AURA Network Systems
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersMclean, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
AURA Network Systems firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AURA Network Systems
- Legal name
- AURA Network Systems, Inc.
- Website
- https://auranetworksystems.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AURA Network Systems industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aviation Communications Network Infrastructure
- NAICS
- Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing (334220), Wired and Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) (51711)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Computer Communications Equipment (3576), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)
- akta.pro primary industry
- UAS Communications, Datalinks, SATCOM & Remote Control Systems (IMABAIAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Avionics Communication Systems (VHF/UHF/SATCOM/Data Link) (IMABAFAG), UAS Ground Control Stations (GCS) & Remote Operations Infrastructure (IMABAIAL)
Keywords
Where AURA Network Systems is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mclean
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
AURA Network Systems business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Aviation Communications Network Services: Providing secure, reliable, mission-critical voice and data communications services via licensed aviation spectrum to the aviation industry, including UAS operators, manned aviation, government agencies, and critical infrastructure sectors. Revenue derived from network access fees and service subscriptions.
- Spectrum Licensing and Management: Licensing access to the company's proprietary 450 MHz aviation-dedicated spectrum for certified operations.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
AURA Network Systems product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AURA Network Systems operates the first and only coast-to-coast private nationwide aviation communications network built on exclusively licensed 450 MHz greenfield spectrum. It sells safety-critical Command and Control (C2) data links and Air Traffic Control (ATC) voice relay services to manned and unmanned aircraft operators, enabling certified Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. The platform combines proprietary ground and airborne radio systems with a custom air interface designed specifically for aviation command-and-control and Detect-and-Avoid use cases.
Product overview
AURA Network Systems offers a unified aviation communications platform consisting of its core nationwide network infrastructure, Command and Control (C2) communications links, and Air Traffic Control (ATC) voice relay services. The platform is built on proprietary ground and airborne radio systems utilizing exclusively licensed 450 MHz aviation spectrum. These integrated components work together to enable safe Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations for both manned and unmanned aircraft, providing the critical communications backbone required for scalable autonomous aviation operations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- AURA Nationwide Aviation Communications Network Coast-to-coast, ultra-reliable, secure aviation communications network utilizing licensed 450 MHz aviation spectrum, designed specifically for manned and unmanned aircraft use cases to enable nationwide coverage with no altitude restrictions.
- Command and Control (C2) Communications Links Safety-critical Control and Non-Payload Communications (CNPC) links delivering command data, telemetry data, and control signals for remotely piloted aircraft operating beyond visual line of sight, compliant with RTCA DO-377A.
- Air Traffic Control (ATC) Voice Relay Hybrid voice-relay service enabling remote pilots to communicate with FAA air traffic controllers, with measured latency averaging under 192 ms (99% under 238 ms) and voice clarity validated against POLQA and RTCA DO-377B thresholds.
- Ground and Airborne Radio Systems Proprietary radio hardware for ground-based towers and airborne aircraft installations that operate on AURA's exclusively licensed 450 MHz aviation spectrum to deliver secure aviation communications.
- Licensed 450 MHz Spectrum Management Services Spectrum management services providing access to AURA's exclusively licensed 450 MHz aviation-dedicated band for certified UAS, manned aviation, and critical infrastructure operations, with extraordinary propagation characteristics and nationwide reach.
Quantifiable outcome
- Average latency under 192 milliseconds with 99% of transmissions below 238 milliseconds for voice-relay communications
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use AURA Network Systems
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
AURA Network Systems technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
AURA Network Systems partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.
- Northern Plains UAS Test Site (NPUASTS)coreFAA-sponsored BVLOS flight testing collaboration in Mayville and Buxton, North Dakota validating voice-relay service performance and hybrid voice-relay architecture under Part 108 requirements.
- Federated WirelesssecondaryPartnership for spectrum management in the 450 MHz band to advance autonomous aviation. Federated Wireless provides spectrum management capabilities complementary to AURA's network.
- DST (DST-TECH)secondaryPartnership with Hagerstown aviation integration, testing and training company for BVLOS flight demonstrations. Aircraft outfitted with AURA airborne radio and voice communications module.
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)coreFour-year Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to research performance standards for ATC voice communications supporting UAS within the national airspace system. FAA BVLOS Aviation Rulemaking Committee participation. FAA contract awarded February 2025 for voice relay testing.
- NASAcoreSelected as agency partner for NASA's Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) National Campaign. Infrastructure partner for demonstrations and communications, navigation, and surveillance flight testing activities. Two Space Act agreements support technology development.
- NUAIR (Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance)coreCollaboration to install AURA network infrastructure throughout New York's 50-mile UAS corridor between Syracuse and Rome, NY. NUAIR manages the FAA-designated New York UAS Test Site at Griffiss International Airport.
- RTCAcoreJim Williams serves as Chair of RTCA Special Committee 228 developing C2 link standards for UAS and AAM. AURA approved to develop MOPS for UHF C2 links. RTCA SC-228 published DO-406 standard.
- Aerospace Industries Association (AIA)secondaryAURA Vice Chair of AIA Spectrum Committee and member of AIA Emerging Technologies Committee. Active in standards development and regulatory advocacy.
- AIAA, NATA, AUVSI, SAE, GAMAsecondaryActive membership and leadership roles in major aviation industry associations supporting AAM development, standards setting, and regulatory engagement.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
AURA Network Systems competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- EchoStar / Hughes Network Systems: EchoStar and Hughes operate satellite and hybrid terrestrial/satellite communications networks serving aviation, enterprise, and government customers. Their satellite broadband offerings (including Jupiter and EchoStar satellite fleets) compete with AURA for in-flight and remote aviation connectivity use cases.
- Thales Group: Thales provides avionics, air traffic management systems, and communications infrastructure for civil and military aviation. Its ATC and UAS integration capabilities make it a direct broader-market competitor to AURA in delivering certified communications and surveillance for next-generation airspace.
- Iridium Communications: Iridium operates a satellite communications network widely used for cockpit safety services, flight tracking, and UAS C2. It is a broader incumbent in aviation connectivity, offering an alternative L-band architecture competing for the same BVLOS and AAM communications use cases AURA targets.
- Honeywell Aerospace: Honeywell is a large incumbent in avionics, including communications, navigation, surveillance, and flight management systems for commercial and urban air mobility platforms. It competes with AURA in supplying integrated C2/communications suites for both manned and unmanned aircraft, particularly for eVTOL OEMs.
- L3Harris Technologies: L3Harris is a major defense and aerospace communications prime, supplying tactical, satellite, and avionics communications systems. Its broad portfolio of certified aviation communications products and government relationships makes it both a competitor and a potential partner in the UAS C2 and AAM communications market.
- Gogo Business Aviation: Gogo provides in-flight connectivity and avionics services for business and general aviation, including airborne networks and ground infrastructure. While focused on cabin connectivity today, its aviation communications platform and airline/corporate customer base overlap with AURA's broader aviation connectivity ambitions.
- Collins Aerospace: Collins Aerospace provides avionics, communications, and navigation systems across commercial, military, and urban air mobility platforms. It overlaps with AURA in offering certified communications infrastructure and is positioned to bundle C2 capabilities with broader avionics suites for AAM and UAS OEMs.
Emerging players
- Skyward, A Verizon Company: Skyward provides UAS operations management and connectivity leveraging Verizon's 4G/5G cellular network. It represents an emerging alternative connectivity architecture (cellular) competing with AURA's dedicated 450 MHz spectrum approach for enterprise UAS C2 and fleet operations.
Direct peers
- uAvionix: uAvionix is a direct peer designing and manufacturing low-size, weight, and power (SWaP) avionics for unmanned aircraft, including ADS-B transponders, C2 radios, and detect-and-avoid equipment. It competes most directly with AURA in providing the airborne and ground communications hardware and surveillance stack required for BVLOS UAS operations.
- Aireon: Aireon operates a space-based ADS-B network providing global real-time aircraft surveillance for air traffic control. Like AURA, it built a proprietary aviation communications/surveillance network targeting ATC modernization and UAS integration, and shares AURA's standards-driven, infrastructure-as-a-service business model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
AURA Network Systems social profiles
Digital presenceAURA Network Systems financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AURA Network Systems leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles17 records
AURA Network Systems funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AURA Network Systems 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 AURA Network Systems
What does AURA Network Systems do?
AURA Network Systems operates the first and only coast-to-coast private nationwide aviation communications network built on exclusively licensed 450 MHz greenfield spectrum. It sells safety-critical Command and Control (C2) data links and Air Traffic Control (ATC) voice relay services to manned and unmanned aircraft operators, enabling certified Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. The platform combines proprietary ground and airborne radio systems with a custom air interface designed specifically for aviation command-and-control and Detect-and-Avoid use cases.
Is AURA Network Systems a public or private company?
AURA Network Systems is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was AURA Network Systems founded?
AURA Network Systems was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is AURA Network Systems based?
AURA Network Systems is headquartered in Mclean, United States, in the North America region.
How does AURA Network Systems make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Aviation Communications Network Services are the primary driver. The others are spectrum Licensing and Management.
Who are AURA Network Systems's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are EchoStar / Hughes Network Systems, Thales Group, Iridium Communications, Honeywell Aerospace, L3Harris Technologies, Gogo Business Aviation and Collins Aerospace. Skyward, A Verizon Company is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are uAvionix and Aireon.
Does AURA Network Systems have an API?
No public API is recorded for AURA Network Systems.
What industry is AURA Network Systems in?
AURA Network Systems's product category is Aviation Communications Network Infrastructure. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAIAJ, UAS Communications, Datalinks, SATCOM & Remote Control Systems, with a secondary code of IMABAFAG, Avionics Communication Systems (VHF/UHF/SATCOM/Data Link). Its NAICS code is 334220 and its SIC code is 3812.