What Aerial Machine & Tool does

Aerial Machine & Tool Corp is a privately held U.S. defense survivability products company headquartered in Meadows of Dan, Virginia. Founded in 1926 and a Department of Defense prime contractor since 1940, the company designs and manufactures life-safety equipment for the U.S. military, NATO allies, tactical truck OEMs, and first responder communities. Its portfolio is organized across three segments: Survival (emergency breathing systems, flotation devices, combat vests, parachute hardware, helicopter rescue hooks, and the AirTEP airborne extraction platform), Safety (aircraft fuel tank ventilation and respiratory protection systems, including the MAV, NF, and System #6 product families from the acquired Rhine Air business), and Protection (passive fuel tank fire suppression systems from the 2025 Hazard Protection Systems acquisition and Bread Box explosives transport cases). The company's underlying technologies include proprietary passive dry-chemical fire suppression that activates without power or sensors, 3000 psi compressed air emergency breathing systems for maritime egress, technical sewing and radio frequency welding of flotation gear, and precision machining, all produced under Berry-compliant, AS9100-certified, and ISO 9001:2015-certified U.S. manufacturing.

The business model is a B2B government defense contractor selling engineered hardware through formal DOD procurement channels, complemented by recurring revenue from parts, overhaul services, reset kits, and bi-annual service programs. Pricing is contract-based and not publicly disclosed, with multi-year government contracts. The company generates ancillary revenue from training, policy and doctrine development, and factory service, and serves as the leading U.S. distributor for Escape International's AirTEP platform. Aerial is a portfolio company of Argosy Private Equity, which has actively reshaped the company since 2024 through the divestiture of Capewell business units to HEICO and the acquisitions of Rhine Air and Hazard Protection Systems, with both subsidiaries now unified under the Aerial brand.

Name

Aerial Machine & Tool

Legal name

Aerial Machine & Tool Corp

Website

https://aerialmt.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Aerial Machine & Tool is a U.S. defense manufacturer of life-safety and survivability equipment, including emergency breathing systems, passive fuel tank fire suppression, tactical textiles, and aircraft ventilation products. It serves the U.S. military, NATO allies, tactical truck OEMs, and first responders as a Berry-compliant DOD prime contractor.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defense Survivability Equipment

NAICS

Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641)

SIC

Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)

akta.pro primary industry

Life-Saving Appliances & Safety Equipment (Davit Systems, Lifeboats, Firefighting) (IMAJAIAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Rotorcraft Cabin Interiors & Mission Equipment (IMABABAJ)

Keywords

• Defense survivability equipment
• Emergency breathing systems
• Aircraft fuel tank ventilation
• Passive fire suppression systems
• Military lifesaving equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Meadows Of Dan

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Survivability Products: Sale of custom-engineered combat equipment including emergency breathing systems, flotation devices, tactical vests, parachute harnesses, and fire suppression systems to military and first responder organizations. Revenue is generated through one-time product sales and repeat orders from government contracts.
2. Ground Support Equipment: Sale of fuel tank ventilation systems and respiratory protection equipment for aircraft maintenance operations. Includes portable and stationary systems for military and commercial aviation.
3. Training and Support Services: Operator equipment training programs (virtual and live-action), maintenance technician training, repair and overhaul services, policy and doctrine development services, and factory service for breathing devices and ground support equipment.
4. Protective Cases: Sale of Bread Box protective explosive transport bags for military EOD, humanitarian explosives removal teams, and industrial applications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Aerial Machine & Tool designs, engineers and manufactures custom lifesaving and survivability equipment for military and first responder customers across three segments: Survival (emergency breathing systems, the AirTEP helicopter extraction platform, flotation devices, combat vests, parachute harnesses and helicopter rescue hooks), Safety (aircraft fuel tank ventilation systems and respiratory protection equipment), and Protection (passive fuel tank fire suppression kits and Bread Box explosives transport cases). The company also delivers associated operator training, repair and overhaul services, and policy and doctrine development support, with all manufacturing performed Berry-compliant in Meadows of Dan, Virginia.

Product overview

Aerial Machine & Tool is a U.S.-based defense survivability products company offering a comprehensive portfolio of life-safety equipment organized across three core business segments: Survival (flotation devices, emergency breathing systems, combat vests, parachute harnesses, helicopter rescue hooks), Safety (aircraft fuel tank ventilation systems and respiratory protection equipment including MAV and NF series products), and Protection (passive fuel tank fire suppression systems via HazPro acquisition and Bread Box explosives transport cases). The company also provides AirTEP helicopter extraction platforms, ground support equipment, tool/repair kits, and associated training, doctrine development, and support services. All products are designed for military, defense, and first responder applications with Berry-compliant manufacturing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Corsair CA-EBS Emergency Breathing System A 3000 psi Compressed Air Emergency Breathing System designed for maritime helicopter, tiltrotor and amphibious vehicle operations to assist aviators and passengers during underwater egress emergencies. Features selectable marine grade brass or aluminum first stage body, piston first stage and lightweight second stage.
• Airborne Tactical Extraction Platform (AirTEP) Helicopter-lift extraction and insertion platform engineered by Escape International and distributed in the U.S. by Aerial, enabling fast, precise movement of up to 10 personnel in under five minutes for special operations, rescue and disaster response where helicopter landing is impossible. Aerial is the leading U.S. distributor and only Berry-compliant U.S. manufacturer.
• Fuel Tank Fire Suppression System Passive, proprietary dry chemical fire suppression kits engineered to rapidly quench ignition inside fuel tanks during ballistic, thermal or impact events without requiring power, sensors or mechanical activation. Proven in extensive live-fire testing including small-arms penetration, blast overpressure, thermal ignition and IED-related impacts. Over 22,000 kits have been delivered to the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, NATO allies and tactical truck OEMs.
• Bread Box Protective Cases High-durability protective kinetics transport enclosures designed to shield sensitive explosives components from impact, abrasion, moisture, dust and temperature fluctuations during field operations. Used by military EOD teams, humanitarian explosives removal teams and industrial applications.
• Aircraft Fuel Tank Ventilation and Respiratory Protection Equipment Portfolio of mobile aircraft fuel tank ventilation systems and respiratory protection equipment (NF1200-A, NF55-1, NF70-1, NF80-1, NF27-1, MAV 50, MAV-50C, MAV 37, MAV 1, MAV-1C, RC-80 respirator mask, CAN 45E, System #6, AF-178E blower) used by maintenance personnel during aircraft fuel tank repair and entry operations. Includes pneumatic and electric ambient air breathing pumps, portable and commercial respiratory kits, helicopter fuel tank respiratory kits and constant-flow full-face respirator masks.
• Aviation Combat Equipment and Survival Gear Carriers Custom-engineered integrated flotation devices, combat and flotation vests, tactical equipment, parachute hardware, pilot harnesses, plate carriers, helicopter hoists, hooks and ladders designed for aviators, special operations and combat personnel. Berry-compliant manufactured via technical sewing at the Meadows of Dan, Virginia facility.
• Ground Support Equipment and Life Support Air Compressors Self-contained deployable and mobile refill stations, large capacity mounted facility refill stations and Life Support Air Compressors (LSAC) supplying compressed air to support emergency breathing system operations in the field and at fixed facilities.
• Tool and Repair Kits for Emergency Breathing Systems Service kits including first and second stage standard overhaul replacement parts and reset kits used for bi-annual service and field reset of emergency breathing systems.
• Survivability Training Services Virtual and live-action operator equipment training programs covering breathing systems, flotation devices, vests and emergency parts replacement in extreme conditions, delivered to military and first responder customers.
• Policy and Doctrine Development Services Development of high-level strategies and specific procedures for operating Aerial's equipment and training personnel for mission success in extreme conditions, delivered to defense and first responder customers.
• Support Services (Repair, Overhaul and Sustaining Engineering) Repair and overhaul services with guaranteed turnaround times, emergency and reset loaners, test and reset services, factory service for breathing devices and ground support equipment, and an end-to-end serialized service program.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 55,000 Survival Gear Carriers and 65,000+ soft goods products manufactured
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• Hazard Protection Systems (HPS)coreTechnology or Integration · 11 March 2025Acquired by Aerial in March 2025, HPS provides patented passive fuel tank fire suppression systems for military combat and tactical vehicles. The acquisition expands Aerial's intellectual property portfolio in survivability solutions. HazPro was integrated under the Aerial brand in June 2026. HPS had sold over 22,000 kits to US Army, Marine Corps, NATO allies, and tactical truck OEMs.
• Escape InternationalstrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAerial is the leading U.S. distributor and only Berry-compliant U.S. manufacturer of the AirTEP (Airborne Tactical Extraction Platform) system created by Escape International. AirTEP enables fast insertion and extraction of personnel from helicopters in challenging environments where landing is impossible.
• Rhine Air, Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationAcquired by Aerial (formerly Capewell), Rhine Air is a global leader in aircraft fuel tank ventilation and respiratory protection equipment for over 40 years. The acquisition expanded Aerial's presence in Aviation Ground Support Equipment. Rhine Air products are now unified under the Aerial brand.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Survitec Group: Global provider of survival and safety equipment for marine, aviation, and defense markets, including lifejackets, immersion suits, and emergency breathing systems. Directly comparable to Aerial's life-safety/aviation-survivability portfolio.
• Avon Protection: Designs and manufactures respiratory protection systems and CBRN equipment for military and first responders, including rebreathers and SCBA. Comparable to Aerial's Corsair CA-EBS and MAV respiratory products.
• Drägerwerk: Manufactures safety and respiratory protection technology, including compressed air breathing apparatus used by fire/EMS and military users. Closely comparable to Aerial's emergency breathing systems and respiratory protection product line.
• H3R Aviation: Specializes in portable and fixed aircraft fire extinguishers and fire suppression systems for aviation and ground vehicles. Directly comparable to Aerial's Hazard Protection Systems (passive fuel tank fire suppression) franchise.
• Mustang Survival: Manufactures flotation and immersion survival equipment for military, marine, and first-responder markets. Comparable to Aerial's flotation devices, combat vests, and integrated survival-vest patent portfolio.
• Paraclete Armor & Gear: Specializes in tactical vests, plate carriers, and load-bearing equipment for US and allied special operations forces. Directly comparable to Aerial's tactical equipment carrier and survival vest patents.

Broad incumbents

• Gentex Corporation: Supplies advanced helmet systems, life-support equipment, and active hearing protection to militaries worldwide. Comparable to Aerial's broader warfighter-safety portfolio, though at significantly larger scale and broader scope.
• Collins Aerospace (RTX): Diversified Tier-1 aerospace supplier with mission systems, life-support, and ejection-seat portfolios. Overlaps with Aerial's helicopter mission equipment and breathing systems as part of a much broader offering.
• MSA Safety: Public safety-equipment manufacturer with SCBA, respirators, and protective equipment serving industrial, fire, and military end markets. Comparable to Aerial's respiratory protection products at a larger, more diversified scale.
• AmSafe (Trelleborg): Manufactures safety-restraint and cargo-restraint systems for aerospace and defense, including airbag and seatbelt technologies. Adjacent peer to Aerial's restraint/safety-equipment work for rotorcraft and ground vehicles.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aerial_mt
• Facebookfacebook.com/AerialMT
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/about

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aerial Machine & Tool