department13
Department 13 is an Australian privately-held company that designs and manufactures passive RF-based drone detection sensors (Scout), a cloud-based drone management platform (Atlas), a mobile counter-UAS system (DART), and a national drone detection subscription network (ADDN), serving defence, law enforcement, critical infrastructure, correctional, and event-security customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersColumbia, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
department13 firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- department13
- Legal name
- Department 13 Pty Ltd ACN 639 277 571
- Website
- https://department13.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Department 13 is an Australian privately-held company that designs and manufactures passive RF-based drone detection sensors (Scout), a cloud-based drone management platform (Atlas), a mobile counter-UAS system (DART), and a national drone detection subscription network (ADDN), serving defence, law enforcement, critical infrastructure, correctional, and event-security customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
department13 industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Counter-Drone / Drone Detection Systems
- NAICS
- Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Counter-UAS (C-UAS) Systems & Drone Defense (IMABAIAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Counter-UAS Detection Sensors & Integrated Sensor Suites (IMABAGAK), Autonomy Software, AI & Mission Management (UAS/UXV) (IMABAIAH), UAS Communications, Datalinks, SATCOM & Remote Control Systems (IMABAIAJ), UAS Integration, Certification & Compliance Systems (Remote ID, Detect-and-Avoid) (IMABAIAO)
Keywords
Where department13 is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Columbia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
department13 business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Hardware Product Sales: Sale of sensor systems (Scout), counter-drone platforms (DART), and related hardware. Products can be deployed permanently or temporarily based on customer needs.
- Software Platform Subscriptions: Atlas cloud-based drone management platform delivered as subscription service. Available as cloud-based or locally hosted air-gapped deployment.
- ADDN Subscription Data Feed: National drone detection network subscription service providing real-time data feeds from distributed sensors around major Australian cities.
- Professional Services: Implementation, support, and customization services for enterprise and government clients.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
department13 product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Department 13 designs, manufactures, and sells drone detection and counter-UAS hardware (Scout sensors, DART mobile counter-UAS platforms) paired with a cloud-based drone management software platform (Atlas) and operates a national subscription drone detection data network (ADDN). The technology uses passive RF detection and protocol manipulation rather than jamming or kinetic methods to identify, track, and mitigate unauthorized drones for defence, law enforcement, critical infrastructure, events, sensitive sites, and correctional facilities customers.
Product overview
Department 13 offers a comprehensive drone detection and counter-drone technology portfolio consisting of four core products: Scout (passive RF-based drone detection sensor), Atlas (cloud-based drone management platform and user interface), DART (mobile counter-UAS platform with detect and mitigate capabilities), and ADDN (Australian Drone Detection Network - a national subscription service). These products work together as an integrated ecosystem where Scout sensors feed data to Atlas for monitoring and management, DART provides mobile counter-drone capabilities, and ADDN offers a nationwide shared infrastructure network.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Scout: Passive RF-based drone detection sensor system that detects and tracks drones and controllers through unique radio signal detection.
- Atlas
- DART
- ADDN
Products and services
- Scout Passive radio frequency (RF) based drone detection system that detects and tracks drones and controllers by listening for unique radio signals and translating them into real-time intelligence. Supports omnidirectional coverage and permanent or temporary site deployment. Designed for defence, law enforcement, critical infrastructure, and event security customers.
- Atlas Cloud-based drone management platform facilitating live monitoring of all drone activity within an operational area, enabling differentiation between known and unknown drones, and delivering real-time situational awareness. Available as cloud-based or locally hosted air-gapped deployment with REST API integration. For enterprise and government security operators.
- DART Mobile platform-mounted RF-based counter-UAS system that detects, tracks, and mitigates drones and controllers through protocol manipulation techniques. Non-kinetic and non-jamming approach suitable for on-the-move or stationary applications. Built for defence and security operations.
- ADDN (Australian Drone Detection Network) Unified, real-time, intelligence-led national subscription network providing distributed drone detection coverage across major Australian cities, delivering a single real-time picture of drone activity without customers managing standalone infrastructure. Subscription data feed service for government and enterprise customers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Five-kilometer detection radius for drone threats
Companies that use department13
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
department13 technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability1 record
Feature5 records
department13 partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Leidos AustraliacoreCollaboration partner in Australian Defence Force's Project Land 156 counter-drone programme. Leidos Australia leads the project consortium.
- EOS AustraliacoreCollaboration partner in Australian Defence Force's Project Land 156 counter-drone programme.
- Acacia SystemscoreCollaboration partner in Australian Defence Force's Project Land 156 counter-drone programme.
- L3Harris TechnologiescoreCollaboration partner in Australian Defence Force's Project Land 156 counter-drone programme.
- EchodynecoreRadar technology partner providing radar systems for counter-drone operations. Collaboration on Australian Defence Force Land 156 programme and U.S. Marine Corps defense projects.
- Australian Defence ForcecorePrimary government customer and collaboration partner for counter-drone programs including Project Land 156.
- Global Network of Industry PartnerscoreSupported by a global network of industry partners for technology development and deployment.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
department13 competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Fortem Technologies: Counter-UAS company offering DroneHunter (kinetic interceptor) and SkyDome (detection/monitoring)—comparable C-UAS product portfolio addressing airspace protection for defence, airports, and stadiums.
- DroneShield: ASX-listed Australian counter-UAS vendor offering RF-based drone detection and soft-kill mitigation (DroneGun, RfPatrol, DroneSentry). Direct competitor in the same geography, customer segments (defence, law enforcement, critical infrastructure), and product category as Department 13.
- Dedrone: US-based counter-drone platform combining RF, radar, and camera sensors with a cloud management layer (DedroneTracker). Highly comparable to D13's Scout+Atlas architecture and the same defense/security/government buyer set.
- D-Fend Solutions: Counter-UAS vendor focused on RF cyber-takeover (non-jamming, non-kinetic) mitigation of drones—directly analogous to Department 13's DART protocol-manipulation approach and targeting similar defense, law enforcement, and airport customers.
- Blighter Surveillance Systems: UK-based radar and counter-drone detection provider whose multi-sensor C-UAS offerings compete with Scout and are sold into the same defence and critical-infrastructure tenders globally.
- Echodyne: US radar specialist whose meta-material radar is integrated into many C-UAS stacks, including alongside Department 13 on Land 156. A direct technology comparable and partner/competitor for radar-based drone detection.
- Liteye Systems: US counter-UAS integrator combining RF, radar, EO/IR, and kinetic effectors for defence and critical-infrastructure customers—comparable product breadth and customer base to Department 13.
- Black Sage Technologies: Counter-drone integrator distributing multi-sensor detection and mitigation solutions to defence and government end-users, with comparable sales motion and target buyer profile to Department 13.
Broad incumbents
- L3Harris Technologies: Major defense prime with a Counter-UAS portfolio (including the CORVUS-RAVEN family) and a Land 156 consortium partner alongside Department 13. Overlaps as a competitor in tier-1 defense C-UAS bids but offers a much broader portfolio.
- RTX (Raytheon): Global defense prime with significant counter-UAS capability (e.g., KuRFS radar, Coyote effector). Competes for the same large defense contracts that Department 13 and its partners target, but as part of a vastly broader aerospace and defense portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
department13 social profiles
Digital presencedepartment13 compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
department13 financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
department13 leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
department13 funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
department13 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 department13
What does department13 do?
Department 13 designs, manufactures, and sells drone detection and counter-UAS hardware (Scout sensors, DART mobile counter-UAS platforms) paired with a cloud-based drone management software platform (Atlas) and operates a national subscription drone detection data network (ADDN). The technology uses passive RF detection and protocol manipulation rather than jamming or kinetic methods to identify, track, and mitigate unauthorized drones for defence, law enforcement, critical infrastructure, events, sensitive sites, and correctional facilities customers.
Is department13 a public or private company?
department13 is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was department13 founded?
department13 was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is department13 based?
department13 is headquartered in Columbia, United States, in the North America region.
How does department13 make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Hardware Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are software Platform Subscriptions, ADDN Subscription Data Feed and professional Services.
Who are department13's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Fortem Technologies, DroneShield, Dedrone, D-Fend Solutions, Blighter Surveillance Systems, Echodyne, Liteye Systems and Black Sage Technologies. Broad incumbents are L3Harris Technologies and RTX (Raytheon).
Does department13 have an API?
Yes. Atlas provides full integrations into platforms through a RESTAPI reference, enabling users to build custom integrations and connect drone detection data with their existing systems.
What industry is department13 in?
department13's product category is Counter-Drone / Drone Detection Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAIAG, Counter-UAS (C-UAS) Systems & Drone Defense, with a secondary code of IMABAGAK, Counter-UAS Detection Sensors & Integrated Sensor Suites. Its NAICS code is 334511 and its SIC code is 3812.