Sagetech

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.

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

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

• Micro transponders
• IFF transponders
• Detect and avoid systems
• UAV avionics
• ACAS X solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. Systems Integration Services: Professional services helping OEMs, governments, and commercial entities successfully integrate Sagetech products and launch UAV operations in national airspace.
3. Detect and Avoid Solutions: ACAS X-based DAA systems including ACX-3200 series, providing collision avoidance capability as integrated or separate products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core 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

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• R Cubed EngineeringcoreTechnology or IntegrationSBIR partner for rapid development of APX-128 IFF transponder under Department of War contract. Deep technical collaboration enabled quick progression to production.
• MatrixSpacestrategicTechnology or IntegrationSelected 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)strategicTechnology or IntegrationPartnership 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)strategicOthersHSWERX award recipient for work on advanced air detection supporting UAS operations with potential applications for Customs and Border Protection agency.
• Becker AvionicsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEuropean UAS market reseller partnership offering Sagetech situational awareness solutions to European customers.
• A-TechSYNminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIrish reseller and technology partner offering MX product family on CGT50 VTOL UAV.
• EmbentionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpanish reseller and technology partner for MX transponder products.
• CarahsoftstrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDepartment of War Program Executive at Carahsoft, a major government IT and defense solutions reseller, facilitating government sales.
• Joby AviationstrategicTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration to demonstrate onboard-piloted detect and avoid capabilities for eVTOL/air taxi applications using Sagetech's ACAS X technology.
• U.S. Army / Department of WarcoreOthersAwarded 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

Direct 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCHTRsMEObobxUdDdUP87Niw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sagetech-avionics-inc
• Xx.com/sagetechc
• Facebookfacebook.com/Sagetech-Corporation-297912080256997

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Sagetech