What Crescent Systems does

Crescent Systems, Inc. (CSI), founded in 1995 in Richardson, Texas, is a privately held, woman-owned small business that designs, repackages, integrates, and sustains ruggedized mission-critical hardware and software for the U.S. Department of Defense and adjacent federal and public safety customers. The company's product portfolio is built around commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components — Cisco routers and codecs, Crystal Rugged servers, Black Box KVMs, AMX control processors, Dante audio networking — repackaged into MIL-spec enclosures with rugged circular connectors to operate in austere airborne and ground environments. Core line items include the Audio Server, Audio Interface, Rugged Router, Codec, KVM Switch, Intelligent Panel, Audio/Video Processor (AVP), Smart Card Reader, 28VDC Mini PDU, and the BlackBox rugged server (Nvidia RTX 4000 GPU / Intel i5 / 16GB DDR4 / up to 8TB storage), sold together as an integrated mission-system suite. CSI also sells software (device drivers, audio/video codecs, GUIs, MILS-based virtualized clients) under full application lifecycle management including cybersecurity patching.

Revenue is generated through a mix of custom hardware sales, software design and development services, interdisciplinary systems engineering, product realization (prototyping through qualification/certification), and aircraft integration including FAA airworthiness management under 14 CFR Part 25 and Part 26. The go-to-market is B2B and relationship-led, with direct sales to DoD procurement offices, active participation in industry events (Quad-A Summit, UTD Job Fair, UT Engineering Expo), and membership in Quad-A, AFCEA, NDIA, the Air Force Association, the Airborne Public Safety Association, and the Rotor Helicopter Association International. Distribution is augmented by strategic partners — D&J Aviation, Strategic Mission Systems LLC, and D3 Air & Space Operations — and a partner hangar at Colorado Springs Airport. Named customers and prospects include the U.S. Air Force (KC-135 Aero-I SATCOM proposal, 2019), the U.S. Forest Service (fire surveillance platform, 2023), the Albuquerque Police Department (law enforcement aviation demonstrations), and undisclosed DoD end-users reached through small-business prime partners.

The company holds AS9100D (renewed June 2023), ISO 9001:2018, and CMMI Development certifications, and operates under MIL-STD-810/461/464/704, MIL-STD-1472, and RTCA DO-160G environmental and EMI/EMC standards. Operations span the Richardson, TX headquarters (relocated to Collins Business Park in April 2020) and a West-coast engineering office in Roseville, CA, with a new operational facility opened in July 2023. CSI implemented an Employee Stock Ownership Plan in December 2018 and is led by founders Clark Red (President, CTO, CEO) and Gayle Red (Owner, Chief Strategic Officer). The firm employs between 11 and 50 people and revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Crescent Systems

Legal name

Crescent Systems, Inc.

Website

https://csitx.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Crescent Systems is a Richardson, Texas-based, woman-owned small business founded in 1995 that designs and integrates ruggedized COTS mission hardware, custom software, and aircraft-installation services for U.S. Department of Defense, federal, and public safety agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defense Mission Systems

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419)

SIC

Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

Military Aircraft Platforms (Fixed-Wing) (IMABAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Spacecraft Avionics, Flight Computers & Software (IMABACAI)

Keywords

• Defense mission systems
• Ruggedized hardware solutions
• Aircraft integration services
• Secure communications systems
• Military aerospace electronics

Headquarters

HQ city

Richardson

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, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom Hardware Products: Design, development, and sale of ruggedized hardware products including power distribution units, audio/video processors, rugged routers, KVM switches, smart card readers, intelligent panels, and audio interfaces. Products are often repackaged COTS solutions with MIL-spec connectors for defense applications.
2. Software Design & Development: Custom software development including device drivers, video/audio codecs, graphical user interfaces, and system management applications. Full application lifecycle management including service bulletins, cybersecurity updates, and patches.
3. Systems Engineering Services: Interdisciplinary systems engineering including complex systems analysis, design solutions development, model-based engineering, technical maturation, and risk reduction services.
4. Aircraft Integration Services: Integration and certification services for special mission aircraft including structural modifications, cockpit and avionics upgrades, interior electronics, and FAA airworthiness compliance (14 CFR Part 25/26).
5. Product Realization Services: Turning concepts into operational fielded products through prototyping, initial builds, qualification, verification, and certification testing phases.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Crescent Systems designs, develops, and manufactures ruggedized hardware products and mission system solutions for aerospace and defense applications. Their core offerings include secure voice, video, and data systems — such as audio servers, rugged routers, codecs, KVM switches, intelligent panels, smart card readers, audio/video processors, and power distribution units — repackaged with MIL-spec connectors for austere environments. They complement these products with systems engineering, software design and development, aircraft integration, and product realization services for DoD and special mission aircraft operators.

Product overview

Crescent Systems provides mission system solutions implementing robust secure voice, video, and data systems designed for austere environments in the aerospace and defense industry. The company's product portfolio is centered around integrated solutions for special mission aircraft and ground-based installations. Core products include the Audio Server, Audio Interface, BlackBox rugged server, KVM Switch, Rugged Router, Codec, Intelligent Panel, Audio/Video Processor (AVP), Smart Card Reader, and 28VDC Mini PDU. These products work together as an integrated mission system: the Audio Server provides digital audio processing paired with the Audio Interface for headset connectivity; the Codec enables video teleconferencing integrated with AMX control systems; the BlackBox provides computational power for mission mapping software; the Rugged Router handles VoIP and network connectivity; the Intelligent Panel provides system status monitoring; and the KVM Switch manages peripheral access. Services include Systems Engineering, Product Realization, Software Design & Development, Aircraft Integration, Cybersecurity/Information Assurance, Environmental Testing, and Hardware/Integration Services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Audio Interface

Quantifiable outcome

• Systems certified to RTCA DO-160G and MIL-STD environmental standards ensuring reliability in extreme conditions

Named customers4 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

Integration6 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• US Forest ServiceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 14 August 2023Partnership to deliver fire surveillance platform to the US Forest Service for wildland fire monitoring and surveillance applications.
• D3 Air & Space OperationscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 May 2020Partner and small business prime awarded Special Operations Forces CORE Support Contract. D3 Air & Space Operations acts as small business prime with Crescent Systems as partner.
• Small Business Aircraft Integration ExpertscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 May 2019Strategic partnership announced for Special Mission Atmospheric Science Aircraft requirement, bringing together small business aircraft integration expertise.
• Strategic Mission Systems LLCmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2017Joint venture and multi-year contract award through Strategic Mission Systems LLC announced in June 2017 for strategic mission systems integration.
• D&J Aviation, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2017Strategic partnership announced in February 2017 for aircraft integration services, combining CSI's mission system capabilities with D&J Aviation's aircraft expertise.
• Crystal RuggedcoreTechnology or IntegrationCrescent Systems partnered with Crystal Rugged to provide an affordable COTS-based rugged server platform (BlackBox) to support federal, state, and local special mission applications. The partnership enables CSI to offer mission mapping software support including AEVEX GEOFocis, CarteNAV AIMS, TrakkaMaps, and Overwatch Imaging Automated Sensor Operator.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Leidos: Leidos provides defense and aerospace mission-system integration, including ISR and special-mission aircraft programs. Comparable end-customers and systems integration activities but at enterprise scale.
• L3Harris Technologies: L3Harris is a Tier 1 defense prime with extensive avionics, secure communications, and rugged mission-system offerings. Comparable product categories but operates at vastly larger scale across many platforms.
• DRS Technologies (Leonardo DRS): Leonardo DRS builds rugged military electronics, avionics, and integrated mission systems for U.S. and allied defense customers. Comparable in mission-critical compute, secure networking, and aircraft integration.
• Sierra Nevada Corporation: SNC is a privately held DoD prime with broad mission-system, avionics, and integrated electronic warfare capabilities. Overlaps with CSI in ruggedized mission computing and aircraft integration but at much larger scale and scope.

Direct peers

• Ultra Electronics: Ultra Electronics manufactures ruggedized defense electronics, mission systems, and sonar/communications equipment. Comparable in rugged mission-critical hardware for defense and aerospace customers.
• Mercury Systems: Mercury Systems builds mission-critical defense electronics, avionics, and ruggedized subsystems for aerospace and DoD applications. Directly comparable to CSI's ruggedized mission computing, secure processing, and avionics integration work for special-mission platforms.
• Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions: Curtiss-Wright provides rugged electronics, mission systems, and avionics integration for military and special-mission aircraft. Highly comparable in COTS-repackaged and rugged C4ISR solutions for defense platforms.
• AEVEX Aerospace: AEVEX specializes in ISR, mission system integration, and special-mission aircraft modifications for defense and government customers. Comparable given CSI's integration with AEVEX GEOFocis and shared special-mission focus.
• Kratos Defense & Security Solutions: Kratos delivers unmanned systems, mission systems, and special-mission aircraft integration for DoD. Comparable product and customer overlap in special-mission avionics and rugged compute for austere environments.

Emerging players

• CarteNav Solutions: CarteNav provides mission-mapping and ISR sensor software for special-mission aircraft, which CSI's BlackBox rugged server integrates with. Complementary rather than direct, but addresses the same special-mission ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/crescent-systems-inc

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Crescent Systems