Astron Aerospace
Astron Aerospace is a privately held Derby, Kansas-based company developing the H2 Starfire, an 82-part hydrogen-fueled multi-fuel engine licensed to OEMs across automotive, aerospace, marine, recreational vehicle, and power generation markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersDerby, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Astron Aerospace does
Astron Aerospace, LLC is a privately held engineering company based in Derby, Kansas, developing the H2 Starfire Engine, a hydrogen-fueled, multi-fuel internal combustion engine technology. The engine comprises 82 total parts including nuts, bolts, and washers, operates in a 600cc configuration capable of exceeding 5000 RPMs, and runs primarily on hydrogen with water as a complementary fuel. The technology is positioned for use in automotive, aerospace, marine, recreational vehicle, and stationary power generation markets, with company-stated claims of 200% efficiency and 100% power improvements versus conventional engines at 50% of the weight and cost.
The firm operates a B2B OEM licensing model: Astron licenses the H2 Starfire technology to manufacturers rather than building or selling finished engines, and pricing is not publicly disclosed but characterized as 'extraordinarily inexpensive' to encourage OEM adoption. Distribution is exclusively OEM-embedded, with the company actively soliciting OEM partnership applications and offering facility demonstrations. IP protection is pursued through multiple patent disclosures, provisional applications, and pending patent grants filed domestically and internationally in China, Korea, India, and other major manufacturing regions.
Astron is led by Founder, CEO, President, and Chairman Matthew Riley. The leadership team includes Chris Theodore (the 'Father of the Ford GT') as Executive Technical Expert, retired NASA engineer George Salazar, Global EVP Yogesh Umbarkar (previously of Ricardo, Cummins, and Caepro), and CFO Daniel Johnson. The organization employs 11–50 people, has no disclosed institutional investors or external parent company, and has no disclosed revenue or customers at this stage.
Astron Aerospace firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Astron Aerospace
- Legal name
- Astron Aerospace, LLC
- Website
- https://astronaerospace.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Astron Aerospace is a privately held Derby, Kansas-based company developing the H2 Starfire, an 82-part hydrogen-fueled multi-fuel engine licensed to OEMs across automotive, aerospace, marine, recreational vehicle, and power generation markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Astron Aerospace industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Engine Technology / Hydrogen Propulsion
- NAICS
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641), Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413)
- SIC
- Aircraft Engines & Engine Parts (3724), Engines & Turbines (3510)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Turbofan Engines (IMABADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Hybrid Powertrain Integration Manufacturing (ICE-HEV/PHEV modules) (IMACAHAJ)
Keywords
Where Astron Aerospace is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Derby
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Astron Aerospace business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Technology Licensing: Astron Aerospace licenses its H2 Starfire engine technology to OEM manufacturers. The company describes licensing costs as 'extraordinarily inexpensive' to facilitate broad adoption across engine markets including automotive, aerospace, marine, recreational vehicles, and power generation.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Astron Aerospace product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Astron Aerospace develops and licenses the H2 Starfire Engine, a hydrogen-fueled multi-fuel internal combustion engine made of 82 parts that reaches 5000+ RPMs in a 600 cc configuration. The technology is targeted at OEM manufacturers across automotive, aerospace, marine, recreational vehicle, and power generation markets, with licensing positioned as low-cost to drive broad adoption.
Product overview
Astron Aerospace offers a single unified product — the H2 Starfire Engine — a revolutionary hydrogen-powered multi-fuel internal combustion engine technology. The company is primarily a hardware technology firm focused on engine development rather than software platforms. The H2 Starfire Engine is designed to disrupt multiple engine markets including automotive, aerospace, marine, recreational vehicles, and power generation. The technology is protected by multiple patents and patent applications filed domestically and internationally.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- H2 Starfire: Advanced hydrogen-powered multi-fuel engine technology with claims of 200% more efficiency than conventional engines, 100% more power, and 50% of the weight. The technology is protected by multiple patent disclosures and pending patent grants filed domestically and internationally.
Products and services
- H2 Starfire Engine A hydrogen-fueled multi-fuel internal combustion engine technology made up of only 82 parts, capable of 5000+ RPMs in a 600 cc configuration, with claims of zero harmful emissions, higher efficiency, and an unrivaled power-to-weight ratio. It is designed for OEM integration in automotive, aerospace, marine, recreational vehicle, and power generation applications, including as a range extender for electric vehicles.
Quantifiable outcome
- 200% more efficiency compared to conventional engines (Ford, GM, Tesla)
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Astron Aerospace
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Astron Aerospace technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Astron Aerospace partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Astron Aerospace competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Cummins Inc. Cummins is a global leader in diesel and alternative-fuel engines for on-highway, off-highway, marine, and power generation — directly overlapping several of Astron's target verticals and competing on hydrogen-fueled powertrains.
- Toyota Motor Corporation: Toyota is a global automotive OEM with an active hydrogen internal combustion engine development program (hydrogen Corolla), making it both a potential licensee and the most consequential competitor for Astron's automotive hydrogen ICE licensing thesis.
- BMW Group: BMW has publicly tested hydrogen ICE powertrains (e.g., hydrogen 7-series, iX5 Hydrogen) and is pursuing multi-fuel propulsion strategies, directly overlapping Astron's automotive hydrogen-ICE positioning.
- Pratt & Whitney: Pratt & Whitney is a major aerospace engine OEM with active hydrogen and sustainable aviation propulsion programs, positioning it as the dominant aerospace propulsion incumbent Astron would need to displace or partner with.
- BRP Inc. (Rotax): BRP/Rotax is the dominant supplier of engines for recreational vehicles (snowmobiles, watercraft, side-by-sides) — one of Astron's named target verticals — and a likely OEM partner or competitor for RV engine integration.
Others
- Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies: Hydrogenious develops hydrogen carriers and infrastructure solutions, adjacent to Astron's hydrogen ICE business because real-world adoption depends on hydrogen logistics that companies like this are building out.
Emerging players
- Wright Electric: Wright Electric is an emerging player focused on electric and hydrogen-compatible propulsion for commercial aviation, addressing the same aerospace propulsion-disruption opportunity Astron targets.
- HIF Global: HIF Global is developing e-fuels and hydrogen fuel infrastructure that could either compete with or enable hydrogen ICE applications like Astron's, particularly in the aerospace and heavy transport markets.
- ZeroAvia: ZeroAvia is developing hydrogen-electric powertrains for aviation, sharing Astron's hydrogen-propulsion thesis for the aerospace market but pursuing fuel-cell electric rather than hydrogen ICE architecture.
Regional players
- Bombardier Recreational Products: BRP (NA-dominant recreational vehicle OEM) overlaps with Astron's recreational-vehicle end-market thesis and could be a target OEM licensing partner.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Astron Aerospace social profiles
Digital presenceAstron Aerospace financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Astron Aerospace leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Astron Aerospace funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Astron Aerospace 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 Astron Aerospace
What does Astron Aerospace do?
Astron Aerospace develops and licenses the H2 Starfire Engine, a hydrogen-fueled multi-fuel internal combustion engine made of 82 parts that reaches 5000+ RPMs in a 600 cc configuration. The technology is targeted at OEM manufacturers across automotive, aerospace, marine, recreational vehicle, and power generation markets, with licensing positioned as low-cost to drive broad adoption.
Is Astron Aerospace a public or private company?
Astron Aerospace is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Astron Aerospace founded?
Astron Aerospace was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Astron Aerospace based?
Astron Aerospace is headquartered in Derby, United States, in the North America region.
How does Astron Aerospace make money?
One revenue line is on record: technology Licensing.
Who are Astron Aerospace's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Cummins Inc., Toyota Motor Corporation, BMW Group, Pratt & Whitney and BRP Inc. (Rotax). Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies is listed as an others. Emerging players are Wright Electric, HIF Global and ZeroAvia. Bombardier Recreational Products is listed as a regional player.
Does Astron Aerospace have an API?
No public API is recorded for Astron Aerospace.
What industry is Astron Aerospace in?
Astron Aerospace's product category is Engine Technology / Hydrogen Propulsion. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABADAA, Turbofan Engines, with a secondary code of IMACAHAJ, Hybrid Powertrain Integration Manufacturing (ICE-HEV/PHEV modules). Its NAICS code is 33641 and its SIC code is 3724.