Digital Receiver Technology
Digital Receiver Technology (DRT) is a US defense electronics subsidiary of Thales Defense & Security that designs and manufactures Software Defined Radio systems and digital signal processing hardware for the Department of War and the Intelligence Community, spanning signals intelligence, electronic warfare, and electromagnetic spectrum operations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersGermantown, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Digital Receiver Technology does
Digital Receiver Technology (DRT, Inc. – A Thales Business) is a US-based designer and manufacturer of Software Defined Radio (SDR) systems headquartered in Germantown, Maryland. Founded in 1996 and operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Thales Defense & Security, Inc., DRT employs 251-500 staff and runs out of an approximately 140,000 square foot facility that combines 50,000 square feet of manufacturing with 2,000 square feet of SCIF space and a 30-seat training classroom.
The company's product architecture is a shared-software platform-plus-modules family of ruggedized SDR systems. Core hardware spans the DRT3300 signal processing family (DRT3300, DRT3300-FE, DRT743) built on Open (VITA) standards and aligned to OpenVPX and CMOSS specifications, a radio systems line (DRT1712, DRT18832, DRT1202) covering operational frequencies from 2 MHz to 18 GHz in form factors from man-portable to 19-inch rack-mount, the DRT1201 multi-channel SDR, the DF185D-18 wideband radio head (20 MHz to 18 GHz), and a peripherals line of direction-finding antennas (DF100B, DF185, DF240B, DF24D). Underlying the portfolio is a proprietary digital signal processing capability delivered on the latest FPGA and processing technology, enabling collection, identification, analysis, direction finding, and geolocation of signals of interest across the electromagnetic spectrum.
DRT monetizes primarily through direct hardware sales to US government defense and intelligence customers via enterprise field sales and government procurement, complemented by Mission Support Services covering installation, technical consultation, systems training, upgrades, field maintenance, and repair/refurbishment under a standard 1-year warranty with an optional 3-year warranty. The customer base is concentrated in the Department of War (formerly Department of Defense) and the Intelligence Community, with use cases spanning signals intelligence, electronic warfare, electromagnetic spectrum operations, and other classified defense applications. Marketing and distribution rely on a direct-to-government motion, the corporate website, and the parent Thales career and contracting channels; geographic reach is presently limited to the United States.
Digital Receiver Technology firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Digital Receiver Technology
- Legal name
- DRT, Inc.
- Website
- https://drti.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Digital Receiver Technology (DRT) is a US defense electronics subsidiary of Thales Defense & Security that designs and manufactures Software Defined Radio systems and digital signal processing hardware for the Department of War and the Intelligence Community, spanning signals intelligence, electronic warfare, and electromagnetic spectrum operations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Digital Receiver Technology industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Defense Electronics / Software Defined Radio Systems
- NAICS
- Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance (8112)
- SIC
- Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825), Communications Equipment, Nec (3669), Measuring & Controlling Devices, Nec (3829)
- akta.pro primary industry
- C4ISR Systems & Tactical Data Links (IMABAGAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Military Power Supplies, RF/Microwave Components & Ruggedized Electronics (IMABAGAJ)
Keywords
Where Digital Receiver Technology is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Germantown
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Digital Receiver Technology business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales: Sale of ruggedized SDR systems, signal processing systems, radio systems, and peripherals (antennas, servers, laptops, cables). Products are designed for military mission environments ranging from man portable to ground vehicle to air vehicle applications.
- Mission Support Services: Installation support, technical consultation, systems training, system upgrades, field maintenance, and exercise support. Field service engineers provide custom configurations, hardware and software upgrades, troubleshooting and maintenance.
- Repair and Refurbishment: Full repair and refurbishment capability provided for DRT manufactured products. Standard 1-year warranty on all DRT manufactured goods, with optional 3-year warranty available.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Digital Receiver Technology product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Digital Receiver Technology designs, manufactures, and supports Software Defined Radio (SDR) systems, modular signal processing systems, and direction-finding peripherals that survey, detect, classify, and geolocate signals of interest across the electromagnetic spectrum from 2 MHz to 18 GHz. Solutions span man-portable to rack-mount form factors, are ruggedized for ground and airborne military environments, and are aligned to OpenVPX, CMOSS, and VITA open architecture standards. The portfolio is complemented by field engineering mission support services (installation, training, repair, refurbishment) delivered to US Department of War and Intelligence Community customers.
Product overview
Digital Receiver Technology (DRT) offers a platform-plus-modules architecture of Software Defined Radio (SDR) systems for military and government intelligence customers. The product portfolio centers on three core hardware families: Signal Processing Systems (DRT3300, DRT3300-FE, DRT1201, DRT743, DF185D-18) providing modular EW and SIGINT capabilities with open VITA standards; Radio Systems (DRT1712, DRT743, DRT18832, DRT1202) covering 2 MHz to 18 GHz frequencies in form factors from man-portable to rack-mount; and Direction-Finding Peripherals (DF100B, DF185, DF240B, DF24D) including antennas and support equipment. All SDR systems share a common software infrastructure enabling the full signal processing library. The portfolio is complemented by Mission Support Services covering installation, training, maintenance, and technical consultancy.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- DRT3300 Signal Processing System Modular signal processing system built on open VITA standards that integrates multiple third-party and DRT-specific cards to form complete EW and SIGINT solutions; fully hardware and software configurable for mission needs.
- DRT3300-FE Signal Processing System Front-end variant of the DRT3300 modular signal processing system for EW and SIGINT applications.
- DRT1201 Multi-Channel SDR Platform Multi-channel configurable software-defined radio platform used for monitoring, analyzing, and locating signals within the electromagnetic spectrum.
- DRT743 System with Integrated Server DRT3300 system variant that integrates server capacity for enhanced data processing and edge compute capabilities.
- DF185D-18 Wideband Radio Head Radio head covering 20 MHz to 18 GHz frequency range for wideband signal reception.
- DRT1712 Software-Defined Radio Software-defined radio system supporting operational frequencies from 2 MHz to 18 GHz in various form factors.
- DRT18832 Software-Defined Radio SDR system sharing DRT's common software infrastructure and signal set across the product line.
- DRT1202 Software-Defined Radio SDR system in DRT's radio systems portfolio sharing common software infrastructure with the rest of the product line.
- DF100B Direction-Finding Antenna Direction-finding antenna for locating signals within the electromagnetic spectrum.
- DF185 Direction-Finding Antenna Direction-finding antenna supporting spectrum analysis and signal location capabilities.
- DF240B Direction-Finding Antenna Direction-finding antenna in DRT's peripheral product range.
- DF24D Direction-Finding Antenna Direction-finding antenna for signal location and geolocation applications.
- Mission Support Services Comprehensive support services including installation support, technical consultation, systems training, system upgrades, field maintenance, exercise support, and full repair and refurbishment of DRT-manufactured products; standard 1-year warranty with optional 3-year warranty on DRT-manufactured goods.
Quantifiable outcome
- Open standards reduce integration and test time and increase hardware and software reuse
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Digital Receiver Technology
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Digital Receiver Technology technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Digital Receiver Technology partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Thales Defense & Security, Inc.coreDRT operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Thales Defense & Security, Inc. (TDSI), a US-based defense and security company. This parent-subsidiary relationship provides DRT with access to Thales' broader defense technology portfolio and resources while maintaining DRT's specialized SDR capabilities.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Digital Receiver Technology competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- L3Harris Technologies: L3Harris is a large defense prime with significant EW, SIGINT, and tactical communications franchises built around SDR and RF systems. Operates broadly across multiple defense domains, with overlapping capability to DRT's SIGINT/EW portfolio but at substantially larger scale.
- BAE Systems Electronic Systems: BAE Systems' Electronic Systems segment supplies EW, SIGINT, and tactical communications hardware to US and allied militaries. A broader incumbent with overlapping C4ISR capability but a far larger portfolio spanning multiple defense domains.
- Thales Group: Thales Group is DRT's ultimate parent and a global defense and security prime with a major presence in EW, SIGINT, and secure communications. Comparable as the broader portfolio context for DRT's product family, even though DRT operates within a US-domiciled Thales subsidiary.
- Northrop Grumman Mission Systems: Northrop Grumman is a major US defense prime with substantial EW, SIGINT, and C4ISR electronics programs. Competes with DRT at the program level for SDR/EW system content, though Northrop operates across a far broader portfolio.
Direct peers
- Mercury Systems: Mercury Systems designs and manufactures ruggedized mission-critical defense electronics, including signal processing and RF subsystems for EW and SIGINT applications. Directly comparable to DRT's modular, open-standards-based SDR and signal processing portfolio serving defense primes and government end users.
- Keysight Technologies: Keysight provides signal analysis, spectrum monitoring, and RF test instrumentation used in defense and intelligence applications. Comparable to DRT in the signal monitoring/analysis layer, though Keysight is predominantly a commercial test-and-measurement vendor rather than a pure-play defense electronics supplier.
- SRC Inc. SRC is a private, US-focused defense electronics company specializing in EW, SIGINT, and counter-UAS solutions for the DoD and intelligence community. Directly comparable to DRT in mission focus (electromagnetic spectrum operations) and customer set.
- Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions: Curtiss-Wright supplies ruggedized COTS and custom defense electronics, including modular signal processing and tactical communications hardware built to OpenVPX/CMOSS standards. Highly comparable to DRT in product form factor, open-architecture alignment, and DoD customer focus.
- Rohde & Schwarz: Rohde & Schwarz manufactures high-end SDR, signal intelligence, and EW test and measurement systems, including dedicated government/defense product lines. Directly comparable to DRT in SDR technology, frequency coverage, and military/government customer overlap.
- Ultra Electronics (Sonar & Communication Systems): Ultra Electronics has historically supplied ruggedized EW, SIGINT, and tactical communications hardware to US/UK defense and intelligence customers. Closely comparable to DRT in product category (SDR/EW subsystems) and defense customer base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Digital Receiver Technology social profiles
Digital presenceDigital Receiver Technology financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Digital Receiver Technology leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Digital Receiver Technology funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Digital Receiver Technology 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 Digital Receiver Technology
What does Digital Receiver Technology do?
Digital Receiver Technology designs, manufactures, and supports Software Defined Radio (SDR) systems, modular signal processing systems, and direction-finding peripherals that survey, detect, classify, and geolocate signals of interest across the electromagnetic spectrum from 2 MHz to 18 GHz. Solutions span man-portable to rack-mount form factors, are ruggedized for ground and airborne military environments, and are aligned to OpenVPX, CMOSS, and VITA open architecture standards. The portfolio is complemented by field engineering mission support services (installation, training, repair, refurbishment) delivered to US Department of War and Intelligence Community customers.
Is Digital Receiver Technology a public or private company?
Digital Receiver Technology is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Digital Receiver Technology founded?
Digital Receiver Technology was founded in 1996. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Digital Receiver Technology based?
Digital Receiver Technology is headquartered in Germantown, United States, in the North America region.
How does Digital Receiver Technology make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are mission Support Services and repair and Refurbishment.
Who are Digital Receiver Technology's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are L3Harris Technologies, BAE Systems Electronic Systems, Thales Group and Northrop Grumman Mission Systems. Direct peers are Mercury Systems, Keysight Technologies, SRC Inc., Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions, Rohde & Schwarz and Ultra Electronics (Sonar & Communication Systems).
Does Digital Receiver Technology have an API?
No public API is recorded for Digital Receiver Technology.
What industry is Digital Receiver Technology in?
Digital Receiver Technology's product category is Defense Electronics / Software Defined Radio Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAGAE, C4ISR Systems & Tactical Data Links, with a secondary code of IMABAGAJ, Military Power Supplies, RF/Microwave Components & Ruggedized Electronics. Its NAICS code is 334515 and its SIC code is 3825.