Nokomis

What Nokomis does

Nokomis, Inc. is a privately-held, founder-controlled U.S. defense technology company incorporated in October 2002 and headquartered in Charleroi, Pennsylvania. It designs, develops, and manufactures radio-frequency (RF) and microwave electromagnetic sensors that exploit electrodynamic interactions to detect, locate, characterize, track, diagnose, and mitigate electronic-based threats. The company is HUBZone-certified, holds nearly 50 patents, and reports a DoD SBIR/STTR Commercialization Achievement Index of 95%, with over 150 executed contracts totaling more than $80M in cumulative revenue.

Its core product portfolio includes ADEC (Advanced Diagnostics of Electronic Components, for counterfeit and compromised-part screening), Hiawatha (a sensor system for electronic target detection, UAS detection, and directed-energy battle damage assessment), the Signature Analysis Suite (SAS) software module, H-SiP (Hiawatha Sensor in Package), EmAPS (an embedded avionics protection LRU), and proprietary Diamond-like Carbon (DLC) multipaction mitigation coatings for high-power RF components. Supporting operations include a 50,000 sq. ft. Charleroi HQ, a Canonsburg R&D site (Nokomis Labs), a McDonald Advanced Electronic Diagnostics Division, and a 163-acre outdoor test range in Waynesburg, with a previously announced Toledo, OH office expansion.

Nokomis serves the U.S. defense, intelligence, and federal research community — primarily the Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, NASA, DOE, DMEA, DARPA, DTRA, MDA, and NAVAIR — through enterprise field sales combined with event-driven outreach. Revenue is generated through three streams: competitively won SBIR/STTR Phase I, II, and III government contracts (the largest single disclosed award being a ~$9.9M Navy IDIQ), product sales and licensing of proprietary sensor systems, and fee-for-service test and evaluation at its facilities. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is negotiated per contract; the go-to-market motion combines direct program-office engagement, defense trade shows, and inbound quote requests. The company is led by founder and CEO Walter J. Keller, a physicist, with Eli Polovina as VP of Operations.

Name

Nokomis

Legal name

Nokomis, Inc.

Website

https://nokomisinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Nokomis is a private, HUBZone-certified U.S. defense technology company founded in 2002 that develops highly sensitive RF and microwave electromagnetic sensors — including ADEC, Hiawatha, EmAPS, and DLC coatings — for the U.S. military, intelligence community, and federal research agencies to detect threats, screen counterfeit electronics, and protect avionics and space systems.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defense Electronics & Electromagnetic Sensors

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMABAGAJ

Military Power Supplies, RF/Microwave Components & Ruggedized Electronics

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing/Defense Electronics, Sensors & Radar

SECONDARYIMABAGAF

IFF/Identification, Beaconing & Cooperative Surveillance Systems

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing/Defense Electronics, Sensors & Radar

SECONDARYEUADAJAD

Condition Monitoring Sensors & IoT (online/offline monitoring, edge devices)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Electric Transmission & Distribution (T&D)/T&D Asset Management, Inspection & Condition Monitoring

Keywords

• Electromagnetic sensors
• Defense electronics
• Counterfeit detection
• Radio frequency sensors
• Electronic warfare

Headquarters

HQ city

Canonsburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Defense SBIR Contracts: Nokomis derives significant revenue through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, winning competitive Phase I, II, and III contracts from defense agencies including the Air Force, Navy, Army, DARPA, DMEA, and DTRA. SBIR contracts fund development of advanced sensor technologies with commercialization pathways.
2. Product Sales and Licensing: Sale and support of proprietary electromagnetic sensor products (ADEC, Hiawatha, SAS, EmAPS) and related technologies to defense and government customers. Revenue generated through direct product delivery, integration services, and potential technology licensing arrangements.
3. Test and Evaluation Services: Fee-for-service testing and evaluation using company facilities and proprietary equipment, including RF analysis, EMC/EMI testing, counterfeit screening, component testing, reliability analysis, and facility rental for external customers.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Nokomis designs, develops, and manufactures highly sensitive Radio Frequency (RF) and microwave electromagnetic sensors for defense and federal government customers. Its products detect, locate, characterize, track, diagnose, and mitigate electronic-based threats, including counterfeit electronic components, hostile drones, and directed energy weapons. The company also offers related services such as counterfeit detection, reliability and remaining useful life assessments, multipaction mitigation coatings, and test and evaluation.

Product overview

Nokomis offers a portfolio of electromagnetic sensor products and related services for defense applications. The core products include ADEC (Advanced Diagnostics of Electronic Components) for counterfeit detection, Hiawatha for target detection and geolocation, Signature Analysis Suite (SAS) as an analysis module, H-SiP (Hiawatha System-in-Package) sensor, and EmAPS (Embedded Avionics Protection System). These products leverage proprietary electromagnetic signature detection technology to locate, detect, characterize, track, diagnose and mitigate electronic-based threats. The company also provides associated services including counterfeit electronics detection, reliability assessments, test and evaluation, and multipactor mitigation coatings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ADEC: Advanced Diagnostics of Electronic Components - system for detecting counterfeit, anomalous, degraded, and hacked electronic parts
• Hiawatha
• SAS (Signature Analysis Suite)
• EmAPS
• H-SiP

Products and services

• Advanced Diagnostics of Electronic Components (ADEC)
• Hiawatha
• Signature Analysis Suite (SAS)
• H-SiP (Hiawatha Sensor in Package)
• EmAPS (Embedded Avionics Protection System)
• Counterfeit Electronics Detection
• Reliability and Remaining Useful Life (RUL) Assessments
• Test and Evaluation Services
• Multipaction Mitigation Coatings

Quantifiable outcome

• DoD SBIR/STTR Commercialization Achievement Index of 95% - indicating highly successful transition of R&D investments to operational capabilities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Anduril Industries: Well-funded defense technology company with active C-UAS and electromagnetic spectrum dominance products (Lattice, Roadrunner). Competes in the same counter-drone and EW sensing markets, though with substantially more capital and a vertically integrated software-hardware stack.
• Echodyne: Developer of metamaterials-based radar panels for counter-UAS, perimeter security, and autonomous systems. Overlaps with Nokomis's Hiawatha in passive/active detection of small UAS, though using active radar rather than electromagnetic signature analysis.
• D-Fend Solutions: Israeli-origin counter-drone vendor using RF cyber takeover techniques. Comparable in addressing the same C-UAS customer needs as Nokomis's Hiawatha, though with a fundamentally different (RF cyber vs. passive electromagnetic signature) technical approach.
• Liteye Systems: Colorado-based counter-UAS and thermal imaging provider for DoD customers. Overlaps with Nokomis in the electronic target detection and counter-drone markets, though with complementary optical/thermal capabilities rather than RF-only.

Broad incumbents

• BAE Systems Electronic Systems: Segment of BAE Systems focused on electronic warfare, RF, and sensor systems. Direct overlap with Nokomis's counter-IED, EW, and avionics protection (EmAPS) offerings, though as a tier-1 prime with global scale.
• Mercury Systems: Public mid-tier defense electronics provider of RF, microwave, and signal processing subsystems. Comparable as a supplier of mission-critical RF/microwave components for defense platforms, though at significantly larger scale and broader scope.
• L3Harris Technologies: Tier-1 defense prime with major EW, signals intelligence, and space sensing franchises. Competes with Nokomis in electronic warfare and space domain awareness, though as part of a much broader portfolio across all military services.
• CACI International: Large public defense contractor with significant electronic warfare, signals intelligence, and RF sensing practices. Comparable as a provider of advanced electromagnetic systems to the same intelligence and military customers, though at much larger scale and broader scope.

Direct peers

• Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC): Privately held defense electronics integrator that previously held an NDA with Nokomis on Hiawatha technology (2005). Operates in adjacent EW and signals intelligence domains and represents both a historical technology partner and a potential competitive prime.
• SRC Inc. Private defense electronics firm specializing in counter-IED, counter-UAS, and electronic warfare sensors for the DoD. Highly comparable as a similarly-sized, mission-focused EM sensor developer serving the same Army, Navy, and Air Force customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Nokomis