Research and Development Solutions

What Research and Development Solutions does

Research and Development Solutions, Inc. (RDSI) is a privately held, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) founded circa 1989-1990 and headquartered in McLean, Virginia, with operational offices in North Kingstown, Rhode Island and Pawcatuck, Connecticut. The firm provides engineering services, program management, prototyping, test and evaluation, and lifecycle sustainment to the US Navy and broader Department of Defense, primarily through its Seaport-e and Seaport-NxG (Contract N00178-19-D-8411) prime contract vehicles. Its core customers include PEO Mine Undersea Warfare, SPAWAR Systems Center Pacific, the Submarine Learning Center at Groton, and the Office of Naval Intelligence, with work spanning electronic warfare, submarine imaging, surface ship systems, weapons, acoustics, communications, antennas, and undersea warfare support.

RDSI's product portfolio blends electronic warfare training software with ruggedized lighting and physical-security hardware. The EWPro 20/20 simulation software, in use by the US Navy for over 25 years, supports portable, standalone, and networked training environments, complemented by the MRTS-ES multi-screen reconfigurable training system (deployed at the Navy SubSchool in Groton), the SIG-REC signal recognition tool, and the M/Pulse digital pulse generator. Its hardware line includes the patented Task Light Fixture (US Patent No. 12,038,162), the patent-pending Light Mitigation Kit for display light pollution control, the Rigid ND Filter, and the patent-pending Anti-Vehicle Barrier for force protection. Pricing is disclosed for hardware units (TLF at $19,975; Tactical Task Light Kit at $59,925; LMK at $17,650), with billing structured around multi-year procurement.

The business model combines professional services revenue from Navy task orders with direct hardware sales to defense and adjacent commercial customers. RDSI also operates a smaller Commercial Innovation services line covering creative, strategic planning, media, IT, and event-management work for clients such as the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Newport Festivals Foundation. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales via prime contracts and consortium memberships (IWRP, NSTXL, Naval & Maritime Consortium, SENEDIA, Undersea Technology Innovation Consortium), with all positions requiring DoD Security Clearance. The company has no disclosed external funding rounds, maintains John C. Evans as President and CTO, and received the 2024 HIRE Vets Medallion Award for veteran hiring.

Name

Research and Development Solutions

Legal name

Research and Development Solutions, Inc.

Website

https://rdsi.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Research and Development Solutions (RDSI) is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business providing engineering services, program management, electronic warfare training systems, and ruggedized tactical lighting and physical-security hardware to the US Navy and Department of Defense via Seaport-e and Seaport-NxG prime contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defense Engineering and Electronic Warfare Training

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

Naval C4ISR, Communications & Electronic Warfare (IMABAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Underwater Inspection, Maintenance & Repair (UWILD, Diving/ROV, In-water Cleaning) (IMAJAFAJ)

Keywords

• Defense engineering services
• Electronic warfare training
• Navy systems support
• Ruggedized tactical lighting
• Program management services

Headquarters

HQ city

Mclean

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Defense Contracts - Engineering Services: Prime contract holder for Seaport-NxG providing engineering services including system engineering, software development, test and evaluation, prototyping, and lifecycle sustainment for Navy programs.
2. Defense Contracts - Program Management Services: Program management, business and financial management, technical disciplines supporting Navy acquisition programs throughout development, production, deployment and disposal phases.
3. Hardware Product Sales: Sale of ruggedized tactical lighting products including Task Light Fixture at $19,975/unit and Ruggedized Tactical Task Light Kit at $59,925/kit, plus Light Mitigation Kit at $17,650/kit.
4. Commercial Innovation Services: Creative services, strategic planning, program management, engineering, media, event, Information Technology (IT), and production management services to diverse commercial clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Research and Development Solutions, Inc. (RDSI) provides engineering services, program management, and lifecycle sustainment to the US Navy and Department of Defense through Seaport-e and Seaport-NxG prime contracts, alongside proprietary electronic warfare training software (EWPro™ 20/20, MRTS-ES, M/Pulse, SIG-REC) and patented ruggedized hardware products (Task Light Fixture, Light Mitigation Kit, Anti-Vehicle Barrier, Rigid ND Filter) for defense, public safety, and commercial applications. The company also delivers commercial innovation and event-safety coordination services to state government and nonprofit clients.

Product overview

Research and Development Solutions offers a portfolio of specialized defense, public safety, and commercial products. The core product lineup includes the Task Light Fixture (TLF) and Light Mitigation Kit (LMK) for operational safety lighting control, the Rigid ND Filter and Anti-Vehicle Barrier for physical security applications, and a suite of electronic warfare training solutions including EWPro™ 20/20, MRTS-ES, SIG-REC, and M/Pulse. These products serve defense and commercial markets with patented technologies, with the TLF protected under US Patent No. 12,038,162 and several solutions patent pending.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EWPro 20/20: Electronic warfare simulation software training tool for US Navy sailors, used for over 25 years
• MRTS-ES
• M/Pulse
• Task Light Fixture
• Light Mitigation Kit
• Rigid ND Filter
• Anti-Vehicle Barrier
• C.A.R.E. Online Fishing Course

Products and services

• Task Light Fixture (TLF) Advanced, specific wavelength LED fixture providing high-level focused, non-scatter illumination for high-abuse environments in commercial and defense applications. Available with NVIS compatibility, custom-tuned light wavelengths, tactical uses, and surface mount options for aviation. Sold per unit at $19,975.
• Ruggedized Tactical Task Light Kit Bundle of three Ruggedized Tactical Task Light Fixtures designed for demanding operational environments, providing reliable illumination and versatility for naval and tactical use. Sold per kit at $59,925.
• Light Mitigation Kit (LMK) Customizable light attenuating kit (basic to multi-layered) to reduce and manage light pollution from electronic device displays, indicator lights, and other light-emitting devices that impact situational awareness and operational safety in high-stress environments. Compatible with vehicles, ships, aircraft, and air traffic control towers. Sold per kit at $17,650 with minimum quantity and 90-day standard warranty.
• EWPro™ 20/20 Electronic warfare simulation software providing portable, standalone, and networked training solutions for individualized and collective team training. Supports multiple tactical platform configurations and interfaces with existing simulation and training systems. Used by the US Navy for over 25 years across multiple generations of sailors.
• MRTS-ES (Multi-screen Multi-purpose Reconfigurable Training System for Electronic Warfare Support) Multi-screen reconfigurable training system with six 20-inch LCD touch-screen monitors providing full AN/WLR-8 tactical receiver emulation for electronic warfare support training. Installed at the US Navy SubSchool in Groton, CT and additional locations nationwide.
• M/Pulse Digital pulse generator for electronic warfare training, operating on a standard off-the-shelf personal computer, providing a low-cost training signal generation capability.
• SIG-REC Easy-to-use, low-cost alternative for electronic warfare signal recognition training, combining a signal list with an Oscilloscope and AN/ULQ-16 pulse analyzer emulator for signal analysis.
• Rigid ND Filter Customized form-fitting rigid filter comprising specified rigid material bonded with ND material, cut to custom dimensions to ensure proper fit to a display and fitted with light leak material for display light leak prevention.
• Anti-Vehicle Barrier Portable barrier optimized to prevent unauthorized intrusion of small to large-sized vehicles into protected public and pedestrian areas. Features rapid laydown or removal, allows public safety vehicle access, and uses a reversible anchor system that does not require a footing. Patent pending.
• Navy Engineering and Program Management Services (Seaport-e / Seaport-NxG) Prime contract engineering services for the US Navy and Department of Defense under Seaport-e and Seaport-NxG covering system engineering, software development, test and evaluation, prototyping, fabrication, certification, deployment, and lifecycle sustainment across submarine imaging, electronic warfare, weapons, acoustics, communications, antennas, and special projects. Program managers provide 24/7 worldwide support.
• Commercial Innovation Services (creative, strategic planning, program management, engineering, media, event, IT, and production management) Diversified commercial services across creative, strategic planning, program management, engineering, media, event, IT, and production management for state government and nonprofit clients (e.g., Connecticut DEEP C.A.R.E. Online Fishing Course digital conversion, Newport Festivals Foundation public safety coordination).

Quantifiable outcome

• EWPro has been successfully training US Navy sailors for over 25 years, training multiple generations of sailors
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• US Navy - Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRDSI is a prime contract holder for Seaport-NxG (Contract N00178-19-D-8411) providing engineering services, program management, and technical support for Navy systems including research, design, prototyping, test and evaluation, and lifecycle sustainment across surface, undersea and strategic warfighting capabilities.
• US Navy - Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRDSI provides personnel, materials, facilities, equipment, test instrumentation, data collection and analysis to support NUWC and subordinate divisions under Seaport-NxG contract.
• Information Warfare Research Project (IWRP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRDSI is an active member of the Information Warfare Research Project consortium supporting innovation in information warfare technologies and solutions for defense applications.
• National Security Technology Accelerator (NSTXL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRDSI participates as a member supporting technology acceleration initiatives for national security through the NSTXL consortium.
• Undersea Technology Innovation ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRDSI is a member of the Undersea Technology Innovation Consortium supporting collaboration and innovation in undersea defense technologies.
• Naval & Maritime ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRDSI participates as a member supporting naval and maritime defense industry collaboration.
• Southeastern New England Defense Industry AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRDSI is a member supporting regional defense industry growth and collaboration in southeastern New England.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/research-and-development-solutions-inc-
• Xx.com/ResearchandDev6

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Research and Development Solutions