McQ
McQ Inc. is a privately-held U.S. defense technology firm that designs, manufactures, and sells autonomous ISR systems—unattended ground sensors, maritime acoustic sensors, and C2 software—for the U.S. Department of Defense, federal civilian agencies, law enforcement, and select commercial critical-infrastructure customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersFredericksburg, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What McQ does
McQ Inc. is a privately-held, U.S.-based defense technology company founded in 1985 and headquartered in Fredericksburg, Virginia, operating as a small business with no disclosed parent company, institutional investors, or public listing. It designs, manufactures, and integrates autonomous Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems purpose-built for environments lacking power and network infrastructure, serving the U.S. Department of Defense (Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, Navy), federal civilian agencies (Department of Homeland Security, Department of Energy, Defense Threat Reduction Agency), law enforcement, and selected commercial critical-infrastructure customers. The company's portfolio includes the McQ RANGER® unattended ground sensor with combined seismic, acoustic, and magnetic sensing and edge processing; the OmniWatch® command-and-control platform integrated with 22 benchmark C2 systems; and the SonoWatch® maritime acoustic sensor providing COLREGS-compliant 360-degree lookout with stated 93%+ classification accuracy. Over four decades the company reports 18,500+ manufactured products and operates a 70-acre outdoor test facility, RF and environmental laboratories, and antenna tower in support of in-house concept-to-product engineering.
McQ generates revenue through three streams: hardware sales of RANGER and SonoWatch sensor platforms, one-time licensing of the OmniWatch C2 software platform, and professional services covering system integration, customization, training, and post-sale support. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; the go-to-market is enterprise field sales with approximately 25–40% travel, supplemented by channel partnerships with systems integrators and prime contractors (Leidos, Raytheon, ManTech, CACI, HDT Global). Marketing is anchored on defense industry events (NATIA, Eurosatory, Border Security Expo, Modern Day Marine), case-study content, and direct field demonstrations at the company's tactical test facility or customer sites. The company is ISO 9001:2015 certified, privately owned, and exhibits a small-business operating profile with no disclosed funding rounds, acquisitions, or revenue figures.
McQ firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- McQ
- Legal name
- McQ Inc.
- Website
- https://mcqinc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- McQ Inc. is a privately-held U.S. defense technology firm that designs, manufactures, and sells autonomous ISR systems—unattended ground sensors, maritime acoustic sensors, and C2 software—for the U.S. Department of Defense, federal civilian agencies, law enforcement, and select commercial critical-infrastructure customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
McQ industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Defense Surveillance Sensors
- 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
- Sonar, Undersea Sensors & Acoustic Detection Systems (IMABAGAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Naval Sensors & Sonar Systems (IMABAKAD), Maritime Security Technology & Surveillance Systems (CCTV, Radar, AIS, Perimeter Intrusion) (TLAHANAC)
Keywords
Where McQ is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Fredericksburg
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
McQ business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales: Sale of unattended ground sensors (RANGER), maritime acoustic sensors (SonoWatch), and related surveillance hardware. Products designed for rugged, long-term deployment with autonomous operation.
- Software Platform: OmniWatch C2 command and control software providing integrated intelligence fusion and interoperability with existing C2 systems.
- Professional Services: Pre-sale tailoring and post-sale support including system integration, customization, training, and maintenance services. Engineering teams develop multi-domain sensing, mission-specific algorithms, and AI enhancements.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
McQ product offering
Product offeringCore offering
McQ designs and manufactures autonomous Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems, including the RANGER unattended ground sensor platform, the OmniWatch command-and-control software, and the SonoWatch maritime acoustic sensor. These products are engineered to operate continuously in remote environments lacking power and network infrastructure, fusing seismic, acoustic, magnetic, radar, and visual data into actionable intelligence for defense, federal, and select commercial customers.
Product overview
McQ delivers a unified portfolio of autonomous ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) systems purpose-built for environments lacking power and network infrastructure. The core offering consists of the RANGER® unattended ground sensor platform (the sensing backbone), the OmniWatch® C2 software platform (the intelligence fusion layer), and the SonoWatch® maritime acoustic sensor (specialized maritime variant). These products share a common architecture: low-power rugged sensors with edge processing capabilities that feed actionable intelligence through the OmniWatch platform, enabling detect-to-assess workflows across military, government, and commercial sectors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- McQ RANGER: Flagship unattended sensing platform that detects and classifies UAS and other ground and air targets in remote environments using combined seismic, acoustic, and magnetic sensing.
- OmniWatch
- SonoWatch
- McQ INTEGRATION
Products and services
- McQ RANGER Flagship unattended ground sensor platform that detects and classifies UAS, ground, and air targets in remote environments using combined seismic, acoustic, and magnetic sensing with edge processing. Selected as the U.S. Marine Corps Terrestrial Collection System (TCS) Unattended Ground Sensor for the Program of Record. Designed for defense and federal surveillance missions.
- OmniWatch Event-driven command and control (C2) software platform that fuses seismic, acoustic, radar, and visual intelligence into a single operator interface. Integrates with 22 benchmark military and government C2 systems through open interoperability standards. Used by defense operators and federal agencies to consolidate multi-sensor intelligence.
- SonoWatch Maritime acoustic sensor featuring a 360-degree microphone array with 93%+ classification accuracy for navigation signals. Provides autonomous COLREGS compliance for unmanned surface vessels and backup lookout capability for manned ships in low-visibility conditions. Targeted at maritime operators and vessel manufacturers.
- Engineering Services and Customization Pre-sale tailoring and post-sale support including system integration, customization, training, and maintenance services. Engineering teams develop multi-domain sensing, mission-specific algorithms, and AI enhancements directly for customers. Serves defense and federal buyers requiring tailored sensor deployments.
Quantifiable outcome
- 93%+ classification accuracy for maritime navigation signal detection
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use McQ
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
McQ technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
McQ partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- HDT GlobalminorMcQ participated alongside HDT at Modern Day Marine 2026 (April 28-30), exhibiting their unattended ground sensing and persistent monitoring solutions at HDT's booth.
- Reach PowercoreReach Power demonstrated long-range wireless power delivery using McQ RANGER at T-REX 25-1 exercise. Their wireless power system featuring transmitter and receiver setup successfully delivered power to a camouflaged McQ RANGER Unattended Ground Sensor from up to 200 feet away, even through materials like faux rocks, grass, and natural vegetation that blocked direct line-of-sight.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
McQ competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Anduril Industries: Anduril is a high-growth, well-capitalized emerging defense technology company building autonomous ISR and sensor systems (e.g., Lattice, Ghost, Roadrunner) for DoD and DHS, competing directly with McQ in the autonomous sensing and counter-UAS domain with greater capital and software scale.
- Shield AI: Shield AI is a venture-backed defense autonomy company building AI-piloted ISR systems and the Hivemind autonomy stack, increasingly competing for autonomous ISR and counter-UAS programs that overlap with McQ's sensor-and-software value proposition.
- Physical Sciences Inc. Physical Sciences Inc. is a privately-held defense research and sensor development company of similar scale to McQ, developing unattended sensors, acoustic detection, and tactical ISR technology for government customers.
Broad incumbents
- L3Harris Technologies: L3Harris is a broad incumbent defense electronics prime with extensive sensor, surveillance, and integrated ISR portfolios, including unattended ground sensors, acoustic sensors, and C2 systems that overlap directly with McQ's RANGER, SonoWatch, and OmniWatch offerings.
- Teledyne FLIR Defense: Teledyne FLIR is a leading supplier of tactical surveillance, ground sensors, maritime EO/IR, and integrated perimeter security systems widely used by DoD and DHS, with overlapping unattended ground sensor and acoustic sensing capabilities relative to McQ.
- Elbit Systems: Elbit Systems is a global defense electronics incumbent offering ground surveillance systems, unattended sensors, acoustic detection, and integrated C4ISR solutions, directly comparable to McQ's unattended sensing and maritime acoustic products.
- General Dynamics Mission Systems: General Dynamics Mission Systems delivers integrated C4ISR, sensors, and command-and-control platforms to the U.S. DoD, with overlapping capabilities in acoustic sensing, perimeter surveillance, and tactical C2 integrations that compete with McQ's portfolio.
- CACI International: CACI is a federal services and ISR technology incumbent with deep U.S. Army and DoD ISR relationships and acoustic/sensor processing capabilities, serving as both a customer/integrator for McQ and an indirect competitor in surveillance system delivery.
- Textron Systems: Textron Systems manufactures unmanned systems, sensors, and marine/maritime platforms for DoD, including unattended ground sensors and acoustic sensing subsystems that compete with McQ RANGER and SonoWatch product lines.
- BAE Systems Electronic Systems: BAE Systems is a global defense prime with extensive electronic warfare, sensors, acoustic, and integrated ISR portfolios that overlap with McQ's unattended ground sensor and maritime acoustic detection capabilities.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
McQ social profiles
Digital presenceMcQ compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
McQ financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
McQ leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
McQ funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
McQ 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 McQ
What does McQ do?
McQ designs and manufactures autonomous Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems, including the RANGER unattended ground sensor platform, the OmniWatch command-and-control software, and the SonoWatch maritime acoustic sensor. These products are engineered to operate continuously in remote environments lacking power and network infrastructure, fusing seismic, acoustic, magnetic, radar, and visual data into actionable intelligence for defense, federal, and select commercial customers.
Is McQ a public or private company?
McQ is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was McQ founded?
McQ was founded in 1985. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is McQ based?
McQ is headquartered in Fredericksburg, United States, in the North America region.
How does McQ make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are software Platform and professional Services.
Who are McQ's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Anduril Industries, Shield AI and Physical Sciences Inc.. Broad incumbents are L3Harris Technologies, Teledyne FLIR Defense, Elbit Systems, General Dynamics Mission Systems, CACI International, Textron Systems and BAE Systems Electronic Systems.
Does McQ have an API?
No public API is recorded for McQ.
What industry is McQ in?
McQ's product category is Defense Surveillance Sensors. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAGAD, Sonar, Undersea Sensors & Acoustic Detection Systems, with a secondary code of IMABAKAD, Naval Sensors & Sonar Systems. Its NAICS code is 334511 and its SIC code is 3812.