MSU's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory

Aerospace Research Servicesraspet.msstate.edu

MSU's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory conducts UAS research, development, testing, and evaluation for federal agencies and aerospace primes, operating the largest academic UAS fleet in the U.S. under unique FAA and DHS designations.

Company typePrivate
Founded1948
HeadquartersStarkville, United States
Headcount11–50
GTM typeB2B
OfferingServices

What MSU's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory does

MSU's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory is a university research laboratory within Mississippi State University, founded in 1948 and located at George M. Bryan Field in Starkville, Mississippi. The lab conducts research, development, testing, and evaluation of uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS), composites, and experimental aviation for federal agencies (FAA, DHS, DoD, DARPA, FEMA, NOAA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Navy ONR, SOCOM), aerospace primes (Boeing/Aurora Flight Sciences, Navmar Applied Sciences, Stark Aerospace), and utility-sector customers (Tennessee Valley Authority, Southern Company). Raspet holds the unique global distinction of being simultaneously designated as the FAA's UAS Safety Research Facility and as official UAS Test Sites for both the FAA and DHS, and leads the FAA Center of Excellence for UAS (ASSURE), a 25-university, 100+ partner coalition.

Raspet's technical core includes the largest UAS fleet in U.S. academia, anchored by the TEROS platform (40-foot wingspan, 600 lb payload, 24-hour endurance), the TigerShark XP3 Group 3 UAS, the noise-reduced QuietShark modification, and the Griffon Outlaw G2E. Operational capabilities span 55,000 square feet of hangar and office space, an anechoic chamber for acoustic research, mobile ground control stations housed in 42- and 48-foot trailers, and the Marvin B. Dow Stitched Composites Development Center for advanced composite manufacturing. The lab accesses over 8,000 square miles of civilian airspace and 2,000+ square miles of restricted airspace via FAA Certificate of Authorization.

The business model is government-contract-driven and partnership-based rather than commercially priced. Revenue derives from federal research contracts (FAA, DHS, DoD, DARPA), industry-funded collaborative research (Boeing, Aurora, Navmar), and academic research support for MSU faculty and students. Distribution is direct: research contracts and collaborative agreements with government and industry partners, with no public pricing model. Geographic expansion is underway via a planned Coastal UAS Ground Control Station in Pascagoula, Mississippi, targeting maritime UAS operations.

MSU's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory firmographics

Firmographics

Name: MSU's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory
Legal name: Raspet Flight Research Laboratory
Website: https://www.raspet.msstate.edu
Company type: Private
Founded year: 1948
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 11–50 employees
Short description: MSU's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory conducts UAS research, development, testing, and evaluation for federal agencies and aerospace primes, operating the largest academic UAS fleet in the U.S. under unique FAA and DHS designations.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

MSU's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory industry classification

Industry

Product category: Aerospace Research Services
NAICS: Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641), Aircraft Manufacturing (336411)
SIC: Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Aircraft (3721)
akta.pro primary industry: UAS Integration, Certification & Compliance Systems (Remote ID, Detect-and-Avoid) (IMABAIAO)
akta.pro secondary industries: VTOL & Hybrid UAV Platforms (IMABAIAC), Autonomy Software, AI & Mission Management (UAS/UXV) (IMABAIAH), UAS Ground Control Stations (GCS) & Remote Operations Infrastructure (IMABAIAL), Autonomous Flight Control & Guidance Systems (UAS/Urban Air Mobility) (IMABAFAO)

Keywords

Flight testing services
Unmanned aircraft systems
Aerospace research laboratory
Composite materials research
UAS research development

Where MSU's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Starkville
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

MSU's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory business model

Business model

GTM type: B2B
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

Government Research Contracts: Raspet conducts research funded by federal agencies including FAA, DHS, DoD, Navy ONR, and other government entities. These contracts support UAS safety research, integration into national airspace, and development of certification standards.
Industry Research Partnerships: Collaborative research with aerospace industry partners including Boeing, Aurora Flight Sciences, Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation, and others for UAS development, testing, and evaluation.
Academic Research Services: Supports MSU faculty, staff, and students with UAS research capabilities, engineering collaboration, and undergraduate research programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

MSU's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory product offering

Product offering

Core offering

Raspet Flight Research Laboratory conducts applied Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) research, development, testing, and evaluation for government, industry, and academic partners. It operates the largest UAS fleet in U.S. academia, mobile ground control stations, an anechoic chamber, and composite materials development facilities to advance UAS technology and support safe integration of UAS into the national airspace.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

UAS Research, Development, Testing & Evaluation Services Applied research, development, testing, and evaluation of uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) for government, industry, and academic partners. Engagements cover platform design evaluation, flight testing, data collection, and integration into the national airspace. Customers include FAA, DHS, DoD, NASA, DARPA, FEMA, NOAA, Boeing, and Aurora Flight Sciences.
FAA UAS Safety Research Facility Services (ASSURE Center of Excellence) Safety research, education, and training services delivered through the FAA ASSURE Center of Excellence for UAS, including UAS collision severity analysis, detect-and-avoid research, certification standards development, and noise measurement studies for safe integration of UAS into the national airspace. Customers include FAA, DHS, DoD, and industry sponsors.
DHS Common UAS Demonstration Range Services The nation's first collaborative multi-environment and multi-purpose UAS flight testing and exercise evaluation facility. Provides DHS and partner agencies with flight testing, demonstration, and exercise evaluation across multiple environments. Customers include DHS S&T and other federal agencies.
Mobile UAS Ground Control Station (mGCS) and Coastal GCS Services Two mobile command centers housed in 42- and 48-foot INTECH trailers plus a forthcoming Coastal GCS on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, providing UAS command and control equipment, maintenance workstations, weather monitoring, uninterruptible power, and customizable Pilot-in-Command and Sensor Operator stations. Customers include federal agencies, industry partners, and emergency management organizations needing deployable UAS control.
Anechoic Chamber Acoustic Research Services Acoustic research services in a specialized anechoic chamber, including propeller noise evaluation and noise signature reduction studies. Customers include defense and industry partners seeking validated noise data (e.g., QuietShark program).
Composite Materials Research Services (Advanced Composites Institute / Marvin B. Dow Stitched Composites Development Center) Research, development, and fabrication of advanced composite materials including stitched resin infused composites, hosted within the Advanced Composites Institute at Raspet. Customers include Boeing and other aerospace industry partners.
UAS Disaster Response and Environmental Monitoring Services Rapid deployment UAS support for disaster response and environmental monitoring, delivering real-time aerial data, flood monitoring, river forecasting, and atmospheric research. Customers include FEMA, NOAA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ERDC, TVA, Southern Company, and other agencies.

Quantifiable outcome

75% reduction in energy usage targeted by DARPA Albatross program
+2 more outcomes

Companies that use MSU's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory

Customer profile

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

MSU's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

MSU's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Common UAS Demonstration RangecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Nation's first collaborative multi-environment and multi-purpose UAS flight testing and exercise evaluation facility, led by Mississippi State University and the Mississippi Partnership.
FAA ASSURE (Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015MSU-led coalition of 25 research universities and 100+ government and industry partners focused on safe integration of UAS into national airspace. Research areas include UAS collision severity, detect-and-avoid requirements, certification standards, and noise measurement.
NASA Stennis Space CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Mississippi Partnership supporting UAS research and development and industry growth in the state.
BoeingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoeing selected MSU to host its Stitched Resin Infused Composite Research Center at Raspet. Boeing has maintained regional presence in the Golden Triangle since 2007.
Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation (NASC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufacturer of Teros and TigerShark UAS platforms. Collaborated on QuietShark noise reduction modifications.
DARPAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrime performer for DARPA Albatross program developing autonomous soaring technologies for ultra-long-endurance flight. Target of 75% energy usage reduction.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUAS support for disaster response including Hurricane Helene, providing real-time flood monitoring data and situational awareness.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) / Northern Gulf InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on flood forecasting, river monitoring, and atmospheric research using UAS platforms.
Southern CompanymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to expand UAS use for mapping critical infrastructure, assessing weather damage, and conducting utility inspections.
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to expand UAS use for utility inspections to improve safety and lower costs.
Mississippi Development AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of Mississippi Partnership supporting UAS research and aerospace industry growth in the state.
Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of Mississippi Partnership providing UAS research and development support.
Jackson County Port AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports Coastal GCS operations and maritime environment UAS research.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ERDCmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on UAS efforts including geospatial engineering research, disaster relief, and environmental monitoring.
U.S. Navy Office of Naval ResearchmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration on UAS technology development.
U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on UAS research for special operations.
InsituminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAerospace industry partner with regional presence in Golden Triangle.
Griffon AerospaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAerospace industry partner.
BattelleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAerospace industry partner.
Vanilla AircraftminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAerospace industry partner.
Stark AerospacemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStarted at Raspet and moved to 120,000 sq ft facility in Golden Triangle Industrial Aerospace Park.
Jackson Municipal Airport AuthoritymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric achievement in unmanned aviation at Mississippi's busiest airport, working together to obtain FAA authorization for flights in Class C airspace.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

MSU's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

University of Alaska Fairbanks Pan-Pacific UAS Test Range: Lead institution of the FAA's Pan-Pacific UAS Test Range Complex, of which Raspet/Mississippi is a full member. Directly comparable as a university-led FAA UAS Test Site operating in extreme-environment airspace for federal and industry research contracts.
New Mexico State University Physical Science Laboratory: Operates one of the FAA's seven UAS Test Sites and conducts applied UAS testing and counter-UAS research. Highly comparable to Raspet as a university-affiliated FAA test site serving defense and civil UAS customers.
Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (MAAP): FAA-designated UAS Test Site hosted at a public research university with significant UAS integration, BVLOS, and detect-and-avoid research portfolio. Closely comparable mission and customer set to Raspet.
University of North Dakota Aerospace UAS Research: FAA UAS Test Site with a long-standing university-based UAS research and pilot-training program. Directly comparable as an academic FAA test site competing for similar federal research contracts.
Oregon State University UAS Test Site: One of the FAA's seven UAS Test Sites operated from a public university. Directly comparable in role as a university-led FAA UAS Test Site supporting research and industry testing.

Broad incumbents

Aurora Flight Sciences (Boeing): Boeing-owned UAS developer that started operations at Raspet in 2007 and continues to partner on SKIRON-X testing. Comparable as a major UAS platform developer working with Raspet on flight testing, certification, and BVLOS integration for first-responder markets.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems: Leading U.S. manufacturer of military UAS (Predator, Reaper, MQ-9). Comparable as a major incumbent UAS platform developer that competes for many of the same DoD and federal contracts and whose platforms periodically require independent test-site evaluation like Raspet.

Emerging players

Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation (NASC): Manufacturer of the TEROS and TigerShark UAS platforms operating at Raspet. Directly comparable as a UAS manufacturer collaborating with Raspet on platform integration, modifications (e.g., QuietShark), and federal customer delivery.
Griffon Aerospace: UAS manufacturer with regional Mississippi presence and an existing partnership with Raspet (Griffon Outlaw G2E fleet). Comparable as a small/mid UAS manufacturer using Raspet's facilities for platform development and testing.
Stark Aerospace: UAS manufacturer that originated at Raspet in 2007 before moving to a 120,000 sq ft facility in the Golden Triangle Industrial Aerospace Park. Highly comparable as a Mississippi-based UAS manufacturer spun out of Raspet's ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

MSU's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

MSU's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

MSU's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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MSU's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about MSU's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory

What does MSU's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory do?

Is MSU's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory a public or private company?

MSU's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.

When was MSU's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory founded?

MSU's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory was founded in 1948. It employs 11 to 50 people.

Where is MSU's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory based?

MSU's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory is headquartered in Starkville, United States, in the North America region.

How does MSU's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory make money?

Three revenue lines are on record. Government Research Contracts are the primary driver. The others are industry Research Partnerships and academic Research Services.

Who are MSU's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are University of Alaska Fairbanks Pan-Pacific UAS Test Range, New Mexico State University Physical Science Laboratory, Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (MAAP), University of North Dakota Aerospace UAS Research and Oregon State University UAS Test Site. Broad incumbents are Aurora Flight Sciences (Boeing) and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. Emerging players are Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation (NASC), Griffon Aerospace and Stark Aerospace.

Does MSU's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory have an API?

No public API is recorded for MSU's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory.

What industry is MSU's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory in?

MSU's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory's product category is Aerospace Research Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAIAO, UAS Integration, Certification & Compliance Systems (Remote ID, Detect-and-Avoid), with a secondary code of IMABAIAC, VTOL & Hybrid UAV Platforms. Its NAICS code is 33641 and its SIC code is 3812.