Vigilant Aerospace Systems
Vigilant Aerospace Systems is a privately held developer of multi-sensor detect-and-avoid and airspace management software (FlightHorizon product line) for uncrewed aircraft systems, serving U.S. government, defense, state aerospace, and academic customers to enable safe beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) autonomous operations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersOklahoma City, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Vigilant Aerospace Systems does
Vigilant Aerospace Systems, Inc. is a privately held, founder-owned developer of multi-sensor detect-and-avoid (DAA) and airspace management software for uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS), headquartered in Oklahoma City with operational presence in Oklahoma and North Dakota. Its FlightHorizon product line comprises ground-based systems (FlightHorizon TEMPO for multi-sensor airspace surveillance and uncrewed traffic management, and FlightHorizon ALERT for airspace safety monitoring), onboard systems (FlightHorizon PILOT-M for medium-class UAS and FlightHorizon PILOT-C for crewed/uncrewed teaming), and FlightHorizon DEFENDER for counter-UAS detection. The technology integrates long-range radar, transponder receivers, and onboard sensors to enable safe beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) autonomous operations and to align with emerging FAA Part 108 requirements for autonomous aviation.
The company's revenue is derived primarily from government and defense customers, including the U.S. Air Force (vendor on the $46 billion EWAAC IDIQ through 2031), the Air Force Research Laboratory (SBIR-funded long-endurance drone DAA project), NASA, the FAA, the U.S. Department of Defense, state aerospace departments (Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics), the National Guard, and academic institutions (UND Aerospace). Revenue mechanics combine multi-year contract sales of software systems, integration and consulting services, and non-dilutive research grants (e.g., a $500,000 OCAST grant in partnership with Oklahoma State University/OAIRE). Pricing is quote-based with no public list pricing, distributed via direct enterprise field sales rather than self-serve channels.
Capital structure is conservative: founder-led with no disclosed institutional equity backing; historical funding is limited to a 2019 angel round of approximately $1.59M and the 2024 OCAST grant. The company has 11–50 employees and pursues a focused government-led go-to-market with concentration on SBIR pipelines, defense IDIQ vehicles, state aerospace initiatives, and emerging Advanced Air Mobility infrastructure (e.g., Skyway36 droneport and the Oklahoma Air & Space Port). The strategic posture combines regulatory engagement on FAA Part 108 with deployment of coverage-expanded ground systems (5,000 to 10,000 square kilometers at the Infinity One Oklahoma Spaceport) and counter-UAS capabilities for major events.
Vigilant Aerospace Systems firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Vigilant Aerospace Systems
- Legal name
- Vigilant Aerospace Systems, Inc.
- Website
- https://VigilantAerospace.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Vigilant Aerospace Systems is a privately held developer of multi-sensor detect-and-avoid and airspace management software (FlightHorizon product line) for uncrewed aircraft systems, serving U.S. government, defense, state aerospace, and academic customers to enable safe beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) autonomous operations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Vigilant Aerospace Systems industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Unmanned Aircraft Systems Airspace Management Software
- NAICS
- Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Measuring & Controlling Devices, Nec (3829)
- akta.pro primary industry
- UAS Ground Control Stations (GCS) & Remote Operations Infrastructure (IMABAIAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Autonomous Flight Control & Guidance Systems (UAS/Urban Air Mobility) (IMABAFAO), Counter-UAS (C-UAS) Systems & Drone Defense (IMABAIAG), Counter-UAS Detection Sensors & Integrated Sensor Suites (IMABAGAK)
Keywords
Where Vigilant Aerospace Systems is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oklahoma City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Vigilant Aerospace Systems business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Defense and Government Contracts: Revenue from government defense agencies including U.S. Air Force, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), and Department of Defense through SBIR programs and defense contracts such as the $46B EWAAC IDIQ.
- Research Grants: $500,000 grant from OCAST (Oklahoma Center for Advancement of Science and Technology) for distributed airspace management system development with Oklahoma State University.
- Product Sales - Software Systems: Sale of FlightHorizon airspace management and DAA software systems including TEMPO, ALERT, PILOT-M, PILOT-C, and DEFENDER products.
- Integration and Consulting Services: Integration and consulting services for deploying airspace management systems at customer facilities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Quote-based pricing for government and enterprise customers |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Vigilant Aerospace Systems product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Vigilant Aerospace Systems develops and sells multi-sensor detect-and-avoid (DAA) and airspace management software for uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS/drones) under the FlightHorizon product line. The portfolio includes ground-based airspace management systems (TEMPO, ALERT), onboard DAA systems for autonomous aircraft (PILOT-M, PILOT-C), and a counter-UAS detection system (DEFENDER), enabling safe beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) autonomous operations for government, defense, and aerospace customers.
Product overview
Vigilant Aerospace Systems offers the FlightHorizon product line of multi-sensor detect-and-avoid (DAA) and airspace management software for uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS). The portfolio includes ground-based systems (FlightHorizon TEMPO and ALERT) for airspace management and surveillance, onboard DAA systems (FlightHorizon PILOT-M and PILOT-C) for autonomous collision avoidance, and FlightHorizon DEFENDER for counter-drone applications. The products work together to enable safe beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) autonomous flight operations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- FlightHorizon TEMPO: Ground-based airspace management system for surveillance and collision avoidance
- FlightHorizon ALERT
- FlightHorizon PILOT-M
- FlightHorizon PILOT-C
- FlightHorizon DEFENDER
Products and services
- FlightHorizon TEMPO Ground-based airspace management system providing multi-sensor detect-and-avoid (DAA) and uncrewed traffic management (UTM) for autonomous aircraft operations, including long-range radar and transponder receiver integration, used by government, defense, and aerospace customers to support BVLOS operations.
- FlightHorizon ALERT Ground-based airspace safety and monitoring system for detect-and-avoid operations used to provide airspace awareness and alerts for drone operations.
- FlightHorizon PILOT-M Onboard detect-and-avoid (DAA) system for medium-class uncrewed aircraft, designed for mobile/manned-unmanned teaming applications to enable autonomous aircraft to maintain safe separation from crewed aircraft.
- FlightHorizon PILOT-C Compact onboard detect-and-avoid (DAA) system for uncrewed aircraft that supports autonomous collision avoidance and integration with crewed aircraft in shared airspace.
- FlightHorizon DEFENDER Counter-uncrewed aircraft system (C-UAS) for detecting and monitoring drone threats at major events and critical infrastructure, featured in an NBC DFW investigation on counter-drone technology for World Cup security.
- Integration & Consulting Services Professional services for integrating FlightHorizon airspace management and DAA systems into existing aerospace operations, including consulting and implementation support delivered to government and enterprise customers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Coverage expansion from 5,000 to 10,000 square kilometers for autonomous flight testing
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Vigilant Aerospace Systems
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Vigilant Aerospace Systems technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Vigilant Aerospace Systems partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- U.S. Air ForcecoreSelected as vendor on the $46 billion Enterprise-Wide Agile Acquisition Contract (EWAAC IDIQ). Contract runs through 2031 and is designed to accelerate development and delivery of innovative weapons systems including uncrewed traffic management and detect-and-avoid technologies.
- Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics (ODAA)coreState's first investment in airspace management system and automatic detect-and-avoid solution. Contract to deploy FlightHorizon technology at Oklahoma Air & Space Port to support drone flights and Advanced Air Mobility industry.
- North Dakota Unmanned Autonomous Systems Council (NDUASC)minorZach Peterson, Director of Business Development at Vigilant Aerospace, elected Vice Chair of NDUASC. Council drives growth of North Dakota's UAS ecosystem.
- UND Aerospace (John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences)coreOne-year partnership to utilize FlightHorizon drone safety software and airspace management system. Memorandum of Understanding formalizes agreement. Vigilant provides training for students and faculty, with full integration into UND's UAS operations and research expected by summer.
- DronePort NetworkminorCommunity Airspace Awareness Project (CAAP) at Ardmore Industrial Airpark and MidAmerica Industrial Park in Oklahoma. Project addresses low-altitude airspace conflicts from increasing drone use.
- Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)coreSBIR-funded project to develop detect-and-avoid system for Air Force's new long-endurance drone. Project progressing through testing, GCS integration, and software deployment milestones.
- Osage Nation Skyway36 DroneportcoreFlightHorizon selected as airspace management system for Skyway36 droneport in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Premier droneport in the US serves as 'airport for drones' and for larger AAM aircraft like air taxis.
- Oklahoma State University / OAIREcore$500,000 OCAST-funded project to develop a distributed airspace management system for uncrewed aircraft. Partnership includes Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education (OAIRE) for flight testing support. Project addresses increasing autonomous aircraft operations in the National Airspace System.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Vigilant Aerospace Systems competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Iris Automation: Direct competitor offering onboard detect-and-avoid (Casia) and ground-based airspace surveillance for uncrewed aircraft, with a comparable focus on FAA Part 108 readiness and BVLOS operations.
- Altitude Angel: UTM and airspace management software provider for drone corridors and BVLOS operations, competing head-to-head with FlightHorizon TEMPO in enabling safe integration of uncrewed aircraft into shared airspace.
- Dedrone: Counter-UAS detection and airspace protection platform widely deployed at major events, critical infrastructure, and defense customers; overlaps directly with FlightHorizon DEFENDER.
- DroneShield: Publicly listed C-UAS detection and defeat provider competing in the same counter-drone and major-event security market that Vigilant's DEFENDER product targets.
- Skyward, A Verizon Company: Verizon-owned drone management and UTM platform offering airspace management, flight planning, and connectivity services to commercial drone operators and enterprises.
- Echodyne: Manufacturer of high-performance metamaterial radar used for airspace surveillance and detect-and-avoid systems, integrating as a sensor layer beneath platforms like FlightHorizon TEMPO.
Broad incumbents
- AirMap: Earlier UTM and airspace management incumbent serving commercial drone operators and airports with a broader low-altitude-traffic-management portfolio than Vigilant's narrower DAA focus.
- Anduril Industries: Well-capitalized defense technology prime fielding integrated C-UAS and autonomous systems for the U.S. Air Force and DoD; competes for the same EWAAC and SBIR contracts Vigilant is pursuing.
- L3Harris Technologies: Large defense prime offering broader airspace management, surveillance, and counter-drone solutions; competes as a prime contractor on EWAAC and adjacent defense programs.
- Raytheon Technologies: Major aerospace and defense prime with portfolio capabilities across UAS integration, surveillance, and air traffic management, competing on large-scale federal procurement vehicles.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Vigilant Aerospace Systems social profiles
Digital presenceVigilant Aerospace Systems financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Vigilant Aerospace Systems leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Vigilant Aerospace Systems funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Vigilant Aerospace 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 Vigilant Aerospace Systems
What does Vigilant Aerospace Systems do?
Vigilant Aerospace Systems develops and sells multi-sensor detect-and-avoid (DAA) and airspace management software for uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS/drones) under the FlightHorizon product line. The portfolio includes ground-based airspace management systems (TEMPO, ALERT), onboard DAA systems for autonomous aircraft (PILOT-M, PILOT-C), and a counter-UAS detection system (DEFENDER), enabling safe beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) autonomous operations for government, defense, and aerospace customers.
Is Vigilant Aerospace Systems a public or private company?
Vigilant Aerospace Systems is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Vigilant Aerospace Systems founded?
Vigilant Aerospace Systems was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Vigilant Aerospace Systems based?
Vigilant Aerospace Systems is headquartered in Oklahoma City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Vigilant Aerospace Systems make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Defense and Government Contracts are the primary driver. The others are research Grants, product Sales - Software Systems and integration and Consulting Services.
Who are Vigilant Aerospace Systems's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Iris Automation, Altitude Angel, Dedrone, DroneShield, Skyward, A Verizon Company and Echodyne. Broad incumbents are AirMap, Anduril Industries, L3Harris Technologies and Raytheon Technologies.
Does Vigilant Aerospace Systems have an API?
No public API is recorded for Vigilant Aerospace Systems.
What industry is Vigilant Aerospace Systems in?
Vigilant Aerospace Systems's product category is Unmanned Aircraft Systems Airspace Management Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAIAL, UAS Ground Control Stations (GCS) & Remote Operations Infrastructure, with a secondary code of IMABAFAO, Autonomous Flight Control & Guidance Systems (UAS/Urban Air Mobility). Its NAICS code is 334511 and its SIC code is 3812.