Scientific Applications & Research Associates, (SARA)

What Scientific Applications & Research Associates, (SARA) does

Scientific Applications & Research Associates (SARA), Inc. is a privately held defense and homeland security technology company founded in 1989 and headquartered in Cypress, California, with a 250,000 SF manufacturing and engineering facility in Colorado Springs. The company designs and manufactures specialized components and systems across five core technology domains: radio frequency (RF), electromagnetic pulse (EMP), pulsed power, acoustics, and threat warning. Its product portfolio is organized around the Artificial Perception and Threat Awareness (APTA) Group — including RF sensors and seekers (notably Home-on GPS Jam Seekers integrated into Joint Direct Attack Munition wing kits), Detect-and-Avoid systems (PANCAS, PANAMA, TASA), and Hostile Fire Warning systems (ShotFinder at TRL-8, ThreatSentinel) — alongside directed energy components, high-energy-density capacitors, semiconductor switch assemblies, pulsers, antennas, and shielded enclosures.

SARA's business model is built on direct, custom-quotation-based sales to U.S. federal defense and homeland security buyers (U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, FAA, DoD agencies) and major defense prime contractors, augmented by an emerging commercial UAS customer base seeking FAA Part 107 BVLOS waiver support. Revenue is generated through a mix of customized product sales (one-time license style), engineering and testing services (HEMP, RF/EMP/Lightning, MIL-STD compliance), and full-spectrum manufacturing from rapid prototyping through build-to-spec production. The company holds U.S. Patent No. 7,606,115 for acoustic airspace collision detection, multiple MIL-STD certifications (188-125-1A, 188-125-2, 3023, 4023, 810), ISO 9001, and the nation's first FAA approval for fully autonomous UAS operations (TASA, January 2021). Leadership is provided by CEO Dr. Parviz Parhami. The company is privately held with no disclosed funding rounds, parent company, or institutional investors, and engages globally within U.S. ITAR restrictions for testing services.

Name

Scientific Applications & Research Associates, (SARA)

Legal name

Scientific Applications & Research Associates (SARA), Inc.

Website

https://sara.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

SARA is a privately held defense and homeland security technology company founded in 1989 that designs and manufactures RF sensors, acoustic Detect-and-Avoid systems, hostile fire warning sensors, and pulsed power components for U.S. DoD, defense primes, and emerging commercial UAS operators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defense Electronics

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Electrical Equipment Manufacturing (33531)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Ordnance & Accessories, (No Vehicles/Guided Missiles) (3480), Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

Military Power Supplies, RF/Microwave Components & Ruggedized Electronics (IMABAGAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fire Control Systems & Weapon Control Electronics (IMABAGAI), Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) Electronics for Weapons (IMABAGAH), Ruggedized/Harsh-Environment Electronics Manufacturing (IP-rated, shock/vibration, wide-temp) (IMAGAGAF), Test & Measurement Equipment (Oscilloscopes, DAQ, signal analyzers, calibration benches) (IMAGAFAC), Test, Measurement & Calibration Equipment Manufacturing Services (ATE, DAQ, metrology electronics) (IMAGAGAH)

Keywords

• Defense electronics
• Acoustic detect avoid
• Hostile fire warning
• Pulsed power systems
• HEMP testing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Cypress

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Defense and Security Products: SARA designs and manufactures customized tools, components, and systems for defense and homeland security customers. Product categories include RF Sensors and Seekers, DAA systems (PANCAS, PANAMA, TASA), Hostile Fire Warning systems, Antennas, Pulsers, Shielded Enclosures, Capacitors, and Switches. Revenue is generated through product sales, either from standard inventory or modified/customized to customer specifications.
2. RF/EMP/Lightning Engineering and Testing Services: SARA provides HEMP and RF testing services including vulnerability assessments, mitigation suggestions, hardware solutions, and certification of protection. Services cover C4I facilities, aircraft, and ships. Includes MIL-STD testing for shielding effectiveness, pulse current injection, and continuous wave immersion. SARA can deploy equipment and personnel worldwide for HEMP compliance testing.
3. Manufacturing Services: Full-spectrum manufacturing services from concept to delivery covering Research and Development, Design for Manufacturing, Build-to-Spec, and Quality Assurance. Services include R&D prototyping, CAD design with drawing packages, BOM management, fixture and jig design, custom training programs, and initial first article/pre-production runs. Customers can receive a turn-key Technical Data Package (TDP) ready for production launch.
4. Rapid Prototyping Services: SARA provides rapid prototyping services leveraging in-house machine shops, 3D printing capabilities, and metrology labs to quickly develop and iterate prototypes. Supports customers at any stage from raw ideas to production-ready prototypes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

SARA designs and manufactures specialized defense and homeland security electronics, including RF sensors and seekers, acoustic Detect and Avoid (DAA) systems for unmanned aircraft, hostile fire warning sensors, and pulsed power components (pulsers, capacitors, switches). The company also provides HEMP/RF engineering and testing services, rapid prototyping, and full-spectrum manufacturing from R&D to delivery within a 250,000 SF ISO 9001-certified facility.

Product overview

Scientific Applications & Research Associates (SARA), Inc. is a defense technology company with over 35 years of experience providing specialized tools and components for the defense and homeland security industry. The company's product portfolio centers on its Artificial Perception and Threat Awareness (APTA) Group, offering compact, low-cost Sense & Warn solutions including RF Sensors and Seekers, Detect and Avoid systems (PANCAS, PANAMA, TASA), and Hostile Fire Warning systems (ShotFinder, ThreatSentinel). SARA also manufactures pulsed power products including Pulsers (SPCI series, IPCI), high-energy Custom Capacitors, and Switch Technology for precision energy delivery. The company provides engineering services for RF/EMP/Lightning hardening, Rapid Prototyping, EM & Circuit Modeling, and High-Power Microwave RF Testing. SARA's Directed Energy team delivers solutions for high-voltage pulsed power systems including Marx generators and pulse forming networks. The company operates a 250,000 SF manufacturing facility in Colorado Springs with full in-house capabilities including machine shops, metrology labs, 3D printing, and quality assurance under ISO 9001.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PANCAS: Passive acoustic non-cooperative collision avoidance system for UAS providing 360-degree Detect and Avoid sensing.
• PANAMA
• TASA
• ShotFinder
• ThreatSentinel
• APTA

Quantifiable outcome

• Probability of Detection >95%, bearing ±5° with exceptionally low false alarm rate for hostile fire warning systems
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature8 records

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mercury Systems: Specializes in mission-critical, ruggedized defense electronics and RF/microwave components for aerospace and defense applications. Directly comparable to SARA's RF sensors, seeker electronics, and high-power pulsed power/switch portfolio serving similar DoD primes.
• Kratos Defense & Security Solutions: Mid-sized defense technology company producing UAS, electronic warfare, and tactical drone systems. Comparable to SARA's UAS-focused acoustic DAA and RF seeker portfolio and competes for similar DoD and tactical UAS opportunities.
• Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions: Provides ruggedized defense electronics, modular computing, and harsh-environment subsystems to defense primes. Highly comparable to SARA's MIL-STD-810 qualified hardware and turn-key defense electronics manufacturing model.

Broad incumbents

• L3Harris Technologies: Large defense prime with overlapping RF direction finding, electronic warfare, acoustic processing, and sensor integration capabilities across airborne and ground platforms. Competes with SARA in DoD sensor and seeker programs but operates at vastly greater scale and breadth.
• Raytheon (RTX): Major defense prime producing GPS-guided munitions (JDAM family) and jam-resistant seekers — the same category as SARA's AFLCMC contract. Brings substantially larger R&D budgets and incumbent program-of-record positions that SARA competes against for next-generation seeker integration.
• Northrop Grumman: Defense prime with deep expertise in electronic warfare, RF sensors, and directed energy — overlapping substantially with SARA's RF/EMP and pulsed power competencies. Competes for higher-level systems integration awards where SARA typically serves as a subsystem supplier.
• BAE Systems: Global defense prime with electronic warfare, RF, and HEMP/EMP protection capabilities. Comparable to SARA in EMP shielding, MIL-STD testing, and ruggedized electronics for defense platforms, but at far broader scope and scale.
• Sierra Nevada Corporation: Privately-held mid-tier defense prime with UAS, electronic warfare, and integrated mission systems capabilities. Competes with SARA in DoD sensor and electronic systems opportunities and operates a comparable privately-held, mid-sized business model.

Emerging players

• Iris Automation: Focused specifically on detect-and-avoid solutions for commercial UAS BVLOS operations (Casia system). Directly competes with SARA's PANCAS/PANAMA/TASA in the commercial UAS DAA segment pursuing FAA BVLOS approvals.
• uAvionix: Provides airspace awareness, surveillance, and DAA solutions for UAS integration into national airspace. Competes with SARA's TASA network in enabling commercial BVLOS UAS operations and FAA compliance.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Scientific Applications & Research Associates, (SARA)