Applied Signals Intelligence

What Applied Signals Intelligence does

Applied Signals Intelligence (ASI) is a privately-held defense technology company headquartered in Sterling, Virginia, that designs and builds low-Size-Weight-and-Power (SWaP) Radio Frequency (RF) direction finding and geolocation sensors for military and unmanned platform customers. The company's core technology is a proprietary Electromagnetic Vector Sensor (EMVS) that determines signal direction from the local structure of the electromagnetic field vector rather than phase differences across separated antenna elements, enabling single-platform 3D direction finding across HF to 18 GHz without GPS synchronization, multi-aircraft coordination, or large antenna baselines. ASI's product portfolio consists of two complementary lines: SNITCH (an airborne payload for Group 2 UAS, Launched Effects, High-Altitude Balloons, Tethered UAS, and one-way UAS) and SNITCH-T (a rugged terrestrial sensor for tripod, vehicle, tower, or fixed-site installation). Both products integrate with the Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK) and emit Cursor-on-Target (CoT) messaging for incorporation into existing military workflows.

ASI's business model is built on defense hardware sales supplemented by integration services, with a platform-agnostic distribution approach enabled by Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) interfaces that allow rapid integration onto diverse unmanned platforms — demonstrated by concept-to-flight integration with Platform Aerospace's Vanilla UAS in under three weeks. The company sells primarily through enterprise field sales targeting defense procurement, electronic warfare program offices, ISR mission planners, and unmanned platform integrators, with multi-year contract structures and quote-based pricing. ASI also pursues a channel strategy in which platform OEMs embed SNITCH payloads into their UAS products, supplemented by thought-leadership content, defense trade events, and direct outreach from CEO Dr. Martin Rofheart. Its customer base spans defense and military end users, unmanned platform integrators, and tactical ground forces operating in denied, degraded, and contested electromagnetic environments.

Name

Applied Signals Intelligence

Legal name

Applied Signals Intelligence, Inc.

Website

https://asigint.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Applied Signals Intelligence is a privately-held defense technology company that builds low-SWaP RF direction finding and geolocation sensors (SNITCH and SNITCH-T) using proprietary Electromagnetic Vector Sensor technology, serving U.S. defense, military, and unmanned platform integrator customers in contested, GPS-denied environments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defense RF Sensors (RF Direction Finding and Geolocation)

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

Military ISR, EW & SIGINT Payloads (Airborne) (IMABAMAF)

Keywords

• RF direction finding sensors
• RF geolocation hardware
• Electronic warfare sensors
• EMSO sensor payloads
• SIGINT ISR-T integration

Headquarters

HQ city

Sterling

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. RF Sensor Hardware Sales: ASI sells RF direction finding and geolocation sensor payloads (SNITCH, SNITCH-T) as integrated hardware systems to defense and military customers. Revenue is generated through direct hardware sales of sensor payloads and components, likely supplemented by integration services, maintenance, and aftermarket support.
2. ISR-T Payload Integration Services: ASI provides rapid integration of its SNITCH RF ISR-T payload onto third-party unmanned platforms (e.g., Vanilla UAS), including engineering, fabrication, installation, and flight verification using MOSA interfaces. Pre-flight checkout and installation can be completed in under 30 minutes per the Vanilla integration example.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ASI designs, develops, and sells ultrawideband RF Direction Finding (DF) and geolocation sensor payloads—SNITCH (airborne) and SNITCH-T (terrestrial)—built on its proprietary Electromagnetic Vector Sensor (EMVS) technology. The sensors enable single-platform, GPS-denied 3D RF DF across HF to 18 GHz (200 MHz IBW) from extremely low-SWaP form factors (e.g., 6" diameter x 7" length, 3.5 lbs., 40W), supporting COMINT, SIGINT, ELINT, Electronic Support (ES), and Home-on-Jam/Home-on-Threat missions for defense customers operating in contested, denied, and communication-challenged electromagnetic environments.

Product overview

Applied Signals Intelligence delivers advanced Radio Frequency (RF) sensing systems that enable autonomous Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations (EMSO) from low-SWaP platforms. The product portfolio consists of two complementary RF sensor lines: SNITCH™ (airborne variant) and SNITCH-T (terrestrial variant). Both products leverage ASI's proprietary Electromagnetic Vector Sensor (EMVS) technology to provide single-platform 3D direction finding, real-time emitter detection, DF, and geolocation without requiring GPS synchronization or multi-sensor geometry. SNITCH is designed for integration onto Group 2 UAS and other unmanned platforms, while SNITCH-T addresses ground-force requirements with tripod, vehicle, and fixed-site mounting options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SNITCH: Field-proven ultrawideband RF sensor for tactical DF and geolocation missions, delivering single-platform precision RF 3D DF and targeting from small UAS platforms.
• SNITCH-T

Products and services

• SNITCH Field-proven ultrawideband RF sensor payload for tactical Direction Finding (DF) and geolocation missions on small unmanned aerial systems. Delivers single-ball, single-platform precision RF 3D DF and targeting with 360° azimuth and 90+° elevation field of view, HF to 18 GHz coverage with 200 MHz instantaneous bandwidth, GPS-denied operation, and a 6" diameter x 7" long form factor weighing 3.5 lbs. at 40W. For defense and military customers needing RF ISR-T from Group 2 UAS and other low-SWaP platforms.
• SNITCH-T Rugged, mast-mountable RF direction finding and emitter-mapping sensor for ground forces. Delivers single-sensor, full azimuth and elevation DF, lines of bearing, triangulated geolocation, power spectral density (PSD), and threat signal characterization. Weights 4.5 lbs. (sensor alone) or 13 lbs. in tripod configuration at 40–45W, supporting tripod, vehicle, tower, or fixed-site installations. Wideband HF through 6 GHz or 18 GHz operation with 200 MHz instantaneous bandwidth. For tactical ground units and EW teams requiring deployable RF awareness in denied environments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Concept-to-flight integration completed in under 3 weeks (from initial technical discussions to airborne test on Vanilla UAS)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability2 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Platform AerospacecoreTechnology or Integration · 10 December 2025Platform Aerospace and ASI entered a technology integration partnership to integrate ASI's SNITCH RF ISR-T payload onto Platform Aerospace's Vanilla ultra-long-endurance UAS. The joint team achieved concept-to-flight in under three weeks, demonstrating MOSA-aligned rapid capability delivery. The integration enables Vanilla with rapid, modular ultrawideband RF direction finding and geolocation for EMSO missions on long-endurance unmanned platforms. The SNITCH payload (6"D x 7"L, 4.5 lbs., 45W) was CAD-modeled, fabricated, installed, and flight-verified using open MOSA interfaces. Installation and pre-flight checkout required less than 30 minutes. Kurt Parsons, CEO of Platform Aerospace, noted that the collaboration showcases Vanilla's modular architecture enabling rapid adaptation to emerging mission needs.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Northrop Grumman: Manufactures airborne ISR systems (E-2D, Global Hawk, LITENING) and EW payloads, with deep expertise in RF and electronic warfare. Comparable in the airborne SIGINT/ISR payload category where ASI competes, though at vastly larger scale and as a platform prime rather than sensor specialist.
• BAE Systems Electronic Systems: Global defense prime with extensive EW, SIGINT, and intelligence sensor capabilities including the Electronic Systems segment that produces RF receivers and DF systems. Comparable to ASI's core RF sensing mission but with much broader platform integration, prime contracting role, and global footprint.
• Thales Defense & Security: Global defense EW and SIGINT provider (with Thales UK's flagship products like the Viper EW family) supplying airborne and ground RF direction-finding systems to NATO and allied forces. Comparable in mission and product category to ASI, though operating at international scale and broader portfolio.
• RTX (Raytheon): Operates Raytheon Intelligence & Space with SIGINT, EW, and RF sensor capabilities including legacy DF systems for airborne ISR aircraft. Comparable as a competitor and potential platform integration partner for DoD EW programs, though at much greater scale and with broader portfolio.
• L3Harris Technologies: Major defense prime with deep EW, SIGINT, and ISR sensor portfolios (e.g., Falcon, Hawkeye). Directly comparable as it sells RF direction-finding payloads into airborne and ground platforms across all U.S. services and allies, but at much larger scale and broader scope than ASI's niche focus.

Emerging players

• Anduril Industries: High-growth defense technology company building autonomous systems and EW/sensor products (including the Lattice platform and various UAS-integrated payloads). Comparable as a venture-backed defense disruptor targeting modern, attritable UAS architectures and DoD EW/ISR customers similar to ASI's buyer profile.

Direct peers

• Sierra Nevada Corporation: Provides ISR, EW, and SIGINT solutions including the Tactical SIGINT Payload and counter-IED RF systems. Comparable as a privately-held, mid-size U.S. defense electronics integrator competing in similar tactical EW markets with comparable end customers.
• Mercury Systems: Supplier of RF, microwave, and digital subsystems for defense EW, SIGINT, and electronic warfare applications. Closely comparable to ASI at the sensor/subsystem layer serving similar DoD primes and UAS integrators, though Mercury operates at significantly larger scale across multiple sensor modalities.
• Leonardo DRS: Provides advanced EW, SIGINT, and sensor integration solutions for U.S. and allied defense forces, including tactical RF and EW subsystems. Directly comparable to ASI as a mid-size defense electronics supplier targeting similar EW/ISR missions and integrators, with overlapping RF sensor product lines.
• CACI International: Provides SIGINT, EW, and intelligence systems integration services to the DoD, including RF sensor systems and tactical EW solutions for airborne and ground platforms. Comparable to ASI as a mid-size defense contractor targeting similar EW/ISR mission sets and customers, with comparable scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/asigint

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 Applied Signals Intelligence