Name

Xiphos Technologies

Legal name

Xiphos Systems, Inc.

Website

https://xiphos.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Space-grade embedded processors

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Communications Equipment Manufacturing (3342)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Computer Communications Equipment (3576)

akta.pro primary industry

Spacecraft Avionics, Flight Computers & Software (IMABACAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD), Avionics Communication Systems (VHF/UHF/SATCOM/Data Link) (IMABAFAG), Satellite, GNSS & Positioning RF ICs (HDAHAMAJ)

Keywords

• Space-grade processors
• Radiation-hardened computing
• Embedded processor boards
• Software-defined radio
• On-orbit AI processing

Headquarters

HQ city

Montreal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales - Processor Boards: Sale of Q-Card processor modules (Q7, Q8, Q8J, Q9) and daughterboards for space applications. One-time hardware purchase with typical aerospace procurement cycles. Products ordered via purchase order with pricing per Xiphos quotation.
2. Custom Solutions and Development Services: Bespoke hardware, firmware, and software development services including custom daughterboard design, FPGA logic development, Linux driver/API development, and application software. Services supplemented with training and dedicated support packages.
3. Technical Support Contracts: Project-specific support packages for custom product development, design review, and carrier board design assistance. Engineering support contracts for custom Products as per Terms of Sale.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Xiphos Technologies designs and manufactures space-grade embedded processing solutions based on radiation-tolerant Q-Card processor boards (Q7, Q8, Q8J, Q9) and RFSoC modules (Q8RF, Q8RFG3), complemented by application-specific daughterboards for attitude control, camera/optical payload processing, software-defined radio, and data storage. These COTS-based, low-SWaP computing products serve satellite, launch vehicle, and space science missions for aerospace prime contractors, commercial constellation operators, and government space agencies.

Product overview

Xiphos offers a family of space-grade embedded processing solutions called Q-Cards, designed for harsh space environments. The product portfolio includes multiple generations of processor boards (Q7, Q8, Q8J, Q9) that share a common architecture leveraging Xilinx MPSoC FPGAs with ARM processors. These are complemented by application-specific daughterboards including the ACS (Attitude Control System), Camera Board, Optical Payload Processor, SDR (Software Defined Radio), and DSIB (Data Storage and Interface Board). The Q-RF family provides specialized RFSoC processors for software-defined radio applications. All products are designed for space missions with radiation hardening, low SWaP (Size, Weight, and Power), and are qualified for applications including RF ISR, Earth Observation/Science, Space Science, Launch vehicles, and Communications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Q7 Computer-on-Module Ultra-low SWaP space-grade processor board based on Xilinx Zynq SoC with ARM dual-core Cortex-A9 MPCore processors and large programmable logic resources, designed for high processing power and flexibility in the smallest possible footprint for space applications.
• Q7 Attitude Control System Daughter Board Daughterboard for the Q7 processor card that provides a suite of functions and interfaces commonly required in a satellite Attitude Control System subsystem, including RS-422 and RS-485 serial interfaces, GPIO, switchable power outputs, and H-Bridge drivers.
• Q8 Computer-on-Module Low SWaP space-grade processor board based on Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC with quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 application processor, dual-core ARM Cortex-R5 real-time processor, and ARM Mali-400 GPU, providing high performance and efficient design for spacecraft payloads and bus applications.
• Q8 On-Board Computer (OBC) Embedded onboard computer based on the Q8 processor board with 120+ years of combined flight heritage, providing a versatile onboard computing solution for spacecraft bus or payload applications to reduce time to launch.
• Q8J Computer-on-Module Low SWaP space-grade processor with high-speed GTH transceivers based on Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC, providing multi-Gbps JESD204B and PCIe interfaces plus external DDR3 or DDR4 memory access via mezzanine connector for high-bandwidth payload applications.
• Q8J Data Storage and Interface Board (DSIB) Payload data storage and interface computer daughterboard designed to maximize the Q8J's capabilities and extensive I/O, providing 2,256 GB of bulk storage plus multiple high-speed interfaces for high-volume space payloads.
• Q8J Software Defined Radio (SDR) High-performance software-defined radio daughterboard for the Q8J based on Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ with Analog Devices AD9361 RF agile transceiver, providing 2x RF Out and 2x RF In channels with onboard PL-accessible DDR3 memory for deterministic operation.
• Q9 Versal Computer-on-Module High-performance AI/edge-processing system-on-board based on Xilinx Versal AI Core SoC with 152 AI/ML tiles, 16 GB LPDDR4 DRAM, and 2x 1000 GB eMMC storage, designed for on-orbit AI/ML inference workloads in a compact COTS package.
• Q8RF Gen 1 RFSoC Processor First generation RFSoC processor based on Xilinx ZU28DR with 8x ADC at 4 GSPS and 8x DAC at 6.5 GSPS, enabling direct RF sampling and real-time digital signal processing for space software-defined radio applications.
• Q8RFG3 Gen 3 RFSoC Processor Third generation RFSoC processor based on Xilinx ZU48DR with 8x 14-bit ADC at 5.0 GSPS and 8x 14-bit DAC at 9.85 GSPS, featuring improved RF input bandwidth up to 6 GHz and multi-unit synchronization for digital beamforming and flexible SDR payloads.
• Q8 Optical Payload Processor (Camera Board) High-performance optical payload image processing daughterboard designed for the Q8 processor card, featuring two Camera Link interfaces (1x Base and 1x Medium), SpaceWire, serial interfaces, LVDS outputs, and PPS inputs/outputs for high-bandwidth camera and imager integration.
• Q7 Camera Board Development daughterboard for rapid integration of high-performance image processing algorithms into camera systems for high-bandwidth video or imagery applications, supporting SpaceWire and Camera Link interfaces on the Q7 platform.
• Q8 SDR Dock Daughterboard Daughterboard for the Q8 processor card incorporating a software-defined radio module based on Analog Devices' AD9361 RF agile transceiver, enabling high-bandwidth radio/RF stream processing and high-performance SDR algorithms.
• Custom Solutions and Development Services Bespoke hardware, firmware, and software development services including custom daughterboard design, FPGA logic development, Linux driver and API development, application software, and dedicated engineering support packages tailored to specific mission requirements.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4x throughput increase for customers switching from Q7 to Q8 (GHGSat case study)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Epiq SolutionscoreOthersXiphos is an Epiq Solutions company. Epiq Solutions appears to be the parent company or corporate group under which Xiphos operates as a division focused on space-grade embedded processing solutions.
• GHGSatflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner8-year strategic partnership where Xiphos developed three iterations of custom solutions for GHGSat's satellite constellation. Xiphos created custom camera interface boards and Q-Card-based processing subsystems supporting 12 satellites in orbit. Partnership includes ongoing collaboration as GHGSat expands constellation with 4 more satellites planned.
• HawkEye 360flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing development partnership where HawkEye 360 influenced Q8 and Q8J processor design. Xiphos and HawkEye 360 collaborating on Q8RF development for enhanced RF monitoring. HawkEye 360 has 24 Q-card-powered satellites in orbit with ongoing product evolution.
• AMD XilinxcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partnership for FPGA and MPSoC components. Xiphos leverages Xilinx Zynq, UltraScale+, and Versal AI Core devices as core technology platform for Q-Card processors. RFSoC integration enables direct RF sampling capabilities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• BAE Systems (Electronic Systems / Space Computing): BAE Systems manufactures radiation-hardened space processors (RAD750, RAD5500, RAD-tolerant ASICs) widely used across NASA and DoD missions. It is the dominant legacy incumbent in space-grade computing against which Xiphos's COTS-based Q-Cards compete on cost and flexibility.
• Microchip Technology (Space & Defense): Microchip supplies rad-hard and rad-tolerant microcontrollers, FPGAs (via Microsemi), and processors used in spacecraft. It competes with Xiphos in space-grade embedded compute across both radiation-hardened MCUs and processor-class silicon.
• Texas Instruments (Space Products): TI's Space Products group provides rad-hard and rad-tolerant DSPs, processors, and analog ICs used in satellite payloads and avionics. It competes with Xiphos in space-grade processing, particularly for signal-processing workloads.
• Mercury Systems: Mercury builds rugged, high-performance embedded computing modules for defense and aerospace, including space and missile applications. It competes with Xiphos in SWaP-optimized processing modules and broader mission computing.
• Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions: Curtiss-Wright supplies rugged COTS modular computing and space-qualified processing subsystems for defense and space platforms. It is a broader incumbent competing for the same SWaP-optimized onboard computing sockets as Xiphos.

Direct peers

• Teledyne Technologies (Teledyne e2v / Space Imaging): Teledyne e2v supplies radiation-hardened space-grade processors, memories, and imaging sensors used in commercial and government satellites. It competes directly with Xiphos in space-qualified embedded processing for payloads.
• GomSpace: GomSpace designs and manufactures CubeSat and SmallSat subsystems, including onboard computers and payload processors. It is a direct peer in small-satellite embedded processing and competes with Xiphos for the same low-SWaP, COTS-based compute sockets.
• AAC Clyde Space: AAC Clyde Space provides small-satellite platforms, subsystems, and onboard computers for commercial and government constellations. It competes with Xiphos's Q-Card offering as an integrated smallsat compute supplier.

Emerging players

• Vorago Technologies: Vorago offers radiation-hardened ARM-based microcontrollers (e.g., VA108x0, VA416x0) targeted at space and defense applications. It overlaps with Xiphos's radiation-tolerant COTS strategy but focuses on lower-power MCUs rather than FPGA-based high-performance processing.
• Pumpkin Space Systems: Pumpkin offers CubeSat kits and onboard computing modules (e.g., MBM, Linux-based OBCs) for academic and smallsat missions. It is an emerging peer in low-cost, low-SWaP CubeSat processing adjacent to Xiphos's smaller-form-factor Q-Cards.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/xiphos-systems
• Xx.com/xiphossystems

Compliance2 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 Xiphos Technologies