Aries Defense
Aries Defense builds ruggedized tactical video and sensor integration hardware that network-enables battlefield optics and UAVs for U.S. military and defense prime integrators operating in network-denied environments, sold post-2023 as a subsidiary of Sigma Defense Systems.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersSuffolk, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Aries Defense does
Aries Defense is a U.S.-based defense technology company, founded in 2017 and headquartered in Suffolk, Virginia, that builds ruggedized tactical video and sensor integration hardware for the extreme tactical edge. The company is registered as an active DoD contractor (CAGE 7VEL5, DUNS 08-063-5835) and was acquired by Sigma Defense Systems in late 2023, operating since as a wholly-owned subsidiary. Its product portfolio centers on the OverWatch DogBone platform, a MIL-SPEC enclosure that network-enables battlefield optics, cameras, and tactical radios for video distribution over MANET mesh networks. Supporting products include CheckPoints (dual-camera persistent surveillance), NEOS (UAS video integration across 11+ validated platforms including Black Hornet, Skydio, and DJI), TNT-02B (secure IP networking in denied environments), OWIK (integration kit for legacy cameras), and R5O (paired with Teledyne FLIR Recon V thermal binoculars).
The company's offerings are natively compatible with DoD Programs of Record including ATAK (Android Tactical Assault Kit), MCH (MAGTF Common Handheld), and KILSWITCH, and support MJPEG, H.264, and AVC video formats with EMCON-compliant (no Wi-Fi/Bluetooth) low SWaP-C designs. Aries generates revenue through two streams: hardware sales of its tactical video systems to military operators and defense integrators, and professional services for ATAK/MCH plugin development and consulting. Distribution occurs via Sigma Defense's enterprise field sales organization post-acquisition and through direct DoD procurement, with the TNT-02B carrying an assigned NATO Stock Number (NSN 6940016797141) for standardized supply channel access. The company serves the U.S. Department of Defense and defense prime integrators focused on ISR, force protection, tactical surveillance, and CJADC2-aligned joint force data sharing in network-denied or degraded environments.
Aries Defense firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Aries Defense
- Legal name
- Aries Defense
- Website
- https://ariesdefense.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Aries Defense builds ruggedized tactical video and sensor integration hardware that network-enables battlefield optics and UAVs for U.S. military and defense prime integrators operating in network-denied environments, sold post-2023 as a subsidiary of Sigma Defense Systems.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Aries Defense industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Defense Tactical Video Hardware
- NAICS
- Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing (334290)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Communications Equipment, Nec (3669)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) Sensors & Targeting Systems (IMABAGAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Military Power Supplies, RF/Microwave Components & Ruggedized Electronics (IMABAGAJ), Real-Time Vision at the Edge (on-device CV/video) (HDAAAJAE)
Keywords
Where Aries Defense is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Suffolk
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Aries Defense business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Defense Hardware Sales: Sale of ruggedized tactical video systems and sensor integration hardware to military and defense customers. Products include OverWatch, CheckPoints, NEOS, TNT-02B, and R5O systems along with accessories and integration kits.
- Software Development Services: Plugin development and consulting services for ATAK and MCH platforms, including custom plugin creation and development team acceleration consulting.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels1 record
Aries Defense product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Aries Defense designs and sells ruggedized tactical video and sensor integration hardware (OverWatch, CheckPoints, NEOS, TNT-02B, R5O, OWIK) that network-enables battlefield optics, uncrewed systems (UxVs), and tactical radios at the extreme tactical edge. The company also provides ATAK and MCH plugin development services and consulting to defense and military customers.
Product overview
Aries Defense provides a portfolio of tactical video and sensor integration products focused on network-enabling battlefield optics, UAVs, and video at the extreme tactical edge. The product line centers on the OverWatch™ DogBone as the core technology platform, which network-enables cameras and tactical radios for video streaming over tactical networks. Supporting products include CheckPoints™ (dual-camera system), OWIK™ (integration kit for existing video hardware), NEOS™ (UAV/uncrewed vehicle video integration), TNT-02B™ (network transfer for denied environments), and R5O™ (reconnaissance system with thermal binocular). Products are compatible with ATAK/MCH platforms and support multiple UAS platforms including SkyRaider, SkyRanger, Black Hornet, Puma, SwitchBlade, Skydio, DJI, and Parrot. The company was acquired by Sigma Defense Systems in late 2023 to enhance CJADC2 and ISR capabilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- OverWatch: Tactical video kit with visible and thermal cameras for persistent surveillance and situational awareness.
- CheckPoints
- NEOS
- TNT-02B
- R5O
- OWIK
Products and services
- OverWatch™ Core tactical video kit that network-enables tactical radios and cameras, allowing operators to set up visible and thermal video cameras and stream footage over tactical networks for persistent surveillance and situational awareness. Built for military operators and defense integrators using MIL-SPEC enclosure, NATO STANAG connectivity, and EMCON compliance.
- CheckPoints™ Dual-camera tactical video system with two simultaneous video input ports supporting up to four cameras (3 visible and 1 thermal) for dynamic viewing during persistent surveillance operations. Sold to defense and military customers.
- NEOS™ Platform-agnostic video integration system for uncrewed air, ground, and water-based platforms that delivers multiple video feeds to battlefield commanders over tactical networks via the OverWatch DogBone. Validated with R80D SkyRaider, SkyRanger R70, Black Hornet, Puma, SwitchBlade, Skydio, Stalker, PD-100, DJI, Parrot, and Hoverfly.
- TNT-02B™ (Tactical Network Transfer Kit) Mission planning, training, and tactical transfer device providing a secure IP network with a 1TB FTP server and 12-hour battery life when tactical networks are unavailable, reducing reliance on radio availability and cryptographic requirements in the field. Assigned NSN 6940016797141.
- R5O™ (Recon V OverWatch Kit) Integrated OverWatch system paired with Teledyne FLIR Recon V thermal binocular providing long-range detection, identification, and alerting with built-in stabilization, GPS, digital compass, laser rangefinder, and change-detection (1-5000 pixel threshold) capability for reconnaissance and surveillance at the tactical edge.
- OWIK™ (OverWatch Integration Kit) Universal camera integration kit that network-enables existing video hardware (DSLR, thermal, HDMI, DisplayPort, GoPro) via the OverWatch DogBone for tactical video streaming.
- ATAK/MCH Plugin Development Services Professional services for native plugin development on Android Tactical Assault Kit (ATAK) and MAGTF Common Handheld (MCH), plus consulting to accelerate in-house plugin teams. Targeted at defense integrators and DoD units that need custom data types, messaging, and hardware interfacing.
Companies that use Aries Defense
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Aries Defense technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration18 records
AI capability3 records
Feature7 records
Aries Defense partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Sigma Defense SystemscoreSigma Defense Systems acquired Aries Defense in late 2023 to expand its ISR and force protection capabilities. The combined solutions integrate Sigma's Olympus CJADC2 platform with Aries Defense's NEOS system, creating an end-to-end data pipeline for tactical edge deployment. This acquisition supports Sigma Defense's mission to deliver resilient, software-defined military communication solutions.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Aries Defense competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Silvus Technologies: Silvus Technologies manufactures tactical mesh networking radios (StreamCaster) used by DoD and allied forces for unmanned systems and tactical video distribution. Both companies target the tactical edge ISR use case with ruggedized hardware and ATAK ecosystem integration, making Silvus a directly comparable communications-layer peer.
- Persistent Systems: Persistent Systems builds tactical MANET mesh radios and network integration solutions for military customers. Like Aries Defense, it is a niche defense technology provider enabling tactical edge communications, and its MPU5 radio is commonly paired with ATAK-based ISR stacks — directly comparable to Aries' MANET-compatible video distribution architecture.
- goTenna Pro: goTenna Pro provides tactical mesh networking devices for military, public safety, and federal use, enabling off-grid situational awareness. Both companies are small, US-based defense technology providers building ruggedized hardware that enables tactical edge data and video exchange without dependence on traditional infrastructure.
- TrellisWare Technologies: TrellisWare specializes in tactical MANET radio systems and waveform software for the US military. Its products enable resilient tactical communications in denied environments — the same operational scenario Aries' TNT-02B and OverWatch address — and it serves overlapping DoD program of record customers.
Broad incumbents
- Shield AI: Shield AI develops autonomous ISR drones (Nova) and the Hivemind edge AI software for military operations. It targets tactical edge ISR — Aries' core use case — through an integrated hardware-plus-AI stack rather than Aries' integration-only model, positioning it as a broader but rapidly converging incumbent.
- L3Harris Technologies: L3Harris is a major US defense prime producing tactical radios, EO/IR sensors, and integrated ISR systems for DoD. Its broad tactical communications and ISR portfolio includes ATAK-compatible solutions, placing it in direct competition for the same CJADC2 and edge ISR procurement dollars Aries targets.
- Teledyne FLIR Defense: Teledyne FLIR manufactures thermal imaging binoculars (Recon V) and tactical sensors integrated into military systems, including the Aries R5O kit. As both a partner (Recon V supplier) and adjacent provider of thermal hardware, FLIR is a comparable tactical EO/IR player with much broader scale.
- Elbit Systems: Elbit Systems is an Israeli defense prime with extensive tactical ISR, command and control, and ruggedized electronics product lines serving US and allied militaries. It is a broad incumbent competing for tactical edge ISR and dismounted soldier system programs that overlap with Aries' DoD customer base.
- Sierra Nevada Corporation: Sierra Nevada Corporation is a US defense electronics integrator producing tactical communications, EW, and ISR subsystems. It serves the same DoD tactical edge modernization programs (including ATAK-adjacent work) as Aries, positioning it as a broader incumbent with similar customer relationships.
- Anduril Industries: Anduril is a venture-backed defense technology company whose Lattice platform fuses sensor data at the tactical edge for situational awareness. While broader in scope than Aries, it competes for the same DoD CJADC2 and edge ISR budget and is increasingly building comparable tactical video integration capabilities, making it a broader incumbent threat.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Aries Defense social profiles
Digital presenceAries Defense financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Aries Defense leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Aries Defense funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Aries Defense 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 Aries Defense
What does Aries Defense do?
Aries Defense designs and sells ruggedized tactical video and sensor integration hardware (OverWatch, CheckPoints, NEOS, TNT-02B, R5O, OWIK) that network-enables battlefield optics, uncrewed systems (UxVs), and tactical radios at the extreme tactical edge. The company also provides ATAK and MCH plugin development services and consulting to defense and military customers.
Is Aries Defense a public or private company?
Aries Defense is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Aries Defense founded?
Aries Defense was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Aries Defense based?
Aries Defense is headquartered in Suffolk, United States, in the North America region.
How does Aries Defense make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Defense Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are software Development Services.
Who are Aries Defense's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Silvus Technologies, Persistent Systems, goTenna Pro and TrellisWare Technologies. Broad incumbents are Shield AI, L3Harris Technologies, Teledyne FLIR Defense, Elbit Systems, Sierra Nevada Corporation and Anduril Industries.
Does Aries Defense have an API?
No public API is recorded for Aries Defense.
What industry is Aries Defense in?
Aries Defense's product category is Defense Tactical Video Hardware. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAGAC, Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) Sensors & Targeting Systems, with a secondary code of IMABAGAJ, Military Power Supplies, RF/Microwave Components & Ruggedized Electronics. Its NAICS code is 334511 and its SIC code is 3812.