Life Support International

What Life Support International does

Life Support International (LSI), founded circa 1989 and headquartered in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, designs, manufactures, and services safety, survival, search and rescue, and protective equipment for aerospace and defense customers. Its product portfolio centers on the UNI-PAC series of air-drop survival kits (UNI-PAC II, UNI-PAC III, UNI-PAC Skymaster II) that integrate parachutes, life rafts, and survival supplies into a single canister deployable from military aircraft at speeds up to 230 KIAS. The UNI-PAC III is the only qualified search and rescue system for the Boeing P-8A Poseidon (US Navy designation SRU-44/P, in service since 2021). Complementary offerings include HARD-series life rafts for special operations rotorcraft, MK-46 inflatable life preservers, parachute systems with payload range from 10 to 40,000 pounds, Mil-Spec protective clothing, signaling equipment, and a High Altitude Wing Kit (HAWK) for UAV search and rescue.

The company operates as a niche Tier-2/Tier-3 supplier to the US Department of Defense, allied foreign militaries, and OEM aerospace primes such as Boeing and Martin-Baker. Revenue is generated through direct hardware sales (via GSA Schedule Contract GS-07F-0359U, e-commerce storefront, and quote-based enterprise sales) and recurring inspection, repair, and overhaul services through its FAA-certified Repair Station (#LFPR314K). LSI holds AS9100D and ISO 9001 certifications, DOD and State Department vetting, and participates in Strategic Teaming Partnerships for COTS integration. In November 2023, LSI acquired Aerial Delivery Solutions (ADS), adding 50+ years of parachute design and prototyping expertise; in November 2025, it opened LSI-A, a Maintenance Repair and Overhaul facility in South Australia under partnership with the Government of South Australia, extending service reach into the Asia-Pacific region.

The go-to-market model combines enterprise field sales to US and foreign military accounts, channel partnerships with aerospace OEMs, GSA-contracted government sales, and event-driven engagement at defense exhibitions. The customer base spans the US Navy (P-8A, F-35), US Army Special Operations (MH-47E Chinook HARD-20), Royal Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force (P-3 Orion), Indian Navy (P8I Poseidon), and law enforcement/fire/rescue agencies worldwide. Greg Yerkes serves as President. The company is privately held with approximately 20 employees and has not disclosed external institutional investment.

Name

Life Support International

Legal name

Life Support International, Inc.

Website

https://lifesupportintl.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Life Support Equipment

NAICS

Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414)

SIC

Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728), Aircraft & Parts (3720), Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)

akta.pro primary industry

Reentry, Descent & Landing Systems (Capsules, Heat Shields, Parachutes) (IMABACAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Life-Saving Appliances & Safety Equipment (Davit Systems, Lifeboats, Firefighting) (IMAJAIAG), Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD)

Keywords

• Aviation life support equipment
• Search and rescue systems
• Aerial delivery equipment
• Military parachute systems
• Survival life rafts

Headquarters

HQ city

Langhorne

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

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. Product Sales: Designs, manufactures, distributes, and services a wide range of US Mil-Spec, FAA, and USCG approved life saving equipment including aerial delivery systems, life rafts, life preservers, survival kits, and protective clothing.
2. Service and Repair: Complete Overhaul, Repair, and Modification programs for Parachutes, Inflatables, and Survival equipment. CO2 refill/recharge, hydrostatic testing, environmental packaging, and inspection/recertification services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Life Support International designs, manufactures, distributes, and services US Mil-Spec, FAA, and USCG approved life saving equipment for military, aerospace, and emergency response applications. The core product family is the UNI-PAC series of air-drop survival systems (UNI-PAC II, UNI-PAC III, UNI-PAC Skymaster II), complemented by HARD series life rafts, MK-46 life preservers, parachute systems, protective clothing, and signaling/communications equipment. The company also operates FAA-certified inspection, repair, and overhaul programs for parachutes, inflatables, and survival equipment.

Product overview

Life Support International is a manufacturer and distributor of safety, survival, and rescue equipment for aerospace and defense. The product portfolio centers on the UNI-PAC series air-drop survival systems (UNI-PAC II, UNI-PAC III, and UNI-PAC Skymaster II) which integrate life rafts, parachutes, and survival supplies for deployment from military aircraft. Complementary products include HARD series life rafts, MK-46 series life preservers, parachute systems, protective clothing, and signaling equipment. The company also provides inspection, repair, and overhaul services through FAA-certified repair stations. In November 2023, LSI acquired Aerial Delivery Solutions (ADS) to strengthen its parachute manufacturing and design capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Aerial Delivery Solutions (ADS): A subsidiary specializing in the sale, design, and manufacture of parachute systems, life support systems, ancillary components, and high reliability textile products in support of global aerospace, defense, and search and rescue operations.

Products and services

• UNI-PAC III Search and Rescue System Air-drop survival kit designed for the Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft, consisting of a 20-person life raft with survival aids, parachute deployment system, and weapons-bay integration. It is the only qualified search and rescue system for the P-8A airframe, deployable from the weapons bay at 230 KIAS, and sustains up to 100 persons at sea for up to three days. US Navy designation SRU-44/P, in service since 2021.
• UNI-PAC II Air-Drop Survival Kit
• UNI-PAC Skymaster II Airdrop SAR Kit Airdrop SAR kit designed for external wing mounting on E-2-C/S-2 aircraft, containing a ten-person life raft, survival kit, 150-foot floating retrieval line, and deployment parachute system housed in a multi-density composite canister.
• HARD-8 Life Raft System Rugged canister life raft system with single-point release mechanism for 8-person capacity, designed for static line or manual deployment from aircraft. Part of the HARD series originally developed for US Army Special Operations Aviation Regiment.
• HARD Series Life Rafts HARD (Hard Aircraft Raft Device) series life rafts originally designed for US Army Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), featuring rugged hard-shell canisters, vacuum-packed life rafts, single-point release harnesses, and multiple deployment modes. Available in 4, 6, 8, and 20-man capacities with extended 3-year service cycle.
• MK-46 Series Life Preservers Constant wear inflatable life vests designed for helicopter pilots and passengers, featuring lightweight, durable construction with dual flotation cells providing 38 pounds of buoyancy. Available in multiple variants including CV (with equipment pockets), GT (low-profile), and SV (modular survival vest with MOLLE attachments).
• Parachute Systems Parachute systems including Ram Air parachutes, Round parachutes, deployment bags, pilot chutes, pack trays, bridles, and harness systems. Capabilities range from 10 pounds to 40,000 pounds payload capacity, altitudes up to 104,000 feet, and speeds exceeding 230 knots. Provided by the ADS subsidiary acquired in 2023 with 50+ years of expertise.
• Protective Clothing Tactical clothing including anti-exposure suits, Nomex flight coveralls, anti-G suits (CSU-13B/P), dry suit systems, and flight gloves meeting MIL-SPEC requirements for aviation and tactical operations.
• Signaling and Communications Equipment Emergency communications and signaling products including personal locator beacons, strobe and marker lights, pyrotechnic signaling products, signal mirrors, and survival radios.
• MK-III Rescue Seat Helicopter rescue seat for personnel extraction in any terrain including over water and thick forest, featuring high-buoyancy foam rubber flotation collar, three adjustable safety straps, and compact 9-inch diameter stowage.
• High Altitude Wing Kit (HAWK) Search and rescue solution for Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV) available in three sizes (Falcon, Osprey, Eagle) with survival equipment tailored for land, desert, water, or icy conditions.
• Inspection, Repair, and Overhaul Services Complete overhaul, repair, and modification programs for parachutes, inflatables, and survival equipment at US and Australia service centers. Includes FAA-certified repair station services, CO2 refill/recharge, hydrostatic testing, and environmental packaging.

Quantifiable outcome

• UNI-PAC II drop accuracy within 10 meters
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• BiORGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 November 2025BiORG (Doug Phillips and team) championed the initiative for Life Support International Australia (LSI-A) facility from concept to completion and now drive day-to-day operations at the new Adelaide facility. Strong partnership between LSI and BiORG driving regional growth.
• Government of South AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 November 2025Partnership between LSI and Government of South Australia establishing Life Support International Australia (LSI-A) facility. Sets foundation for long-term growth in manufacturing, servicing, and support of lifesaving equipment throughout the region.
• Strategic Teaming PartnersstrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLSI maintains several Strategic Teaming Partnerships that allow integration of LSI capabilities into partners' product lines and integration of partners' products into LSI's product lines, maximizing COTS/Modified COTS diversification.
• US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) Soldier Center Air Drop DirectoratestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerADS has worked with CCDC Soldier Center Air Drop Directorate for twelve years developing and testing glide modulation systems for guided para-foils, recently completing the AAIRDUCT JCTD program in 2021.
• Earthly Dynamics CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerADS partnered with Earthly Dynamics Corporation to develop low weight/low volume guided recovery system demonstrated on SpaceWorks Enterprises RED-4U capsule from 104,000 feet in October 2021.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Airborne Systems: Designer and manufacturer of personnel parachutes, cargo aerial delivery systems, and related life-support equipment for military forces. Highly comparable as a competing sole-source supplier of aerial-delivery and parachute systems to the same defense customer base that LSI serves.
• Pioneer Aerospace: Manufacturer of aerial delivery parachutes, cargo parachute systems, and deceleration devices for aerospace and defense. Directly overlaps with LSI/ADS in the military aerial-delivery parachute niche and competes for similar DoD and allied contracts.
• Carleton Life Support Systems: Specializes in aircrew life-support equipment including anti-exposure suits, flight clothing, and survival equipment for military aviation. Closely comparable product set to LSI's protective clothing and personal survival lines.
• Switlik Parachute Company: Family-owned manufacturer of parachutes, life rafts, life vests, and survival equipment for military and aviation customers. Comparable niche manufacturer/distributor with FAA repair station capability and a similar product portfolio to LSI.
• BRS Aerospace: Designer and manufacturer of whole-aircraft parachute systems and emergency recovery systems for general aviation, military, and UAV markets. Comparable technology base in parachute engineering, with overlap in the UAV recovery and emergency parachute segments where LSI is expanding.
• Mustang Survival: Manufacturer of marine survival equipment including flotation devices, life vests, and immersion suits. Closely comparable to LSI's MK-46 life preserver and marine safety product lines for defense and first-responder customers.
• East/West Industries: Manufacturer of safety and survival equipment including aircrew restraint systems and helicopter emergency egress equipment for military aviation. Comparable as a small-cap DoD-focused life-support and crew safety supplier.

Emerging players

• Survival Systems Inc. Provides aircrew water survival training and survival equipment services for military and commercial aviation. Adjacent emerging player with overlap in the military aviation survival ecosystem that LSI addresses through product sales rather than training.

Broad incumbents

• Collins Aerospace (RTX): Major aerospace and defense incumbent providing a broad portfolio of life-support, oxygen, and survival systems across commercial and military platforms. Competes indirectly with LSI on integrated survival subsystems for large OEM programs.
• Safran (Safran Aerosystems): Global aerospace group encompassing a life-support and safety systems business (formerly Zodiac Aerospace) that supplies oxygen, flotation, and evacuation systems. Broad incumbent with overlapping aerospace survival products competing for similar OEM slots.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/life-support-international-inc-
• Facebookfacebook.com/lifesupportintl

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Life Support International