FEI-Zyfer
FEI-Zyfer designs and manufactures GPS time and frequency synchronization systems — featuring SAASM/M-Code military receivers and Rubidium or OCXO oscillators — for U.S. Department of Defense, allied militaries, and commercial communications customers requiring precision timing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1981
- HeadquartersGarden Grove, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What FEI-Zyfer does
FEI-Zyfer, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Frequency Electronics, Inc. (NASDAQ:FEIM) and operates as the GPS and secure timing division of its parent, designing and manufacturing GPS time and frequency synchronization systems for U.S. Department of Defense, allied militaries, and commercial communications customers. The company is headquartered in Garden Grove, California, was incorporated as Zyfer Inc. in 1999 (with lineage tracing back to Odetics Telecom in the mid-1980s), and was formed into FEI-Zyfer when parent Frequency Electronics — founded in 1961 — acquired Zyfer to combine precision quartz oscillator technology with GPS timing expertise.
The product portfolio centers on modular and compact GPS time/frequency systems, including the CommSync II (3U/2U redundant modular chassis), GSync and GSync II (1U/2U systems), and NanoSync IV (compact PNT and frequency reference) families. Products integrate military-grade SAASM/M-Code GPS receivers (Rockwell-Collins MPE-S GB-GRAM, Trimble Force 22E MRU) or commercial C/A GPS with Rubidium or OCXO oscillators, achieving frequency accuracy of 1E-12 and time accuracy of <50ns peak to UTC. Differentiated capabilities include proprietary acceleration-compensated (g-comp) oscillator technology inherited from Frequency Electronics for harsh dynamic environments, advanced holdover algorithms, JASA V3 Annex 1 TFNG compliance for electronic warfare, and 100+ hot-swappable option modules supporting NTP, PTPv2 IEEE-1588, IRIG, HAVE QUICK, and PTTI protocols. Manufacturing is AS9100D and ISO 9001:2015 certified in the USA.
The business model is project-based defense contract manufacturing plus COTS and custom product sales, generating revenue through formal U.S. government procurement (Defense Logistics Agency, direct DoD program offices, FAA) and a regional sales representative network covering all 50 U.S. states and international territories. Individual contract awards typically range from $3-12 million with 18-36 month delivery schedules, and the parent company's reported backlog of approximately $70-82 million indicates multi-year revenue visibility. Customers are concentrated in U.S. federal defense and aerospace programs including Patriot Missile support, airborne avionics (assured-PNT/Alt-PNT), missile command and control, FAA WAAS, and Office of Naval Research atomic clock development.
FEI-Zyfer firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- FEI-Zyfer
- Legal name
- FEI-Zyfer, Inc.
- Website
- https://fei-zyfer.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1981
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- FEI-Zyfer designs and manufactures GPS time and frequency synchronization systems — featuring SAASM/M-Code military receivers and Rubidium or OCXO oscillators — for U.S. Department of Defense, allied militaries, and commercial communications customers requiring precision timing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
FEI-Zyfer industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Precision Timing and Frequency Equipment
- NAICS
- Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Oscillators & Frequency Standards (OCXO/Rubidium/Cesium/Chip-Scale Atomic) (HDAFAKAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Frequency Control Components (Quartz Crystals/Oscillators/Resonators) (HDAHANAF), Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) Electronics for Weapons (IMABAGAH)
Keywords
Where FEI-Zyfer is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Garden Grove
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
FEI-Zyfer business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Defense Contract Manufacturing: FEI-Zyfer generates revenue through awarded defense contracts for Assured-PNT products including secure communications systems and time/frequency/synchronization distribution systems. Contracts range from approximately $3-12 million and cover mission-critical military applications such as tactical data link communication systems, aircraft signal distribution systems, and airborne avionics equipment. Revenue is project-based with delivery schedules extending 18-36 months.
- COTS and Custom Product Sales: Sale of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) GPS time and frequency systems along with custom-designed solutions. Products include modular timing systems (CommSync II, GSync), compact timing systems (NanoSync IV), and related option modules. Customers include military, government, and commercial organizations requiring precision timing solutions.
- Follow-on Orders and Change Orders: Existing contracts generate follow-on orders and change orders as customers expand or modify requirements. Recent examples include approximately $4.8 million in follow-on change orders for advanced airborne timing systems supporting U.S. defense programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Defense/government procurement |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
FEI-Zyfer product offering
Product offeringCore offering
FEI-Zyfer designs, manufactures, and sells GPS-based precision time and frequency reference systems in modular rack-mounted (CommSync II, GSync) and compact (NanoSync IV) form factors. Products integrate military-grade SAASM/M-Code or commercial C/A GPS receivers with Rubidium or OCXO oscillators, supporting 100+ output option modules. The company also delivers custom and OEM timing solutions for defense, communications, public safety, and network synchronization applications.
Product overview
FEI-Zyfer offers a comprehensive portfolio of GPS time and frequency systems available in three primary form factors: rack-mounted modular systems (CommSync II family in 3U and 2U chassis, GSync family in 1U and 2U chassis), compact timing systems (NanoSync IV family), and custom/OEM solutions. All products support both commercial C/A GPS and military SAASM/M-Code GPS receivers, with Quartz (OCXO) or Rubidium oscillator options. The modular systems feature hot-swappable I/O slots with 100+ option modules including frequency outputs, time modules, reference modules, and PTPv2 Ethernet modules. Products are designed, manufactured, and supported in the USA with AS9100D and ISO9001:2015 certification. The company also provides complete antenna kits, amplifiers, and cables for GPS signal reception.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CommSync II Model 385 Fully-redundant modular time and frequency system combining dual GPS receivers, oscillators, and up to 13 output option modules in a 3U chassis. Provides frequency accuracy of 1E-12 and time accuracy of < 50 ns Peak to UTC. Designed for defense and communications applications.
- CommSync II-D Model 407 2U redundant modular time and frequency system delivering CommSync II performance with 8 I/O module slots and 200+ available option modules. Features dual GPS reference and dual power inputs for full redundancy.
- GSync Model 391 1U compact chassis GPS Time and Frequency system with Quartz or Rubidium oscillator options and commercial C/A GPS or military SAASM/M-Code receiver options.
- GSync II Model 402 2U version of the GSync modular system providing GPS time and frequency outputs with multiple input and output modules including 1PPS, IRIG, HAVE QUICK, PTTI, IEEE-1588 PTPv2, and low phase noise outputs.
- NanoSync IV Model 424 Compact GPS Position, Navigation, Time (PNT) and Frequency reference system with NTP and PTPv2 IEEE 1588-2008 support. Features Rubidium oscillator with civilian C/A GPS or SAASM/M-Code receiver options.
- NanoSync IV Compact Grandmaster Clock Small form factor GPS PNT and Frequency reference system in a rugged enclosure for embedded electronic warfare applications. JASA V3 Annex 1 TFNG compliant for EW COMINT and ELINT applications.
- Antenna Kits, Amplifiers and Cables Complete GPS antenna solutions including Standard L1, Ruggedized L1/L2, and L1/L2 Conical Choke Ring Antenna Kits; 20 dB L1/L2 amplifiers; and antenna cables in various lengths with TNC-type connectors.
- Custom and OEM Timing Solutions Custom timing solutions for customers requiring non-standard configurations, with proven record of delivering quality solutions quickly for both military and commercial customers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Frequency accuracy of 1E-12 when locked to GPS (24-hour average)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use FEI-Zyfer
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
FEI-Zyfer technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
FEI-Zyfer partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators8 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
FEI-Zyfer competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Leonardo DRS: Defense electronics manufacturer with portfolio covering tactical communications, navigation, and EW subsystems. Competes with FEI-Zyfer's secure timing and signal distribution products in DoD airborne and ground programs.
- Northrop Grumman: Builds mission-critical secure communications, signals intelligence, and PNT systems (including JASA-compliant airborne platforms). Competes and partners with FEI-Zyfer in the high-end EW/PNT avionics subsystem market.
- L3Harris Technologies: Large defense prime building SAASM/M-Code GPS receivers, secure communications, and EW systems that integrate precision timing. Overlaps with FEI-Zyfer at the subsystem level in airborne and ground-mobile programs.
- Trimble: Trimble supplies GPS receivers (including the Force 22E MRU that FEI-Zyfer integrates) and broader GNSS/PNT solutions across defense, construction, and geospatial. Not a direct timing-system competitor but an upstream supplier and adjacent PNT market incumbent.
- Rockwell Collins (RTX/Collins Aerospace): Supplies the MPE-S GB-GRAM SAASM GPS receiver that FEI-Zyfer integrates; broader Collins avionics portfolio competes in tactical communications, EW, and airborne PNT subsystem markets served by FEI-Zyfer.
- Raytheon (RTX): Major defense prime integrating secure timing, PNT, and communications subsystems into Patriot, missile defense, and airborne platforms. Operates as both a customer-adjacent and competitor-adjacent peer in the missile timing segment.
Regional players
- Quartzlock (UK): UK-based supplier of GPS-disciplined rubidium and quartz oscillators for defense and telecom. Comparable technology and use cases to FEI-Zyfer but primarily serves European and UK defense markets rather than U.S. DoD directly.
Direct peers
- Safran Electronics & Defense (Orolia): Safran acquired Orolia, a leading supplier of rubidium atomic clocks, GPS/GNSS-disciplined timing modules, and chip-scale atomic clocks (CSAC). Direct competitor in aerospace/defense precision timing, especially for GPS-denied/rugged applications.
- Jackson Labs Technologies: Niche competitor specializing in GPS/GNSS-disciplined oscillators, low SWaP-C timing boards, and military GPS time/frequency references. Competes head-on in the same defense timing module form factor segment as FEI-Zyfer.
- Microchip Technology (formerly Microsemi): Acquired Microsemi in 2018; the Microsemi Timing & Synchronization group offers GPS-disciplined rubidium and OCXO time servers (e.g., SyncServer) directly competing with FEI-Zyfer's CommSync/GSync product families in defense, telecom, and network sync markets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
FEI-Zyfer social profiles
Digital presenceFEI-Zyfer compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
FEI-Zyfer financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
FEI-Zyfer leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
FEI-Zyfer funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
FEI-Zyfer 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 FEI-Zyfer
What does FEI-Zyfer do?
FEI-Zyfer designs, manufactures, and sells GPS-based precision time and frequency reference systems in modular rack-mounted (CommSync II, GSync) and compact (NanoSync IV) form factors. Products integrate military-grade SAASM/M-Code or commercial C/A GPS receivers with Rubidium or OCXO oscillators, supporting 100+ output option modules. The company also delivers custom and OEM timing solutions for defense, communications, public safety, and network synchronization applications.
Is FEI-Zyfer a public or private company?
FEI-Zyfer is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was FEI-Zyfer founded?
FEI-Zyfer was founded in 1981.
Where is FEI-Zyfer based?
FEI-Zyfer is headquartered in Garden Grove, United States, in the North America region.
How does FEI-Zyfer make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Defense Contract Manufacturing is the primary driver. The others are COTS and Custom Product Sales and follow-on Orders and Change Orders.
Who are FEI-Zyfer's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Leonardo DRS, Northrop Grumman, L3Harris Technologies, Trimble, Rockwell Collins (RTX/Collins Aerospace) and Raytheon (RTX). Quartzlock (UK) is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Safran Electronics & Defense (Orolia), Jackson Labs Technologies and Microchip Technology (formerly Microsemi).
Does FEI-Zyfer have an API?
No public API is recorded for FEI-Zyfer.
What industry is FEI-Zyfer in?
FEI-Zyfer's product category is Precision Timing and Frequency Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAFAKAG, Oscillators & Frequency Standards (OCXO/Rubidium/Cesium/Chip-Scale Atomic), with a secondary code of HDAHANAF, Frequency Control Components (Quartz Crystals/Oscillators/Resonators). Its NAICS code is 33451 and its SIC code is 3812.