ABSI Defense

What ABSI Defense does

ABSI monetizes through hardware sales of aerial target systems and consumables, professional services on GSA OASIS+ (SB and SDVOSB pools), GSA PSS, Navy SeaPort-NxG, and equipment procurement via DLA TLS/SOE, with task orders structured as firm-fixed-price, cost-reimbursement, or T&M depending on program requirements. Customer base is concentrated in U.S. federal defense — including the U.S. Army, Air Force, Space Force, Navy, Marine Corps, USSOCOM, MARSOC, and the USAF Test Pilot School — supplemented by limited commercial aerospace work and a redUAS joint venture with New Mexico Tech extending C-UAS first-responder training into law enforcement and DHS. Go-to-market combines enterprise field sales against DoD program offices, subcontracting through consortium memberships (Naval Aviation Systems Consortium) and a mentor-protégé relationship with AVIAN, and event-driven demand generation at venues such as the Counter-UAS Conference and ADS Drone ISR Showcase. Certifications include SBA-verified SDVOSB, ITAR, Buy American Act, Blue List, and CMMC Level 2 (achieved September 2025).

Name

ABSI Defense

Legal name

ABSI Aerospace & Defense

Website

https://absidefense.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ABSI Aerospace & Defense is a veteran-founded SDVOSB delivering NDAA-compliant aerial target systems, owned-flight test services, and cleared professional support to U.S. Department of Defense customers across counter-UAS training, weapons testing, and acquisition programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Unmanned Aerial Target Systems for Defense

NAICS

Aircraft Manufacturing (336411), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (3364)

SIC

Aircraft (3721), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

Military Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) & Autonomous Aerial Platforms (IMABAMAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Autonomous Flight Control & Guidance Systems (UAS/Urban Air Mobility) (IMABAFAO), Fixed-Wing Unmanned Aircraft (UAV) (IMABAIAB), VTOL & Hybrid UAV Platforms (IMABAIAC), UAS Integration, Certification & Compliance Systems (Remote ID, Detect-and-Avoid) (IMABAIAO)

Keywords

• Aerial target systems
• Counter-UAS training
• Unmanned aircraft systems
• Defense flight services
• Professional support services

Headquarters

HQ city

California

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Aerial Target Systems Sales: Sale of purpose-built aerial target systems including Gnat Storm, Rattler, Pit Viper, Desert Lance, Nomad, Dagger, Remora, Sky Badger, and ITAT. Available in NDAA-compliant and C-UAS training-optimized configurations. Revenue from hardware sales, accessories, and consumables.
2. Professional Support Services: Cleared staffing and professional services including acquisition program support, engineering services, logistics and sustainment, training solutions, and test & evaluation support. Deployed to CONUS and OCONUS locations.
3. Flight Services: Owned and operated aircraft fleet providing flight test support, instrumentation and data acquisition, aerial target integration and support, and field-deployed flight operations. Supports both government test centers and commercial aerospace platforms.
4. QRT Operator Program: Quick Reaction Team program providing part-time, on-call UAS operators to support aerial target training and testing events. Revenue from operator services during deployment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ABSI Aerospace & Defense designs and manufactures U.S.-built, NDAA-compliant aerial target systems (Group-1 FPV swarms through jet-powered Shahed-238 class threats) operating within a common ground control system, and delivers flight test services and cleared professional support to U.S. Department of Defense and allied customers. The company operates three divisions—Aerial Targets Division (ATD), Flight Services Division (FSD), and Professional Support Division (PSD)—plus the Quick Reaction Team (QRT) program for part-time UAS operators and SecondSky virtual training environment.

Product overview

ABSI Aerospace & Defense is a veteran-founded company delivering mission-critical solutions across three divisions: Aerial Targets Division (ATD), Flight Services Division (FSD), and Professional Support Division (PSD). The ATD portfolio comprises nine purpose-built aerial target systems—ITAT (towed inert target), Gnat Storm (quadcopter swarm/FPV), Rattler (Group 1-3 scalable), Sky Badger (towed platform), Pit Viper (high-speed dual-role), Remora (air-launched effects), Nomad (Shahed-136 class long-range OWA), Desert Lance (Shahed-101 class loitering munition in piston and electric variants), and Dagger (jet-powered Shahed-238 class)—all operated within a common ground control system. FSD provides owned/operated aircraft and test professionals for flight test support, ISR surrogate, and field-deployed operations. PSD deploys cleared professionals for acquisition, engineering, logistics, and T&E support. The company also offers the Quick Reaction Team (QRT) program for part-time UAS operators and SecondSky for virtual training environments. Products are available in NDAA-compliant and C-UAS training-optimized configurations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Aerial Targets Division (ATD): Designs and manufactures affordable, realistic, and threat-representative aerial target systems for C-UAS testing, training, and operational readiness.
• Flight Services Division (FSD)
• Professional Support Services Division (PSD)
• Quick Reaction Team (QRT)

Products and services

• Aerial Targets Division (ATD) Designs and manufactures affordable, realistic, and threat-representative aerial target systems ranging from Group-1 FPV swarms to Group-3 platforms, enabling C-UAS testing, training, and operational readiness for U.S. DoD customers.
• ITAT (Inert Towed Aerial Target) Inert towed aerial target for safe, repeatable live-fire counter-UAS training without risking aircraft systems; biodegradable and battery-free with printable and laser-cut variants, designed for DoD training programs.
• Gnat Storm (EVX-5) Purpose-built quadcopter aerial target system for swarm density and FPV threat emulation, replicating hover capability, multi-axis agility, and authentic behavioral signatures of small-UAS and FPV threats.
• Rattler (CFX-20) Scalable aerial target system for sustained, high-volume Group 1-3 UAS threat replication; workhorse platform delivering broad-spectrum coverage at the volume serious training programs demand.
• Sky Badger (EVX-10) Purpose-built towed aerial target platform for kinetic counter-UAS training in regulated airspace environments; enables safe engagement of towed ITAT targets while the tow platform returns home.
• Pit Viper (EFX-7) Dual-role high-speed aerial target replicating loitering munition and interceptor drone threats with ground-launched profiles; delivers strike and interceptor profiles from a single attritable airframe.
• Remora (EVFX-5) Air-launched effects training drone with multi-modal deployment (air-launch, vertical tail-sitter, hand launch); replicates deployment dimension of modern UAS threats from unpredictable origins.
• Nomad (CFX-125) Long-range one-way attack UAS training system replicating Shahed-136 class threats with large delta-wing airframe, piston-powered propulsion, and extended-range approach profile.
• Desert Lance (CFX-25/CFX-35) Persistent one-way attack UAS training replicating Shahed-101 class loitering munitions; available in piston-powered (CFX-35) and electric (EFX-20) variants to train against threat evolution.
• Dagger (TFX-1) Jet-powered fixed-wing aerial target replicating Shahed-238 class jet-powered one-way attack threats at 250+ MPH; bridges speed class between prop-driven targets and missile-class systems.
• Flight Services Division (FSD) Owns, operates, and maintains highly modifiable commercial aircraft for rapid flight test support; staffed by test pilots, engineers, and mission crews for instrumented test campaigns, ISR surrogate work, and specialized aviation requirements supporting DoD and commercial aerospace customers.
• Professional Support Division (PSD) Provides cleared professionals for acquisition, engineering, logistics, and program management missions with seamless integration into customer teams across CONUS and OCONUS environments, supporting NAVAIR, NAVSEA, NAVWAR, MARCORSYSCOM and other program offices.
• Quick Reaction Team (QRT) Part-time, on-call UAS operator program supporting aerial target training, testing, and evaluation events nationwide with experienced UAS operators; enables flexible support without full-time staffing.
• SecondSky Integrated virtual training and prototyping environment incorporating live, virtual, and constructive (LVC) elements for UAS applications and training scenarios.

Quantifiable outcome

• 547% revenue growth (2021)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Society of Experimental Test PilotscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerABSI is a Corporate Member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, demonstrating commitment to flight test excellence and connection to the experimental test pilot community.
• AVIANcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMentor-protégé relationship formalized between ABSI and AVIAN, providing guidance and support for ABSI's growth as a small defense contractor.
• Naval Aviation Systems Consortium (NASC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerABSI joined NASC in July 2019 to participate in consortium activities supporting naval aviation systems development and acquisition.
• redUAScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture between ABSI and New Mexico Tech to develop and deliver Counter-UAS First Responder Training course. Combines ABSI's C-UAS expertise with New Mexico Tech's instructional capabilities.
• New Mexico TechcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with ABSI in redUAS joint venture for C-UAS first responder training. Provides academic and instructional expertise alongside ABSI's operational C-UAS experience.
• TeklaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerABSI partnered with Tekla to provide key functions supporting their NAVAIR 4.1 Systems Engineering Contract. ABSI delivered specialized UAS and test support expertise.
• ADS Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerABSI demonstrated SkyBadger VTOL at ADS Drone ISR Showcase hosted at Xelevate. Showcased affordable and scalable aerial target solutions to defense community.
• ElectraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerABSI CTO and Chief Test Pilot Cody Allee piloted Electra's EL-2 Goldfinch hybrid-electric eSTOL aircraft through successful test flights, demonstrating ABSI's involvement in sustainable aviation innovation.
• DoD SkillBridge ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerABSI accepted as authorized Industry Partner in DoD SkillBridge program to support transitioning service members. Provides pathway for veterans to enter defense contracting careers.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/absi-defense
• Xx.com/absidefense
• Facebookfacebook.com/absidefense

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 ABSI Defense