What Cornerstone Research Group does

CRG Defense, formerly Cornerstone Research Group Inc., is a privately held U.S. defense technology contractor founded in 1997 and headquartered in Miamisburg, Ohio. The company operates across four divisions—Systems, Power, Materiel, and Innovation—delivering missionized platforms (notably the AeroVox attritable drone), next-generation battery cells and packs, high-efficiency electric machines and control systems, and additive manufacturing services using large-format polymer and composite 3D printing. CRG also pursues longer-horizon R&D in self-healing composites using shape memory polymers and contributed to the DARPA SHEPARD hybrid-electric propulsion program whose XRQ-73 demonstrator flew at Edwards AFB in April 2026.

The company's revenue model is built on U.S. government contracts and grants, including Department of Defense program work, U.S. Air Force research contracts (notably a $2.5M ultra high-temperature 3D printing award), Defense Logistics Agency additive manufacturing pilots, and prior Department of Energy grants totaling approximately $1.56M across 2022–2024. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales through established federal contract vehicles, targeting defense agencies, defense prime contractors (such as Northrop Grumman on SHEPARD), and adjacent federal R&D sponsors. CRG has repositioned itself around secure domestic manufacturing and American-made subsystems in response to federal UAS component sourcing restrictions announced in 2026.

CRG remains privately held with no disclosed institutional investor backing, and no revenue or valuation figures are publicly available. The company is led by founder and CEO Patrick Hood, and operates with 101–250 employees. Strategic priorities emphasized through 2025–2026 include the rebrand to CRG Defense, headquarters expansion into Miami Township, capital investment in advanced 3D printing capacity, and active participation in flagship DARPA and Air Force programs.

Name

Cornerstone Research Group

Legal name

Cornerstone Research Group, Inc.

Website

https://crgrp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CRG Defense is a privately held U.S. defense technology contractor founded in 1997, delivering attritable drones, advanced batteries, electric propulsion, and additive manufacturing services to the Department of Defense, DARPA, and the U.S. Air Force.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defense Technology Systems

NAICS

Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413)

SIC

Aircraft & Parts (3720)

akta.pro primary industry

UAS Power Systems & Propulsion (Motors, ESCs, Batteries, Fuel Cells) (IMABAIAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Military Aircraft Structures, Airframes & Composites (IMABAMAH)

Keywords

• Defense technology
• Additive manufacturing
• Hybrid-electric propulsion
• Attritable drone systems
• Military battery systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Miamisburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Defense Government Contracts: Primary revenue stream from U.S. Department of Defense contracts, including systems development, additive manufacturing services, and mission-critical platform delivery. Revenue derived from competitive bidding on defense procurement programs and sole-source contracts for specialized capabilities.
2. R&D Development Contracts: Government-funded research and development contracts for advanced defense technologies including hybrid-electric propulsion, self-healing materials, and next-gen battery systems

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

CRG Defense delivers mission-critical defense and dual-use technologies to U.S. government and aerospace customers through four divisions: Systems (attritable drones and embedded AI), Power (next-generation batteries, electric propulsion, power management), Materiel (additive manufacturing, compression molding, custom materials), and Innovation (advanced aerospace, materials, AI, energy systems). Core sellable offerings include the AeroVox Drone, Battery Cells & Packs, Additive Manufacturing services, and Electric Machines and Control Systems, supported by proprietary capabilities in self-healing composites, hybrid-electric propulsion, and ultra high-temperature 3D printing.

Product overview

CRG Defense (formerly Cornerstone Research Group Inc.) is a defense technology company founded in 1997 that offers a platform of mission-critical defense and dual-use technologies across four divisions: Systems Division (attritable drones and embedded AI), Power Division (next-gen batteries, electric propulsion, power management), Materiel Division (additive manufacturing, compression molding, custom materials), and Innovation Division (advanced aerospace, AI, energy systems). The product portfolio includes named offerings such as the AeroVox Drone, Battery Cells & Packs, Additive Manufacturing services, Electric Machines and Control Systems, and the recently acquired Argo 1000 Hypermelt large-format 3D printer. The company also develops experimental self-healing composites using shape memory polymers and embedded sensor networks. CRG Defense serves defense and dual-use markets with rapid prototype-to-production capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AeroVox Drone: Drone product line operated by CRG Defense for defense and dual-use applications.

Products and services

• AeroVox Drone A drone product offered by CRG Defense as part of its missionized systems portfolio, engineered for speed, survivability, and impact in defense applications. Targeted at U.S. Department of Defense and defense prime contractor customers seeking attritable and missionized unmanned aerial systems.
• Battery Cells & Packs Next-generation battery cells and packs delivering reliable energy in harsh operational environments. Designed for defense applications requiring high-performance, American-made power solutions, including as a response to federal UAS component sourcing restrictions.
• Additive Manufacturing High-performance additive manufacturing services for defense-grade parts at speed and scale, including large-format 3D printing of aerospace-grade polymer and composite parts. Capabilities are anchored by the Roboze Argo 1000 Hypermelt system and an ongoing U.S. Air Force contract for ultra high-temperature 3D printing.
• Electric Machines and Control Systems High-efficiency electric propulsion systems and associated power management and control systems for defense applications. Underpins CRG Defense's role in DARPA's SHEPARD program for hybrid-electric propulsion on the XRQ-73 unmanned experimental aircraft.

Quantifiable outcome

• Achieved first flight of XRQ-73 hybrid-electric unmanned aircraft in April 2026 as part of DARPA SHEPARD program
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DARPAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026CRG Defense is part of DARPA's SHEPARD (Series Hybrid Electric Propulsion AiRcraft Demonstration) program, involved in the successful first flight of the XRQ-73 hybrid-electric unmanned experimental aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base in April 2026.
• Northrop Grumman CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Collaborating with Northrop Grumman and Air Force Research Laboratory on the DARPA SHEPARD program for the XRQ-73 hybrid-electric aircraft development.
• Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Partnering with AFRL on the XRQ-73 SHEPARD program for hybrid-electric propulsion technology maturation for future military aircraft.
• Defense Logistics AgencyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Participated in $9.8 million joint additive manufacturing pilot program involving 24 companies awarded by Defense Logistics Agency and U.S. military contracting activities.
• RobozecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 July 2025CRG Defense became the second U.S. entity to acquire the Roboze Argo 1000 Hypermelt large-format 3D printer, enhancing capacity to produce aerospace-grade polymer and composite parts at scale.
• U.S. Air ForcecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025$2.5 million contract with U.S. Air Force to design a large, ultra high-temperature 3D printing system for future aerospace applications.
• America MakesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRG Defense is featured on the America Makes website, indicating membership in the additive manufacturing innovation ecosystem focused on 3D printing advancement.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AeroVironment: Established small-UAS manufacturer (Switchblade, Puma) with deep U.S. DoD relationships. Closest scaled public-market comparable to CRG's attritable drone and missionized systems business.
• Kratos Defense & Security Solutions: Public defense company focused on unmanned systems, target drones, and turbine propulsion. Competes with CRG in attritable UAS and certain propulsion-adjacent niches; comparable DoD-focused GTM.
• Skydio: U.S.-based autonomous drone manufacturer with both commercial and defense businesses, supplying the U.S. DoD with short-range autonomous UAS. Direct peer in the attritable/autonomous UAS space and a fellow American-made drone competitor.
• Shield AI: Defense AI and autonomous UAS company (Hivemind, V-BAT) selling attritable/autonomous drones to U.S. DoD and allies. Direct competitor to CRG's AeroVox drone and embedded AI work, with comparable missionized-system GTM.
• MagniX: Electric aviation propulsion company developing motors and power systems for electric and hybrid-electric aircraft. Direct comparable to CRG's Power Division hybrid-electric propulsion and electric machines work feeding the XRQ-73.
• Anduril Industries: Vertically integrated defense-tech company building autonomous systems, attritable UAS, and missionized platforms for the U.S. DoD. Most directly comparable to CRG's Systems Division and overall defense platform thesis, but at significantly greater scale and capital.

Broad incumbents

• Northrop Grumman: Tier-1 defense prime that is both CRG's collaborator (XRQ-73/SHEPARD prime) and broader competitor in missionized UAS, autonomous systems, and B-1 sustainment. Represents both partnership upside and prime-tier competitive risk.
• General Atomics Aeronautical Systems: Prime manufacturer of large UAS (MQ-9 Reaper, MQ-1C Gray Eagle) and a broader defense incumbent. Comparable in missionized UAS and propulsion systems, though operating at much larger platform scale than CRG.
• L3Harris Technologies: Large defense prime with UAS, power systems, and advanced electronics programs across all U.S. services. Broad incumbent in CRG's space; competes and contracts with CRG depending on program.
• Pratt & Whitney: Major military aircraft engine manufacturer (F135, F119) actively developing hybrid-electric and adaptive-cycle propulsion. Comparable to CRG's propulsion and power work in the same DoD electrification roadmaps.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

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 Cornerstone Research Group