Frontier Electronic Systems
Frontier Electronic Systems is a Native American, woman-owned defense electronics manufacturer in Stillwater, Oklahoma, designing and producing high-reliability avionics, naval, missile, space, test, and unmanned system electronics for Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, NASA, and the Missile Defense Agency.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersStillwater, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Frontier Electronic Systems does
Frontier Electronic Systems Corp. (FES) is a Native American, woman-owned small business founded in 1984 by Ed and Peggy Shreve and headquartered at 4500 W 6th Ave, Stillwater, Oklahoma. The company designs and manufactures high-reliability electronics for mission-critical aerospace and defense applications, organized into six product segments: Naval Systems (radar video distribution, open architecture displays, purpose-specific electronics), Aircraft Avionics (cockpit displays, stores management, line replaceable units), Missile Systems (production support for the Missile Defense Agency plus launch support equipment such as missile simulators and launch relay assemblies), Test Equipment (automated test equipment for aerospace and maritime systems since 1989), Space Flight Systems (power, environmental, crew control, and capsule instrument systems for NASA and spaceflight customers), and Unmanned Systems (closed-loop simulation/test for large remotely piloted aircraft plus R&D for small UAS).
Underlying capabilities span in-house engineering (custom circuit design, thermal/stress/finite element analysis, form/fit/function replacement of obsolete components, qualification testing per MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461, and DO-160) and a Stillwater manufacturing facility geared to low-to-medium volume, high-mix production with surface mount and thru-hole assembly to J-STD-001J(S), X-ray and AOI inspection, flying probe testing, and 3-axis thermal/vibration/vacuum environmental test. The technology is deterministic, MIL-STD-driven analog/digital electronics rather than software- or AI-centric.
The business model is direct B2B defense contracting. Revenue is generated through subcontracts with Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and Lockheed Martin, plus direct contracts with NASA, the Missile Defense Agency, and the Department of Defense, executed under DCAA-approved accounting and DCMA-approved purchasing systems with AS 9100-2016 and ISO 9001-2015 quality certifications. Pricing is negotiated through formal procurement rather than published. The company employs approximately 150 people, holds 20 industry accolades (including four Boeing Supplier of the Year awards, placing it in the top 0.05% of Boeing suppliers, and two Lockheed Martin Star Supplier Awards in the top 1%), supports 35 defense platforms and 20 space flight programs, and is privately held with no disclosed parent, institutional investors, or M&A activity.
Frontier Electronic Systems firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Frontier Electronic Systems
- Legal name
- Frontier Electronic Systems Corp.
- Website
- https://fescorp.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Frontier Electronic Systems is a Native American, woman-owned defense electronics manufacturer in Stillwater, Oklahoma, designing and producing high-reliability avionics, naval, missile, space, test, and unmanned system electronics for Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, NASA, and the Missile Defense Agency.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Frontier Electronic Systems industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Defense Electronics Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance (811210)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728), Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Ordnance & Accessories, (No Vehicles/Guided Missiles) (3480)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Military Power Supplies, RF/Microwave Components & Ruggedized Electronics (IMABAGAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Military Avionics, Mission Computers & Flight Controls (IMABAMAE), Defense R&D, Test, Evaluation & Innovation (BPAIAHAC), Avionics Software, Certification & Safety-Critical Systems (DO-178/DO-254) (IMABAFAK)
Keywords
Where Frontier Electronic Systems is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Stillwater
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Frontier Electronic Systems business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Defense Electronics Manufacturing: Design and manufacturing of high-reliability electronics for aerospace and defense applications including naval systems, aircraft avionics, missile systems, space flight systems, and unmanned systems. Revenue is generated through defense prime contracts, subcontracts with major defense contractors (Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin), and direct government contracts with NASA and Missile Defense Agency.
- Test Equipment and Support Services: Design, manufacturing, and integration of automated test equipment for aerospace and maritime electronic systems. Includes development of special test equipment and depot maintenance services.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Frontier Electronic Systems product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Frontier Electronic Systems designs and manufactures high-reliability electronics for aerospace and defense applications across six product lines: Naval Systems, Aircraft Avionics, Missile Systems, Test Equipment, Space Flight Systems, and Unmanned Systems. The company provides end-to-end capabilities from engineering design through circuit card assembly, environmental testing, and qualification per MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461, and DO-160 standards. Products are sold directly to defense prime contractors (Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin) and government agencies (NASA, Missile Defense Agency) for use in mission-critical applications where failure is not an option.
Product overview
Frontier Electronic Systems is a Native American, woman-owned small business that designs and manufactures high-reliability electronics for aerospace and defense applications. The company operates as a multi-segment product and service provider consisting of six core product lines—Naval Systems, Aircraft Avionics, Missile Systems, Test Equipment, Space Flight Systems, and Unmanned Systems—supported by two enabling services: Manufacturing Services (surface mount/thru-hole assembly, inspection, environmental testing) and Engineering Services (custom design, qualification testing, thermal analysis). The portfolio serves defense platforms, space programs, and aerospace customers requiring mission-critical electronic hardware.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Naval Systems Open architecture electronic solutions for US and Allied naval forces, including radar video distribution, display system design, purpose-specific electronic component design, and software development for naval modernization and shipboard applications.
- Aircraft Avionics Design and manufacture of cockpit displays, stores management systems, and other line replaceable units for military aircraft, including engineering, qualification to flight environmental standards, special test equipment development, and depot maintenance.
- Missile Systems High-reliability electronic systems for missile defense, including launch support equipment, missile simulators, and launch relay assemblies supporting Missile Defense Agency high-reliability production requirements.
- Test Equipment Automated test equipment designed, manufactured, and integrated for aerospace and maritime electronic systems since 1989, supporting system operations, repair centers, and factory production for US and foreign aircraft, maritime, missile, unmanned aerial system, and space customers.
- Space Flight Systems Power, environmental, crew control, and capsule instrument electronic systems for spaceflight applications, with 30 years of experience supporting NASA and spaceflight customers with electronics and electro-mechanical assemblies.
- Unmanned Systems Real-time closed-loop simulation and test equipment for large-scale remotely piloted aircraft, plus research and development for small unmanned aerial systems.
- Manufacturing Services Low to medium volume, high-mix production of complex electronic assemblies, units, and racks of equipment including surface mount and thru-hole circuit card assembly to J-STD-001J(S), X-ray verification, automated optical inspection, flying probe circuit test, and environmental testing.
- Engineering Services Custom electronic design for high-reliability applications, form/fit/function replacement of obsolete components, design for manufacturing and test, thermal stress and finite element analysis, component selection and screening, and testing/qualification services per MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461, and DO-160 standards.
Quantifiable outcome
- Quality and delivery performance above 99.5% (Boeing)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Frontier Electronic Systems
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Frontier Electronic Systems technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Frontier Electronic Systems partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators8 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Frontier Electronic Systems competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ducommun Incorporated: Ducommun provides electronic and structural assemblies for aerospace and defense applications including cockpit displays, missile electronics, and aircraft subsystems. Comparable high-mix, low-volume manufacturing model with similar defense-prime customer set and avionics portfolio overlap.
- CPI Aerostructures: CPI Aerostructures manufactures structural and electronic assemblies for military aircraft (including legacy platform sustainment) under similar high-mix/low-volume contracts with the same defense primes, with strong overlap in aircraft avionics and structural-electronic assemblies.
- Sierra Nevada Corporation: Private mid-tier defense electronics integrator serving DoD and prime contractors in avionics, mission systems, and aerospace electronics. Closest privately held peer in size band and customer profile.
- Mercury Systems: Mercury Systems designs and manufactures mission-critical defense electronics, avionics, RF/microwave subsystems, and ruggedized processing for the same primes (Boeing, Lockheed, Northrop Grumman) and similar end platforms (naval, missile, space). Most direct comparable in terms of product mix and customer base.
Broad incumbents
- Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions: Curtiss-Wright's defense segment provides rugged electronics, naval/maritime systems, and aerospace subsystems with deep overlap into the naval, missile, and avionics categories FES serves, though as part of a much larger diversified industrial portfolio.
- Kratos Defense & Security Solutions: Kratos offers unmanned aerial systems, microwave electronics, and defense products serving the same DoD and prime customer base. Overlapping electronics and unmanned systems exposure makes it a relevant comparable despite its significantly larger scale and broader portfolio.
- HEICO Corporation: HEICO's defense electronics and avionics segments supply parts and subsystems to aircraft and defense platforms; comparable high-reliability electronics and aftermarket exposure though at materially larger scale.
- Ultra Electronics (Cobham Advanced Electronic Solutions): Ultra (now part of Advent/Cobham AES) produces high-reliability naval electronics, sonar, and aerospace subsystems serving allied naval and aerospace forces; comparable in naval systems, rugged electronics, and military qualification requirements.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Frontier Electronic Systems social profiles
Digital presenceFrontier Electronic Systems compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Frontier Electronic Systems financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Frontier Electronic Systems leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Frontier Electronic Systems funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frontier Electronic Systems 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 Frontier Electronic Systems
What does Frontier Electronic Systems do?
Frontier Electronic Systems designs and manufactures high-reliability electronics for aerospace and defense applications across six product lines: Naval Systems, Aircraft Avionics, Missile Systems, Test Equipment, Space Flight Systems, and Unmanned Systems. The company provides end-to-end capabilities from engineering design through circuit card assembly, environmental testing, and qualification per MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461, and DO-160 standards. Products are sold directly to defense prime contractors (Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin) and government agencies (NASA, Missile Defense Agency) for use in mission-critical applications where failure is not an option.
Is Frontier Electronic Systems a public or private company?
Frontier Electronic Systems is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Frontier Electronic Systems founded?
Frontier Electronic Systems was founded in 1984. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Frontier Electronic Systems based?
Frontier Electronic Systems is headquartered in Stillwater, United States, in the North America region.
How does Frontier Electronic Systems make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Defense Electronics Manufacturing is the primary driver. The others are test Equipment and Support Services.
Who are Frontier Electronic Systems's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ducommun Incorporated, CPI Aerostructures, Sierra Nevada Corporation and Mercury Systems. Broad incumbents are Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, HEICO Corporation and Ultra Electronics (Cobham Advanced Electronic Solutions).
Does Frontier Electronic Systems have an API?
No public API is recorded for Frontier Electronic Systems.
What industry is Frontier Electronic Systems in?
Frontier Electronic Systems's product category is Defense Electronics Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAGAJ, Military Power Supplies, RF/Microwave Components & Ruggedized Electronics, with a secondary code of IMABAMAE, Military Avionics, Mission Computers & Flight Controls. Its NAICS code is 334511 and its SIC code is 3812.