What CPI Aerostructures does

CPI Aerostructures, Inc. (NYSE American: CVU), founded in 1980 and headquartered in Edgewood, New York, is a Tier 1/2 aerospace and defense manufacturer of complex structural assemblies, engine inlets, airborne pods, and related components. The company's product portfolio spans wing structures, nacelles/inlets, secondary structures, special structures (including B-52 radar racks), RF/EMI shielded enclosures, and NADCAP-certified welding services delivered through its Welding Metallurgy Inc. subsidiary, with Compac Development Corporation providing shielded enclosures. CPI Aero manufactures pod structures for the Raytheon Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band program and L3Harris Next Generation Jammer Low-Band program, engine inlet assemblies for Embraer Phenom 100EX and Phenom 300 business jets, F-16 Block 70/72 rudder/drag chute canisters, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye welded assemblies, and MH-60/UH-60M helicopter sustainment parts, while also serving as a prime contractor to the U.S. Air Force on T-38 modification kits.

The company makes money primarily through long-term, fixed-price and IDIQ defense contracts and OEM subcontracts, with revenue recognized over time on a percentage-of-completion basis. Approximately 80% of revenue is generated from subcontracts with U.S. defense prime contractors — Raytheon (38% of 2025 revenue), Sikorsky/Lockheed Martin (20%), and Lockheed Martin directly (11%) are the three largest — with the balance from commercial aerospace (Embraer), other primes (Northrop Grumman, Collins Aerospace, L3Harris), and direct DoD contracts (U.S. Air Force). The company operates a single primary manufacturing facility in Edgewood, NY with 192 full-time employees as of December 31, 2025, and held $504.5M in total backlog at year-end 2025 and $15.9M of debt (an all-time low) as of September 30, 2025.

Revenue contracted from $103.4M in 2021 to $69.3M in 2025 following the Boeing A-10 Program termination, but Q1 2026 showed recovery with revenue up 13% year-over-year and gross margin expanding from 10.7% to 25.8%, supported by a refreshed leadership team installed between 2022 and 2025, new program awards (NGJ-MB Lot 5, Raytheon missile wings, Embraer Phenom 100EX life-of-program), and a multi-year backlog.

Name

CPI Aerostructures

Legal name

CPI Aerostructures, Inc.

Website

https://cpiaero.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CPI Aerostructures (NYSE American: CVU) is a U.S. Tier 1/2 aerospace and defense manufacturer producing complex structural assemblies, engine inlets, and airborne EW/ISR pod structures for primes such as Raytheon, Lockheed Martin/Sikorsky, Northrop Grumman, L3Harris, and Embraer, plus direct U.S. Air Force modification-kit contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aerospace Structural Assemblies

NAICS

Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641), Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413), Aircraft Manufacturing (336411), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419)

SIC

Aircraft & Parts (3720), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

Military Aircraft Structures, Airframes & Composites (IMABAMAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Structural Assemblies & Integration (Airframe Subassemblies) (IMABAEAD), Civil/Commercial Helicopter Manufacturing (IMABABAA), Metal Airframe Structures & Machined Parts (IMABAEAC)

Keywords

• Aerospace structural assemblies
• Defense manufacturing services
• Airborne pod structures
• Military MRO services
• Aerospace welding fabrication

Headquarters

HQ city

Brentwood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Defense Prime Contracts: Direct contracts with U.S. Department of Defense (primarily Air Force) for structural assemblies, modification kits, and sustainment services. Approximately 80% of revenue is generated from subcontracts with defense prime contractors. Revenue recognized over time on percentage-of-completion basis.
2. Aerospace OEM Subcontracts: Tier 1 and Tier 2 subcontracts with major aerospace OEMs including Lockheed Martin, RTX Corporation/Raytheon, Sikorsky, Collins Aerospace, and Embraer for structural assemblies, pod systems, and component manufacturing.
3. Repair & Overhaul Services: MRO services for military helicopters including MH-60 Seahawk stabilator overhaul/repair and UH-60M Black Hawk gunner window assemblies. Growing strategic business segment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

CPI Aerostructures manufactures complex structural assemblies for the aerospace and defense market, including wing structures, engine inlets and nacelles, secondary structures, airborne ISR/electronic warfare pods, and special structures. The company operates as both a prime contractor to the U.S. Department of Defense and a Tier 1/Tier 2 subcontractor to defense primes and aerospace OEMs, producing tight-tolerance assemblies with NADCAP-certified welding capabilities, and providing MRO services for military helicopters and kitting/supply chain management.

Product overview

CPI Aerostructures is a manufacturer of structural assemblies for aerospace and defense markets. The company operates as both a Tier 1 supplier to aircraft OEMs and a Tier 2 subcontractor to major Tier 1 manufacturers, and is also a prime contractor to the U.S. Department of Defense. The product portfolio centers on core aerostructure capabilities including Wing Structures, Inlets/Nacelles, Secondary Structures, Pods, Special Structures, and WeldingMet (welding services). These are complemented by MRO services for helicopter sustainment and Kitting & Supply Chain services. Key products include engine inlet assemblies for Embraer Phenom jets, airborne pod structures for Next Generation Jammer programs, F-16 structural assemblies, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye welded assemblies, and RF/EMI shielded enclosures. The company serves major defense contractors including Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, Sikorsky, Collins Aerospace, L3Harris, and Embraer, providing complex structural assemblies, integrated systems, and repair services for fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and airborne ISR/EW platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wing Structures Manufactures wing structural assemblies for aircraft including the Gulfstream G650. Part of the core aerostructure product portfolio sold to aerospace OEMs.
• Inlets/Nacelles Produces engine inlet assemblies and nacelle components for business jets and military aircraft, including Embraer Phenom 100EX and Phenom 300 programs.
• Secondary Structures Manufactures secondary structural components for aircraft including stabilators, gunner windows, and drag chute assemblies for various military and commercial platforms.
• Pods Manufactures airborne pod structures for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and electronic warfare systems including Next Generation Jammer (NGJ), DB-110, MS-110, TacSAR, and ALMDS pods.
• Special Structures Produces specialized structural assemblies including radar rack structures for B-52 bomber modernization and other complex aerospace structures.
• MRO (Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul) Provides overhaul and repair services for helicopter components including outboard stabilator assemblies for MH-60 SEAHAWK and gunner window assemblies for UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters.
• Kitting & Supply Chain Provides kitting and supply chain management services including structural modification kits, program management, logistics, and sustainment services for T-38 aircraft programs.
• WeldingMet NADCAP-certified welding services for complex welded structural assemblies used on military helicopters and aircraft, including E-2D Advanced Hawkeye welded assemblies and fluid tank assemblies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Q1 2026 gross margin expanded to 25.8% from 10.7% year-over-year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• EmbraercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 June 2026Long-term supply agreement for Phenom 100EX and Phenom 300 business jet engine inlet assemblies. Over 1,900 inlets delivered for Phenom 300 program since 2012.
• Northrop GrummancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2026Welding Metallurgy Inc. subsidiary provides over 20 different welded structure assemblies for E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft through 2028. Also supplies ALMDS pod structures for Korean program.
• Collins Aerospace (Hamilton Sundstrand)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 March 2026Long-standing relationship for RF/EMI shielded enclosures through Compac Development Corporation subsidiary, and reconnaissance pod systems including DB/MS-110, MS-110, and TacSAR pods.
• L3Harris TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 December 2024First contract from L3Harris for Next Generation Jammer Low-Band (NGJ-LB) pod structures (up to $12.1M) supporting EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft. Award represents strategic expansion into new Tier 1 customer relationship.
• RTX Corporation / RaytheoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor strategic customer accounting for 38% of 2025 revenue. Multiple long-term programs including Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB) pod structures (up to $33.4M Lot 4, $42.3M Lot 5), missile wing assemblies, B-52 radar rack structures, and airborne pod systems.
• Lockheed MartincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic customer accounting for 11% of 2025 revenue. Multi-year IDIQ contract for F-16 Block 70/72 Rudder Island/Drag Chute Canister assemblies (up to $34.4M). Also receives programs through Sikorsky (Lockheed Martin subsidiary).
• Sikorsky (Lockheed Martin company)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor customer accounting for 20% of 2025 revenue. Five-year IDIQ contract for UH-60M Black Hawk gunner window assemblies and MH-60 SEAHAWK stabilator repair/overhaul services.
• U.S. Department of Defense / U.S. Air ForcecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrime contractor for T-38 Talon aircraft modification kits under multi-year IDIQ contract (up to $65.7M ceiling, $61.1M funded). Provides structural modification kits and sustainment services.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Triumph Group: Aerostructures and MRO provider serving the same commercial and military aerospace customers with similar structural assembly and aftermarket services. Comparable Tier 1 supplier model and product categories.
• Magellan Aerospace: Aerospace structures manufacturer serving defense and commercial markets with similar product mix of complex assemblies, engine components, and MRO services for fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.
• Ducommun Incorporated: Tier 1/Tier 2 aerostructures and electronic systems supplier to the same defense primes (Boeing, Lockheed, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman). Closely comparable product portfolio of structural assemblies, integration, and defense electronics enclosures.
• AAR Corp: Aerospace and defense aftermarket services provider with structural components manufacturing and MRO offerings. Overlapping helicopter sustainment, parts manufacturing, and DoD prime contracting exposure.
• Senior plc: Aerospace and defense component manufacturer with structural assemblies, fluid conveyance, and landing gear integration businesses. Competes for similar Tier 1/Tier 2 positions on defense and commercial platforms.

Emerging players

• Loar Holdings: Niche aerospace and defense component manufacturer serving similar end-markets with proprietary and complex parts. Smaller, faster-growing competitor in the defense supplier landscape with overlapping prime contractor relationships.

Broad incumbents

• HEICO Corporation: Aerospace and defense parts manufacturer with FAA-approved replacement parts and electronic technologies serving both commercial and military markets. Broader portfolio but overlapping end-customer base in defense supply chain.
• TransDigm Group: Aerospace component manufacturer with proprietary, sole-source niche parts across aircraft systems. Overlapping customer base with defense primes but focused on proprietary components rather than assemblies.
• Curtiss-Wright Corporation: Diversified defense and aerospace manufacturer with engineered products and structural components serving similar primes. Competes in adjacent niches including defense electronics, naval, and aerospace structural systems.
• Spirit AeroSystems: Much larger Tier 1 aerostructures manufacturer for major commercial and military aircraft programs. Provides structural assemblies (fuselages, wing structures, propulsion components) at substantially greater scale than CPI Aero.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CPIAero
• Facebookfacebook.com/CPIAero
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cpi-aerostructures

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries2 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 CPI Aerostructures