What Iris Technologies does

Iris Technology Corporation is a privately held U.S. defense and aerospace electronics supplier headquartered in Irvine, California, founded in 1986 (as Prism Engineering Partnership) and incorporated in 1988. The company designs and manufactures mission-critical thermal management and power systems for spacecraft and tactical military applications, organized into two divisions — Aerospace and Tactical. The Aerospace division centers on the ICE-G2 family of cryocooler control electronics (spanning 100W to over 1,000W) and the Sotira focal plane interface electronics (supporting 8K imaging at 120 fps), both radiation-hardened and TRL 9 qualified. The Tactical division provides ruggedized MIL-STD power systems including the Merlin-2 radio power adapter, the QP-1800 inverter (14,000+ units delivered), and the Power HIVE mission power node for distributed tactical power.

Iris sells primarily through direct government contracting and as a Tier 1 subcontractor to defense primes (L3Harris, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Leidos), generating revenue from custom engineering development contracts and hardware sales to agencies including NASA, the U.S. Space Force, the Space Development Agency, and the broader U.S. Department of Defense. Its competitive position rests on flight-proven heritage (TRL 9 hardware with a decade of perfect runs on NASA/ESA missions), CMMC Level 2, AS9100 and ISO 9001 certifications, proprietary vibration control and ripple attenuation IP, and 12-17 year leadership tenure. The company has begun a modest commercial diversification, including a March 2026 launch of a mobile wallet access system in student housing alongside core defense/space work, and a May 2026 partnership with Ultralife to scale the Power HIVE tactical power platform.

Name

Iris Technologies

Legal name

Iris Technology Corporation

Website

https://iristechnology.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Iris Technology Corporation is a privately held Irvine, California-based defense and aerospace electronics firm (founded 1986, 51-100 employees) that designs mission-critical cryocooler control electronics, focal plane interface electronics, and tactical power systems for NASA, the U.S. Space Force, SDA, and defense primes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mission-Critical Aerospace and Defense Electronics

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), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)

akta.pro primary industry

Spacecraft Avionics, Flight Computers & Software (IMABACAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD), Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) Sensors & Targeting Systems (IMABAGAC), Engine Control, Fuel & Ignition Systems (FADEC/Accessories) (IMABADAK), Optoelectronic Receivers & Transceivers (Photodetectors/Optical Modules) (HDAHALAM)

Keywords

• Mission-critical electronics
• Cryocooler control electronics
• Tactical power systems
• Aerospace defense components
• Focal plane interface electronics

Headquarters

HQ city

Irvine

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Defense and Aerospace Electronics: Design, development, and manufacturing of mission-critical power systems, cryocooler control electronics, and focal plane interface electronics sold directly to defense contractors and government agencies. Revenue is generated through custom engineering development contracts and product sales.
2. Tactical Power Systems: Production and sale of ruggedized power adapters, inverters, and tactical power management systems for military applications. Includes products like Merlin series radio power adapters and QP-1800 inverter systems.
3. Industrial Technology Development: Cost-shared development programs for industrial technologies with commercial and defense applications. Involves joint funding solutions with partners for product development.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Iris Technology designs, develops, and manufactures mission-critical thermal management and power systems for aerospace and defense customers. Its aerospace products include ICE-G2 cryocooler control electronics (100W to 1000W+) and Sotira focal plane interface electronics for space-based imaging. Its tactical products include MIL-STD-certified radio power adapters (Merlin series), the Power HIVE mission power node, QP-1800 inverter systems, and related accessories. The company also delivers full life-cycle engineering services from prototype through volume manufacturing.

Product overview

Iris Technologies offers a portfolio of mission-critical hardware products and engineering services across two divisions: Aerospace and Tactical. The Aerospace division centers on cryocooler control electronics (ICE-G2 family — ICE-G2 Control Electronics, with variants ICE-G2-200IL for missile warning and ICE-G2-1000 for deep space cooling at 1kW+) and imaging electronics (Sotira FPIE — Focal Plane Interface Electronics supporting up to 8K resolution at 120 fps). The Tactical division provides ruggedized power systems including Radio Power & Data Adapters (Merlin-2 Radio Power Adapter with hot-swap UPS capability), Power Management & Distribution (Power HIVE regulated 28V power distribution with hot-swap and telemetry), Energy & Power Generation (QP-1800 inverter and solar tactical equipment), and Accessories. Engineering Services span the full life cycle from prototype development through volume manufacturing. All products share a foundation of TRL-9 reliability, MIL-STD qualification, and CMMC Level 2 security compliance, designed for extreme environments where failure is not an option.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Merlin-2: MIL-STD-certified ruggedized radio power adapter for tactical communications systems in hostile environments
• ICE-G2
• Sotira FPIE
• Power HIVE

Products and services

• ICE-G2 Control Electronics Family of cryocooler control electronics for aerospace applications, managing thermal conditions in satellites and spacecraft. Includes ICE-G2-100, ICE-G2-200, ICE-G2-200IL, and ICE-G2-1000 variants ranging from 100W to over 1,000W output. Supports missile warning, deep space cooling, and defense satellite programs.
• Sotira FPIE — Focal Plane Interface Electronics FPGA-based focal plane interface electronics functioning as the interface between imaging sensors and spacecraft data systems. Supports up to 8K resolution at 120 fps; compatible with Teledyne and Raytheon infrared sensors; enables high-speed image acquisition, real-time processing, and data compression for space situational awareness and missile warning missions.
• Control Electronics (High-Power and Single Piston Low Cost) Customizable control electronics for cryocoolers across power ranges. Includes high-power solutions for large detector arrays and single-piston low-cost variants (SPLCCE) for smallsat and NASA Small Explorer missions (e.g., COSI mission, Europa Clipper). TRL-9 heritage, radiation-hardened, with vibration control algorithms and input ripple attenuation.
• Radio Power & Data Adapters Tactical power adapters connecting military radios and communication equipment to power sources. Includes the Merlin-2 Radio Power Adapter providing hot-swap battery backup, AC/DC/solar/battery versatility, and MIL-STD ruggedization for battlefield communications.
• Power Management & Distribution Power management systems for tactical edge applications. Includes the Power HIVE (Hub for Integrated Versatile Energy) mission power node — a regulated 28V power distribution system combining multiple BB-2590 class batteries with hot-swap capability and real-time telemetry for military users.
• Energy & Power Generation Tactical energy and power generation solutions including inverter systems (QP-1800 with 14,000+ units delivered) and solar-powered tactical equipment for deployed forces.
• Tactical Power Accessories Tactical power accessories including EMI-tested power management accessories designed to safeguard soldiers' equipment.
• Engineering Services Full life-cycle engineering services spanning science and engineering, prototype development, test and evaluation, worldwide supply chain management, and clinical and volume manufacturing. Covers Mission Assurance processes from design through field support for defense and aerospace customers.
• Merlin-2 Radio Power Adapter Battlefield-ready uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for tactical radios. Draws from BX-XX90 series batteries; supports hot-swap mid-mission with zero crypto-fill loss; runs on AC, DC, solar, or battery power; housed in sealed desert-tan MIL-STD-certified shell.

Quantifiable outcome

• 14,000+ QP-1800 inverter systems delivered to military forces
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Ultralife CorporationcoreTechnology or Integration · 18 May 2026Partnership to optimize Iris Technology's Power HIVE (Hub for Integrated Versatile Energy) mission power node around Ultralife's UBI-2590 UBBL13-01 battery, delivering 288Wh of energy with 15V/30V flexible operation for tactical edge applications. The platform combines multiple BB-2590 class batteries into a regulated 28V power distribution system with hot-swap capability and real-time telemetry for military users. Prototype units are in test and evaluation.
• PreisscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2026Joint launch of nation's first off-campus student housing community in the US with complete mobile wallet access at The Collective at Norman. Preiss provides the student housing development while Iris provides the mobile wallet access technology.
• JPL (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2024Collaboration on NASA's Europa Clipper mission's MISE (Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa) instrument, developing specialized flight cryocooler electronics for Lockheed Martin's micro cooler to regulate infrared sensor temperature.
• SwRI (Southwest Research Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2024Collaboration on NASA's Europa Clipper mission's MASPEX (MAss Spectrometer for Planetary EXploration) instrument, utilizing Ricor K508 cooler with Iris cryocooler electronics to maintain cold trap for sample analysis.
• Lockheed MartincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrime contractor for Europa Clipper mission; Iris supports through cryocooler electronics for MISE instrument's micro cooler system.
• LeidoscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Space Development Agency's Tranche II program for National Defense Space Architecture, delivering advanced ICE-G2-200I systems and cryocoolers for satellite networks.
• Northrop GrummancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Space Development Agency's Tranche II program, contributing to defense and communication capabilities in orbit for space network.
• L3Harris TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner for U.S. Space Force's Medium Earth Orbit Missile Warning and Tracking program; Iris provides ICE-G2-200IL cryocooler control electronics for satellite constellation cooling systems.
• AFRL (Air Force Research Laboratory)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Coherent on advanced imaging system for cislunar space supporting AFRL's ORACLE program, extending U.S. space awareness beyond geosynchronous orbit.
• CoherentcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartner with AFRL and Iris on advanced imaging system for cislunar space monitoring.
• NASA Goddard Space Flight CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured in NASA's COSI (Compton Spectrometer and Imager) Small Explorer mission; Iris provides Single Piston Low-Cost Cryocooler Control Electronics for thermal management of high-purity germanium detectors.
• Berkeley SSL (Space Sciences Laboratory)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNASA mission partner for COSI mission where Iris CCE technology provides thermal management for space science instruments.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mercury Systems: Mercury Systems designs and manufactures mission-critical defense electronics — including ruggedized processing, RF, and sensor subsystems — for aerospace and defense primes. It is the closest publicly traded analog to Iris's portfolio of TRL-9, MIL-STD-qualified electronics sold into DoD and prime platforms.
• Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions: Curtiss-Wright supplies ruggedized electronic subsystems, power systems, and mission-critical components to defense and aerospace customers, including space and tactical platforms. Its defense electronics and power management businesses overlap directly with Iris's ICE-G2 and tactical power product lines.
• Ball Aerospace (BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems): Ball Aerospace, now part of BAE Systems, builds space-based instruments, focal plane electronics, and spacecraft avionics. Its work on imaging instruments and space payloads overlaps with Iris's Sotira FPIE and ICE-G2 control electronics for NASA and DoD missions.

Others

• Ricor: Ricor manufactures cryocoolers and cryogenic coolers for space and defense applications. Iris is a complementary supplier that builds the cryocooler control electronics driving Ricor coolers (e.g., on Europa Clipper's MASPEX), making Ricor a directly adjacent ecosystem peer.
• Thales Alenia Space: Thales is a partner on the LPT 6510 Space Cryocooler where Iris validates CCE performance. As a major European space electronics and systems supplier, Thales Alenia Space is an adjacent ecosystem participant with overlapping space electronics capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• Lockheed Martin Space: Lockheed Martin is a major prime contractor and Iris customer on Europa Clipper. While much larger, its Space business touches overlapping subsystems (spacecraft avionics, sensor payloads), making it a broad incumbent rather than a head-to-head competitor.
• Northrop Grumman: Northrop Grumman is an Iris partner on SDA Tranche II and operates across space and missile warning. It is a broad incumbent in mission-critical aerospace electronics, overlapping in adjacent subsystem categories.
• L3Harris Technologies: L3Harris is a prime contractor for U.S. Space Force's MEO Missile Warning program and an Iris customer. It is a broad incumbent in space and defense electronics with overlapping capabilities in sensor payloads and mission systems.
• Teledyne Technologies: Teledyne manufactures infrared sensors and imaging components that integrate with Iris's Sotira FPIE. As a much larger diversified supplier of defense and aerospace electronics, it is a broad incumbent and an ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor.
• Honeywell Aerospace: Honeywell Aerospace produces avionics, control electronics, and power systems for aircraft and spacecraft. While broader in scope, its control electronics and aerospace power businesses are adjacent to Iris's ICE-G2 and tactical power product lines.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iris-technology
• Xx.com/iristechnology
• Facebookfacebook.com/177988038907179

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Iris Technologies