Softronics

What Softronics does

Softronics, LTD. is a privately-held, veteran-owned small business incorporated in 1984 and headquartered in Marion, Iowa. The company designs and manufactures electronic equipment, radio systems, and custom hardware-software solutions for the U.S. defense and aerospace markets, with a secondary commercial business in cellular infrastructure. Core capabilities span high-frequency radio design (receivers, transmitters, modems, synthesizers, power amplifiers, distribution systems, antennas), high-speed digital design including FPGA development in VHDL targeting PIC/DSP/Intel processors, software development across Windows/Linux/RTOS/Android in C, C++, Java, Python, and Visual Basic, mechanical design for military packaging (aircraft, vehicle, ship, ground, handheld), and thermal/cooling design for complex electronics.

The product portfolio is anchored by the Phoenix high-frequency power amplifier family (1kW, 4kW, and 10kW), UHF 1kW linear power amplifiers in ground and airborne (DO-160G-tested) configurations, and form-fit-function replacement radios for legacy military systems such as the ARC-171-1H (S171) and GRC-171. Specialized products include Sonobuoy Radio Simulators built for the U.S. Navy, the FLYK-125 long-range voice/data radio, multichannel energy detectors (Aardvark, ARF, SD100), an SG-3000 handheld signal generator, infrared optical machine sensors, and AISG-based cellular antenna controllers supporting 3G, 4G, and 5G networks.

Softronics generates revenue through hardware sales of standard and custom electronic products (with build history spanning 1 to over 75,000 units) and through professional services including troubleshooting, repair, replacement parts, sustainment, and legacy system modernization. The company sells primarily through direct enterprise engagement with government and defense customers, supported by AS9100D, ISO 9001:2015, DCAA-approved rates and accounting, and ITAR compliance. Customer concentration sits predominantly with U.S. defense agencies and primes; the company is small (11-50 employees), self-funded, and does not disclose revenue.

Name

Softronics

Legal name

Softronics, LTD.

Website

https://softronicsltd.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Softronics is a veteran-owned Iowa small business founded in 1984 that designs and manufactures custom RF electronics, military radios, power amplifiers, and signal equipment for U.S. defense, aerospace, and select commercial telecom customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defense Electronics / Radio Systems Manufacturing

NAICS

Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing (334220), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419)

SIC

Radio & Tv Broadcasting & Communications Equipment (3663), Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825)

akta.pro primary industry

Military Power Supplies, RF/Microwave Components & Ruggedized Electronics (IMABAGAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Passive Filters & RF Passives (LC Filters/Diplexers/Baluns/Attenuators) (HDAHANAG)

Keywords

• Electronic equipment manufacturing
• Radio systems design
• Custom power amplifiers
• Defense electronics
• Legacy radio modernization

Headquarters

HQ city

Marion

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, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Electronic Product Sales: Sale of electronic equipment including power amplifiers, radio systems, energy detectors, signal generators, and custom specialty electronics. Products range from individual units to high-volume production runs.
2. Custom Electronics Manufacturing: Design and manufacture of custom electronic assemblies for commercial and government customers. Includes build history from quantity 1 to over 75,000 units.
3. Service and Support: Troubleshooting, repairs, replacement parts, custom support solutions, training and documentation, long-term maintenance, sustainment and modernization

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Softronics designs, manufactures, and services electronic equipment and radio systems for government/defense, aerospace, and commercial customers. The portfolio spans UHF and HF power amplifiers (1kW/4kW/10kW), Software Defined Radio (SDR) systems, military radio form-fit-function replacements (ARC-171, GRC-171), sonobuoy simulators, cellular antenna controllers (3G/4G/5G), tactical radios (FLYK-125), signal generators, and energy detectors, with production runs from single units to over 75,000 units.

Product overview

Softronics offers a diverse portfolio of advanced electronic equipment and radio systems organized across multiple product families: UHF products (1kW Linear Power Amplifiers for ground and airborne applications), HF products (Phoenix Power Amplifiers and HF Line Flateners for impedance matching), Military Electronics (S171 Radio replacements for ARC-171-1H, GRC-171 Replacement Radios, Sonobuoy Radio Simulators for the U.S. Navy, and Custom Specialty Electronics including 1kW/4kW/10kW Phoenix PAs), Commercial Electronics (Cellular Antenna Controllers with AISG serial controllers for 3G/4G/5G, FLYK-125 voice and data radio system, and custom Machine Sensors), and Miniature Handheld Electronics and Sensors (SG-3000 Signal Generator, Aardvark and ARF Multichannel Energy Detectors, and SD100 Single Channel Energy Detectors). The company provides both standard product lines and custom-designed solutions for specialized applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 1kW UHF Linear Power Amplifier - Ground AM/FM and digital data power amplifier with 1000-watt CW/FM output and 2000-watt PEP, in a 19-inch rack mount with self-contained power supply and configurable single-phase/3-phase AC input. Intended for defense, aerospace, and high-frequency network ground applications.
• 1kW UHF Linear Power Amplifier - Airborne AM/FM and digital data power amplifier with 1000-watt CW/FM output and 2000-watt PEP, combining amplifier and power supply in a single DO-160G-tested ARC-171/S171 case as a one-box solution. Designed for military airborne applications.
• HF Power Amplifiers (Phoenix series) High-Frequency power amplifiers in the Phoenix series, transforming legacy products into modern high-performance systems with improved efficiency and lower power demands. Available in 1kW, 4kW, and 10kW models for HF network applications.
• HF Line Flatener Provides a low Voltage Standing Wave Ratio impedance match between transmitters and 50-ohm wideband antennas for HF networks. Sold as part of the Phoenix HF product family.
• S171 Radios Form-fit-function replacement for the legacy ARC-171-1H military radio, with redesigned modern electronics and enhanced functionality while maintaining identical external appearance and performance. Targeted at military aircraft and defense modernization programs.
• Sonobuoy Radio Simulators Generates standard analog and digital buoy modulated signals when driven by a suitable analog or digital baseband stimulator. Designed for the U.S. Navy for naval testing and training applications.
• GRC-171 Replacement Radios Direct replacement for the legacy GRC-171 radio with directly compatible performance and features, plus augmented frequency coverage and full duplex operation. Designed for military and defense customers modernizing legacy communications.
• Custom Specialty Electronics Compact, rack-mounted communications components for high-frequency networks, including 1kW, 4kW, or 10kW Phoenix PAs and other custom specialty electronic assemblies designed and manufactured for unique customer requirements.
• Cellular Antenna Controllers AISG serial controllers and control modules for 3G, 4G, and 5G cellular technologies, enabling remote management of cellular antenna systems. Sold to commercial telecommunications customers.
• FLYK-125 Tactical Radio System Rugged, compact, and high-performance long-range voice and data radio system engineered for maximum mobility and rapid deployment. Designed for tactical, field, and defense applications requiring portable communications.
• Machine Sensors Infrared optical object sensors that can be custom designed for any application and piece of equipment. Sold to commercial and industrial customers needing tailored sensor integration.
• SG-3000 Signal Generator Full-function handheld signal generator suitable for field test and calibration applications. Targeted at technicians and engineers needing portable test equipment.
• Aardvark Multichannel Energy Detectors Multichannel computer scanning energy detectors supporting 16 or 24 bands, with a variety of operational input and output functions for signal detection. Targeted at spectrum monitoring and electronic warfare support applications.
• ARF Multichannel Energy Detectors Specialized energy detector that scans 10 channels with remote control or autonomous preprogrammed operation. Targeted at field signal detection and electronic surveillance use cases.
• SD100 Single Channel Energy Detector The smallest energy detector made by Softronics, running on a single AA battery and designed to fit easily in a pocket or on a lanyard. Targeted at portable field signal detection applications.
• Electronics Service and Support Provides troubleshooting, repairs, replacement parts, custom support solutions, training, documentation, long-term maintenance, sustainment, and modernization services for Softronics products and customer equipment. Offered to commercial and government/defense customers.

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Crane Aerospace & Electronics: Division of Crane Co. producing RF, microwave, and power systems for defense and commercial aerospace. Directly comparable to Softronics' power amplifier and RF product lines serving military aviation platforms.
• Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions: Public company with a defense electronics segment producing rugged communications, RF, and signal intelligence hardware for military platforms. Comparable in legacy military radio/comms modernization and ruggedized packaging for airborne/ground/shipboard applications.
• Mercury Systems: Public defense electronics company specializing in RF, microwave, and mission-critical processing for aerospace and defense applications. Highly comparable in RF subsystem design and DoD customer base, though at significantly larger scale and broader product portfolio.
• L3Harris Technologies: Major defense prime producing tactical radios, HF/UHF communications systems, and electronic warfare equipment. Softronics' SDR and tactical radio products compete in adjacent spaces and serve overlapping U.S. military customers.
• Leonardo DRS: Mid-tier defense electronics provider with advanced RF, sensing, and network computing capabilities. Comparable as a smaller-scope defense electronics manufacturer serving naval and ground platforms, similar to Softronics' Navy sonobuoy and tactical radio work.
• Ultra Electronics: UK-based defense electronics specialist in sonar, RF communications, and electronic warfare. Comparable product overlap in tactical communications and signal generation/sensing for naval and special operations end-users.
• Teledyne Technologies: Diversified industrial conglomerate with significant defense electronics exposure in RF/microwave, signal processing, and instrumentation. Comparable through Teledyne's electronic instrumentation and defense subsystems serving similar DoD and aerospace primes.

Direct peers

• Ducommun Incorporated: Mid-cap provider of engineered products and defense electronics manufacturing including RF and microwave assemblies. Closely comparable vertically integrated custom electronics manufacturing model for defense primes, though at much higher revenue scale.
• Herley Industries (Ultra-Herley): Specialty defense electronics manufacturer focused on RF, microwave, and millimeter-wave subsystems for military applications. Closely comparable in legacy military radio and signal generator products, custom RF design heritage, and small-business defense supplier positioning.

Emerging players

• Communication Concepts: Small defense electronics firm specializing in RF amplifiers, antenna systems, and custom RF engineering for DoD. Closely comparable size and product focus on HF/UHF power amplifiers for tactical military communications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/softronics-ltd-

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 Softronics