VAWD Engineering

What VAWD Engineering does

VAWD Engineering, legally VAWD Applied Science & Technology Corp., is a Tucson, Arizona-based small business founded in 2006 that designs, builds, and fields proprietary Micro-Doppler radar systems for defense, homeland security, law enforcement, and search-and-rescue customers. Its flagship product line is STORMS (Sense Through Obstruction Remote Monitoring System), a patented sense-through-wall radar offered in handheld, handheld 2D, mini, and vehicle-mounted form factors with standoff ranges up to 100m (handheld) and 300m (vehicle mount). The system detects, classifies, and tracks human life-forms behind walls, rubble, and foliage, and is also configured for wireless biometric vital sign monitoring (respiration and pulse) via RF. Additional offerings include a counter-UAS (C-UAS) product for small-drone detection and a wireless vital sign monitoring system with phone/remote access.

The underlying technology relies on patented Micro-Doppler waveforms and advanced signal processing that distinguishes human signatures (heartbeat, breathing, postural sway, speech) from mechanical or animal returns, supported by FPGA development, laser range-finder integration, and ATAK compatibility. The company monetizes through direct hardware sales of STORMS variants and ancillary products (Wireless Biometric Vital Sign System, C-UAS), alongside turn-key engineering services including schematic capture, PCB layout, RF/analog/high-speed digital design, DSP algorithm development, embedded firmware, and FPGA programming using Altium Designer. Its go-to-market is consultative enterprise field sales to government and defense buyers, supplemented by trade show participation (DITAC, Border Security Expo, Tech Warrior OPS, Thunderstorm exercises) and field demonstrations. Named deployments include US Army ground vehicles, Sacramento County law enforcement, and the February 2023 Turkey earthquake search and rescue response; CTO Wes Dwelly leads technology with 30 years of experience and 14 issued patents.

Name

VAWD Engineering

Legal name

VAWD Applied Science & Technology Corp.

Website

https://vawdengineering.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

VAWD Engineering is a Tucson, Arizona small business that designs and fields proprietary Micro-Doppler radar systems, led by the STORMS sense-through-wall platform, serving US defense, law enforcement, and search-and-rescue customers, with complementary wireless biometrics, counter-UAS, and PCB design offerings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sense-Through-Wall Radar Systems

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) Electronics for Weapons (IMABAGAH)

Keywords

• Sense through wall radar
• Micro-Doppler radar systems
• Biometric vital sign monitoring
• PCB design services
• Counter-UAS detection

Headquarters

HQ city

Tucson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Radar Systems (STORMS): Sale of STORMS (Sense Through Obstruction Remote Monitoring System) radar products in various form factors: handheld (up to 100m standoff), vehicle mount (up to 300m standoff), and mini variants. Products are deployed for military, police, search and rescue, and counter-UAS applications.
2. Engineering and Design Services: Turn-key engineering services including architecture development, analog/digital/RF board design, DSP algorithm development, embedded processor, firmware/embedded software, electronic circuit design, schematic capture, PCB layout, prototyping, and board testing.
3. PCB Design Services: Electronic circuit design services including schematic creation, PCB layout, FPGA development, component library creation, and turn-key PCB design using Altium Designer. Services available for RF design, analog design, and high-speed digital design.
4. Wireless Biometrics Systems: Sale of wireless vital sign monitoring systems that track respiration rate and pulse rate remotely. System connects to web and includes phone app access.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

VAWD Engineering designs, manufactures, and sells the STORMS (Sense Through Obstruction Remote Monitoring System) family of Micro-Doppler radar products in handheld, handheld 2D, mini, and vehicle-mount form factors for sense-through-wall human detection, plus the Wireless Vital Sign System and a C-UAS counter-drone radar. The company also offers turn-key electronic engineering and PCB design services including schematic capture, PCB layout, RF/analog/digital board design, FPGA development, DSP algorithm development, and prototyping using Altium Designer.

Product overview

VAWD Engineering offers a portfolio of defense and security radar technologies centered on the STORMS (Sense Through Obstruction Remote Monitoring System) platform. The core STORMS product is a micro-Doppler radar system available in multiple form factors: Handheld (up to 100m standoff), Handheld 2D, Mini, and Vehicle Mount (up to 300m standoff). Supporting products include the Wireless Vital Sign System for biometric monitoring via RF frequencies, and the C-UAS System for counter-drone detection. The company also provides engineering services including PCB design, schematic capture, FPGA development, and embedded systems using Altium Designer. The STORMS systems are designed for military, law enforcement, and search-and-rescue applications, with demonstrated use in earthquake response operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• STORMS (Sense Through Obstruction Remote Monitoring System)

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% accurate results with low phase noise and fewer false detections
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability3 records

Feature9 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SRC Inc. SRC Inc. manufactures the SR HAWK and earlier AN/PPS-5 family of sense-through-wall radars for military and law enforcement use, making it the closest direct competitor to VAWD's STORMS product line in mission, customer, and core technology (Micro-Doppler / UWB radar).

Emerging players

• Dedrone: Dedrone provides counter-UAS detection technology to defense, federal, and critical infrastructure customers, overlapping VAWD's C-UAS go-to-market and product category.
• DroneShield: DroneShield is a publicly listed counter-UAS detection company; VAWD's C-UAS product targets the same drone-detection use case using radar, making DroneShield a relevant emerging peer for that specific product line.

Broad incumbents

• Raytheon Technologies: RTX (Raytheon) builds a broad set of defense radars and sensing systems, and competes with VAWD at the system integration and platform-program level for ground vehicle and force-protection opportunities.
• L3Harris Technologies: L3Harris is a major defense electronics prime with extensive radar, sensor, and electronic warfare portfolios that overlap VAWD's Micro-Doppler and sense-through-wall capability, often integrated onto larger ground vehicle and dismounted soldier programs.
• Thales Group: Thales has a sizable defense electronics and radar business, including short-range surveillance and ground-based sensing products, making it a relevant international incumbent peer to VAWD.
• Lockheed Martin: Lockheed Martin operates one of the largest defense radar and sensor portfolios globally, including ground-based surveillance radars, and is a logical incumbent competitor or potential acquirer for VAWD's STORMS-class capability.
• Northrop Grumman: Northrop Grumman manufactures advanced radar, electronic warfare, and biometric systems for defense customers and is a relevant incumbent comparator to VAWD's STORMS and wireless biometric product lines.
• Elbit Systems: Elbit Systems produces tactical radar, electronic warfare, and C4I systems for ground forces, and is comparable to VAWD as a defense electronics specialist serving similar end-user markets for sense-through-wall and force-protection sensing.
• BAE Systems: BAE Systems operates a broad defense electronics portfolio including ground-based surveillance and counter-IED radar, overlapping VAWD's customer base in military and security markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vawd-applied-science-and-technology

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 VAWD Engineering