Mettle Ops
Mettle Ops is a woman-owned, veteran-led defense engineering firm providing program management, prototyping, ground vehicle design, armor systems, and electrical components to U.S. Department of Defense customers, with a mission focus on soldier survivability and force protection.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersMadison Heights, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Mettle Ops does
Mettle Ops is a privately-held, woman-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned defense engineering services company founded in 2013 by CEO Katie Bigelow, a decorated Army Aviator. Headquartered in Sterling Heights, Michigan, with additional AS9100 Rev D-certified facilities in Madison Heights, MI and a regional office in Huntsville, AL opened in September 2025, the firm provides program management, research and development, prototyping (including 3D printing), ground vehicle design and integration, system integration, and small-batch manufacturing to the U.S. Department of Defense, with an explicit focus on soldier survivability, force protection, and legacy system modernization.
The company's core product is Reactive Armor Tiles for military ground vehicles, supplemented by the Complex Threat Attack Protection (CTAP) prototype program covering vehicle structure, armor, interior protection, and signature management, Tactical Engagement Simulation Systems (TESS) support, and — following the February 2026 acquisition of Bay Electronics — wiring harnesses, cable assemblies, ground straps, and electrical leads supplied to government procurement offices and military contractors. Technical differentiation rests on in-house prototyping and manufacturing capabilities, AS9100 Rev D quality certification, NIST SP 800-171 compliance, and a deep stack of small-business set-aside designations (SBA 8(a) through 2027, SDVOSB, WBE, WOSB, CVE, VOSB).
Mettle Ops generates revenue exclusively through U.S. federal defense contracting vehicles — firm-fixed-price production contracts, IDIQ/MAC task orders, Other Transaction Agreements via NSTXL, and a GSA Schedule (47QRAA18D00C5). The firm is sole-prime on marquee awards such as the $87.4M Reactive Armor Tiles production contract and leads the Fortress Alliance consortium supporting the Missile Defense Agency's SHIELD program; it also holds positions on multi-award vehicles including the $910M Equipment Related Services MAC and the $921.1M TESS contract. Distribution is direct-to-government with relationship-driven business development across Army, Marine Corps, and MDA program offices, concentrated entirely in the U.S. domestic market.
Mettle Ops firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Mettle Ops
- Legal name
- Bigelow Family Holdings LLC
- Website
- https://mettleops.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Mettle Ops is a woman-owned, veteran-led defense engineering firm providing program management, prototyping, ground vehicle design, armor systems, and electrical components to U.S. Department of Defense customers, with a mission focus on soldier survivability and force protection.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Mettle Ops industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Defense Engineering Services
- NAICS
- Military Armored Vehicle, Tank, and Tank Component Manufacturing (336992)
- SIC
- Ordnance & Accessories, (No Vehicles/Guided Missiles) (3480), Services-Engineering Services (8711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Defense Acquisition, Procurement & Contracting (BPAIAHAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Turrets, Remote Weapon Stations (RWS) & Armament Integration (IMABAJAI)
Keywords
Where Mettle Ops is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Madison Heights
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Mettle Ops business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Government Contracts - Production: Firm-fixed-price contracts for production of military equipment including Reactive Armor Tiles. One-time delivery contracts with defined specifications.
- Government Contracts - Engineering Services: OTA and IDIQ contracts for research, development, prototyping, and engineering services supporting ground vehicle systems and soldier survivability programs.
- IDIQ/MAC Contracts: Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contracts allowing government customers to issue task orders as needed. Revenue recognized as task orders are competed and awarded.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Government contracting - pricing determined per contract specifications |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Mettle Ops product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Mettle Ops provides defense engineering services and manufactured products to the U.S. Department of Defense, including program management, R&D, ground vehicle design and integration, and production of military equipment such as Reactive Armor Tiles. Through its wholly-owned Bay Electronics subsidiary, it supplies wiring harnesses, cable assemblies, and other electrical components to government procurement offices and military contractors. The firm supports programs including the CTAP prototype, TESS simulation systems, and the SHIELD missile defense program through the Fortress Alliance consortium.
Product overview
Mettle Ops is a defense engineering firm offering a portfolio of products and services centered on soldier survivability and force lethality. The core product offering includes Reactive Armor Tiles for military ground vehicles. Through the acquisition of Bay Electronics, they provide electrical components including wiring harnesses and cable assemblies. Service offerings span ground vehicle design and integration, R&D and manufacturing (including 3D printing), program management, and the CTAP prototype project for Army vehicle protection systems. Through the Fortress Alliance consortium, they support the SHIELD missile defense program with layered defense capabilities. The company operates AS9100 Rev D certified facilities and holds multiple SBA certifications including 8(a), SDVOSB, and WBE status.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Reactive Armor Tiles Explosive reactive armor tiles designed for installation on military ground vehicles to provide enhanced protection against ballistic threats and improvised explosive devices, improving soldier survivability on the battlefield. Produced for U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal.
- Bay Electronics Electrical Components Wiring harnesses, cable assemblies, ground straps, electrical leads, and various electrical components supplied to government procurement offices and military contractors, supporting ground vehicle and defense systems electrical infrastructure. Offered through the Bay Electronics subsidiary acquired in February 2026.
- Ground Vehicle Design and Integration Design and integration services for ground vehicles, including cutting-edge software integration and rigorous testing tailored to client requirements, intended to enhance force lethality and survivability for U.S. Department of Defense customers.
- R&D and Manufacturing Advanced research, 3D printing, and manufacturing capabilities that enhance performance and extend the lifespan of military platforms, supporting program development from concept through production for DoD customers.
- Program Management Coordination across subcontractors, procurement, and logistics to ensure efficient execution of defense programs and government contracts for U.S. DoD customers.
- Tactical Engagement Simulation Systems (TESS) Support
Quantifiable outcome
- Team grew by over 20% in 2024
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Mettle Ops
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Mettle Ops technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Mettle Ops partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.
- Bay ElectronicscoreAcquisition of Bay Electronics of Roseville, MI. Bay Electronics has provided wiring harnesses, cable assemblies, ground straps, electrical leads and other electrical components to government procurement offices and military contractors for over 50 years. Bay Electronics will operate as a subsidiary maintaining all leadership, staff, and workflows.
- Longshot Space TechnologiescorePart of Fortress Alliance led by Mettle Ops to support the U.S. Army Missile Defense Agency's SHIELD program for layered defense capabilities. Longshot brings specialized space technology expertise to the consortium.
- CelestuscoreMember of Fortress Alliance consortium supporting SHIELD missile defense program, contributing to rapid integration and operational relevance of layered defense capabilities.
- InnodatasupportingTechnology partner in Fortress Alliance providing data and integration capabilities for SHIELD missile defense program.
- BlueRidge NetworkssupportingTechnology partner in Fortress Alliance contributing network and secure communications expertise for missile defense integration.
- STC (Systems & Technology Corporation)supportingStrategic partner in Fortress Alliance supporting SHIELD program with technology integration services.
- Edge CasesupportingTechnology partner in Fortress Alliance providing autonomous systems and edge computing expertise for missile defense applications.
- VelontrasupportingStrategic partner in Fortress Alliance contributing to rapid integration and delivery of layered defense capabilities for SHIELD program.
- Athena TechnologiesminorPart of 10-company consortium awarded positions on U.S. Army Tactical Engagement Simulation Systems (TESS) $921.1M contract for laser-based live simulation training tools.
- Cole Engineering ServicesminorPart of 10-company consortium on TESS contract for simulation technology maintenance.
- Cubic DefenseminorPart of TESS contract consortium alongside major defense contractors for simulation training systems.
- General Dynamics Mission SystemsminorMajor defense contractor partner in TESS simulation technology maintenance contract.
- Lockheed MartinminorMajor defense contractor partner in TESS contract for tactical engagement simulation systems.
- Ravenswood SolutionsminorPart of TESS contract consortium for simulation technology maintenance.
- SaabminorInternational defense company partner in TESS simulation systems contract.
- Vertex AerospaceminorPart of TESS contract consortium for simulation technology support.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Mettle Ops competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Riptide Autonomous Solutions: Riptide is a small, fast-growing defense technology firm delivering autonomous unmanned systems and sensors to DoD — adjacent to Mettle Ops' ground vehicle, UAS, and missile defense modernization pursuits and comparable in scale and growth profile.
- Camgian Microsystems: Camgian is a smaller, R&D-heavy defense tech firm working on sensing, autonomy, and edge computing for Army and Missile Defense Agency applications — areas that intersect with the Fortress Alliance's SHIELD scope and Mettle Ops' emerging missile defense focus.
Broad incumbents
- Parsons Corporation: Parsons is a publicly traded defense and infrastructure contractor with significant Army and MDA engineering, integration, and sustainment work. Competes for similar ground vehicle and missile defense task orders but as a much larger incumbent.
- Leidos: Leidos is a top-tier DoD systems integrator and engineering services prime with deep Army and missile defense programs (including MDA work). Overlaps with Mettle Ops on ground vehicle, soldier protection, and MDA-aligned engineering services but at prime-contractor scale.
- SAIC: SAIC is a large publicly traded federal services and IT integrator serving U.S. Army, MDA, and DoD customers across engineering, integration, and program management — directly overlapping Mettle Ops' ground vehicle and missile defense work but at vastly greater scale.
Direct peers
- DCS Corporation: DCS Corporation is a privately held defense engineering services firm headquartered in Alexandria, VA with similar size and business model — providing engineering, program management, and technical support to U.S. Army and DoD customers, often through similar IDIQ and OTA vehicles. The two are directly comparable in capability profile (soldier/ground vehicle systems engineering) and customer set.
- COLSA Corporation: COLSA is a Huntsville, AL-based defense contractor that provides engineering, IT, and program management services to the Army, Missile Defense Agency, and other DoD customers from a comparable scale base. Its proximity to Redstone Arsenal and overlap with Mettle Ops' customer set (MDA, Army Materiel Command) make it a closely comparable direct peer.
- Applied Research Associates (ARA): ARA is an employee-owned defense engineering firm with deep expertise in survivability, armor, weapons effects, and soldier protection — directly overlapping Mettle Ops' Reactive Armor Tiles and CTAP work. Comparable in size, R&D orientation, and DoD engineering services model.
- Battelle Memorial Institute: Battelle is a large nonprofit R&D organization that manages and operates DoD engineering centers (including the Ground Vehicle Systems Center) and provides soldier survivability, ground vehicle, and armor R&D work that closely mirrors Mettle Ops' CTAP and Reactive Armor Tiles activities.
Others
- General Dynamics Land Systems: GDLS is the prime OEM for U.S. Army armored combat vehicles (Abrams, Stryker, Bradley) and a likely Mettle Ops customer/partner on Reactive Armor Tiles and CTAP programs. Adjacent rather than directly competitive, but a key ecosystem participant in the same ground vehicle protection space.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Mettle Ops social profiles
Digital presenceMettle Ops compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance9 records
Mettle Ops financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Mettle Ops leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Mettle Ops subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Mettle Ops funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Mettle Ops 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 Mettle Ops
What does Mettle Ops do?
Mettle Ops provides defense engineering services and manufactured products to the U.S. Department of Defense, including program management, R&D, ground vehicle design and integration, and production of military equipment such as Reactive Armor Tiles. Through its wholly-owned Bay Electronics subsidiary, it supplies wiring harnesses, cable assemblies, and other electrical components to government procurement offices and military contractors. The firm supports programs including the CTAP prototype, TESS simulation systems, and the SHIELD missile defense program through the Fortress Alliance consortium.
Is Mettle Ops a public or private company?
Mettle Ops is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Mettle Ops founded?
Mettle Ops was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Mettle Ops based?
Mettle Ops is headquartered in Madison Heights, United States, in the North America region.
How does Mettle Ops make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Government Contracts - Production is the primary driver. The others are government Contracts - Engineering Services and IDIQ/MAC Contracts.
Who are Mettle Ops's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Riptide Autonomous Solutions and Camgian Microsystems. Broad incumbents are Parsons Corporation, Leidos and SAIC. Direct peers are DCS Corporation, COLSA Corporation, Applied Research Associates (ARA) and Battelle Memorial Institute. General Dynamics Land Systems is listed as an others.
Does Mettle Ops have an API?
No public API is recorded for Mettle Ops.
What industry is Mettle Ops in?
Mettle Ops's product category is Defense Engineering Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAHAB, Defense Acquisition, Procurement & Contracting, with a secondary code of IMABAJAI, Turrets, Remote Weapon Stations (RWS) & Armament Integration. Its NAICS code is 336992 and its SIC code is 3480.