and eVTOL operators worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sagetech industry classification
Industry- Product category
- UAS Avionics
- NAICS
- Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Surveillance & Identification Avionics (ADS-B/Transponders/TCAS) (IMABAFAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Military Avionics, Mission Computers & Flight Controls (IMABAMAE), Autonomous Flight Control & Guidance Systems (UAS/Urban Air Mobility) (IMABAFAO), Autonomy Software, AI & Mission Management (UAS/UXV) (IMABAIAH)
Keywords
Where Sagetech is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Sagetech business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Transponder Hardware Sales: Sale of micro transponders including MX12B (military IFF), MXS (civil/commercial), XPC, XPS, XPG models. One-time hardware purchase with varying certification levels for different market segments.
- Systems Integration Services: Professional services helping OEMs, governments, and commercial entities successfully integrate Sagetech products and launch UAV operations in national airspace.
- Detect and Avoid Solutions: ACAS X-based DAA systems including ACX-3200 series, providing collision avoidance capability as integrated or separate products.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | MX12B Mode 5 IFF Transponder - Military certified micro transponder |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | MXS Mode S Transponder - FAA certified civil transponder |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | XPC/XPS/XPG Legacy Transponders |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Sagetech product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sagetech Avionics designs and manufactures micro transponders and ACAS X-based detect and avoid systems for crewed and uncrewed aircraft. Its portfolio includes military IFF transponders (MX12B, AN/APX-128), civil/commercial Mode S transponders with ADS-B (MXS, XPC, XPS, XPG), and integrated ACAS X collision avoidance solutions (ACX-3200, ACAS sXu/Xu/Xr). The company also delivers Systems Integration Services that help OEMs, governments, and commercial entities launch UAV operations in national airspace.
Product overview
Sagetech offers a portfolio of certified avionics solutions for crewed and uncrewed aircraft, centered on micro transponders and ACAS-based Detect and Avoid (DAA) systems. The product line spans defense transponders (MX12B Mode 5 IFF, AN/APX-128), civil/commercial transponders (MXS Mode S, XPC, XPS, XPG), and integrated ACAS X solutions (ACX-3200, ACAS sXu/Xu/Xr). The MX Series transponders share a common hardware platform enabling OEMs to serve both civil and military markets with the same integration. The ACAS X family provides collision avoidance across aircraft types: sXu for small drones, Xu for large UAS, Xr for rotorcraft. DAA systems fuse cooperative (ADS-B) and noncooperative (radar) surveillance for BVLOS operations. Systems Integration Services support launch of UAV operations in national airspace.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 93% smaller and 6x lighter than traditional Mode 5 IFF transponders
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Sagetech
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Sagetech technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability4 records
Feature5 records
Sagetech partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.
- R Cubed EngineeringcoreSBIR partner for rapid development of APX-128 IFF transponder under Department of War contract. Deep technical collaboration enabled quick progression to production.
- MatrixSpacestrategicSelected as AI sensing system innovator to support advanced airspace solutions. Won HSWERX award from DHS for advanced air detection supporting UAS operations. MatrixSpace radar integrated with Sagetech ACAS X DAA computer.
- American Aerospace Technologies (AATI)strategicPartnership on advanced detection efforts. Sagetech ACAS X integrated with AATI's AiRanger aircraft equipped with onboard radar for DAA demonstration and FAA BVLOS approval.
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS)strategicHSWERX award recipient for work on advanced air detection supporting UAS operations with potential applications for Customs and Border Protection agency.
- Becker AvionicsminorEuropean UAS market reseller partnership offering Sagetech situational awareness solutions to European customers.
- A-TechSYNminorIrish reseller and technology partner offering MX product family on CGT50 VTOL UAV.
- EmbentionminorSpanish reseller and technology partner for MX transponder products.
- CarahsoftstrategicDepartment of War Program Executive at Carahsoft, a major government IT and defense solutions reseller, facilitating government sales.
- Joby AviationstrategicCollaboration to demonstrate onboard-piloted detect and avoid capabilities for eVTOL/air taxi applications using Sagetech's ACAS X technology.
- U.S. Army / Department of WarcoreAwarded 10-year $248.5M IDIQ contract for APX-128 advanced IFF transponder production for Army helicopters and Department of War assets.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Sagetech competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- uAvionix: uAvionix is a direct competitor in certified micro transponders, ADS-B, and UAS situational awareness hardware, with FAA TSO products serving both crewed and uncrewed aircraft — overlapping Sagetech's core transponder and BVLOS-enabling product lines.
- FreeFlight Systems: FreeFlight Systems manufactures certified Mode S transponders, ADS-B, and radar altimeters used in commercial, business, and unmanned aircraft — directly competing with Sagetech in the small certified transponder and BVLOS-enabling avionics category.
Broad incumbents
- ACSS (L3Harris & Thales joint venture): ACSS is the L3Harris/Thales JV that has historically dominated TCAS, Mode S, and surveillance avionics for commercial aviation — Sagetech's CTO and CCO both came from ACSS, and the JV competes directly with Sagetech's micro transponder and ACAS X offerings as a well-established incumbent.
- Honeywell Aerospace: Honeywell is a broad incumbent in military avionics, certified transponders, and integrated DAA solutions across both crewed and uncrewed platforms — a scaled incumbent that could miniaturize offerings to compete with Sagetech's micro-SWaP value proposition.
- Collins Aerospace (RTX): Collins Aerospace supplies certified avionics, transponders, and surveillance equipment across military and commercial aviation — competing with Sagetech as an incumbent with deeper integration into OEM airframes and a broader certification portfolio.
- Garmin: Garmin is a broad incumbent in certified avionics including Mode S transponders, ADS-B, and integrated avionics suites across general aviation, rotorcraft, and increasingly UAS — overlapping Sagetech's certified transponder line at the higher volume end of the market.
- L3Harris Technologies: L3Harris provides military IFF, Mode 5 transponders, and certified avionics to the DoD — a broad incumbent against which Sagetech positions its MX12B micro Mode 5 IFF and the new APX-128, with significant program-management and incumbent advantage on U.S. Army contracts.
Emerging players
- Iris Automation: Iris Automation is an emerging DAA technology provider focused on noncooperative detect-and-avoid for BVLOS drone operations and integrates with Sagetech's ACAS X stack as a partner — overlapping with Sagetech as an alternative path for BVLOS approval.
- Echodyne: Echodyne produces metamaterials-based radar for noncooperative UAS detection and is integrated with Sagetech's DAA ecosystem — a complementary/competing component within the broader detect-and-avoid solution stack.
- MatrixSpace: MatrixSpace offers AI-radar sensing for outdoor situational awareness and has integrated directly with Sagetech's ACAS X onboard computer for DHS HSWERX programs — overlapping as an emerging player in the cooperative+noncooperative DAA sensor stack.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sagetech social profiles
Digital presenceSagetech compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance12 records
Sagetech financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sagetech leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Sagetech funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sagetech 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 Sagetech
What does Sagetech do?
Sagetech Avionics designs and manufactures micro transponders and ACAS X-based detect and avoid systems for crewed and uncrewed aircraft. Its portfolio includes military IFF transponders (MX12B, AN/APX-128), civil/commercial Mode S transponders with ADS-B (MXS, XPC, XPS, XPG), and integrated ACAS X collision avoidance solutions (ACX-3200, ACAS sXu/Xu/Xr). The company also delivers Systems Integration Services that help OEMs, governments, and commercial entities launch UAV operations in national airspace.
Is Sagetech a public or private company?
Sagetech is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Sagetech founded?
Sagetech was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Sagetech based?
Sagetech is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sagetech make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Transponder Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are systems Integration Services and detect and Avoid Solutions.
Who are Sagetech's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are uAvionix and FreeFlight Systems. Broad incumbents are ACSS (L3Harris & Thales joint venture), Honeywell Aerospace, Collins Aerospace (RTX), Garmin and L3Harris Technologies. Emerging players are Iris Automation, Echodyne and MatrixSpace.
Does Sagetech have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sagetech.
What industry is Sagetech in?
Sagetech's product category is UAS Avionics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAFAM, Surveillance & Identification Avionics (ADS-B/Transponders/TCAS), with a secondary code of IMABAMAE, Military Avionics, Mission Computers & Flight Controls. Its NAICS code is 334511 and its SIC code is 3812.