Arde Inc

What Arde Inc does

ARDE, Inc. is a U.S.-based specialty manufacturer of engineered pressure vessels and propellant tanks founded in 1952 and operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of L3Harris Technologies (via Aerojet Rocketdyne of DE, Inc.) since the July 2023 acquisition. The company builds four core product lines: all-metal pressure vessels (Aluminum, Inconel, Stainless Steel, Titanium), composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) using Carbon/Fiberglass/Kevlar overwraps with its proprietary ARDE 31-43b resin system, positive expulsion propellant tanks with rolling metal diaphragm designs, and surface tension propellant tanks for microgravity fluid management. Operating pressures range from 550 to 10,000 psig across vessels sized from 8.8 to 66,000 cubic inches, and all designs are qualified to AIAA-S-080, AIAA-S-081, and SSCMAN91-710 standards, with in-house precision cleaning to IEST-STD-1246 and NASA Special level non-destructive inspection certification.

ARDE's value proposition centers on 70+ years of incident-free operation and more than 6,000 tanks delivered, combined with in-house core competencies in Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (joining fracture-critical membranes from 0.015" to 0.300"), metal-to-composite and composite-to-composite structural bonding, and non-destructive inspection. The company serves four primary customer segments: human spaceflight, launch vehicles, satellites, and defense, with publicized mission involvement spanning NASA (OSIRIS-REx), United Launch Alliance (Vulcan debut and Atlas V missions for NRO and U.S. Space Force), Intuitive Machines (IM-2 Nova-C lunar lander, February 2025), and Amazon's Project Kuiper.

ARDE operates a build-to-order, direct B2B sales model delivering custom-engineered vessels to enterprise and government aerospace and defense buyers, with sales executed through L3Harris corporate channels. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and varies by specification. Financials are not reported separately; ARDE sits within L3Harris's Space and Missile Systems portfolio, and its products function as mission-critical, flight-qualified subsystems within larger launch, satellite, defense, and crewed spaceflight platforms.

Name

Arde Inc

Legal name

ARDE, Inc.

Website

https://ardeinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ARDE, Inc. is a U.S. specialty manufacturer of engineered pressure vessels and propellant tanks—metal, composite overwrapped, and positive expulsion designs—serving human spaceflight, launch vehicle, satellite, and defense primes since 1952 as a wholly-owned L3Harris subsidiary.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aerospace Pressure Vessels and Propellant Tanks

NAICS

Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Propulsion Unit and Propulsion Unit Parts Manufacturing (336415), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419)

SIC

Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)

akta.pro primary industry

Aerospace Fuel System Components (Tanks, Lines, Valves) (IMABANAJ)

Keywords

• Aerospace pressure vessels
• Composite overwrapped tanks
• Propellant tank manufacturing
• Spaceflight propulsion hardware
• Missile fluid management systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Not specified

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Pressure Vessel and Propellant Tank Sales: ARDE manufactures and sells engineered pressure vessels including all metal pressure vessels, composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPV), positive expulsion propellant tanks, and surface tension propellant tanks. Products range from small 8.8 cubic inch tanks to large 66,000 cubic inch COPVs. Revenue is generated through direct sales to aerospace and defense customers. The company operates on a build-to-order basis with custom specifications.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

ARDE, Inc. manufactures engineered pressure vessels and propellant tanks for the human spaceflight, launch vehicle, satellite, missile, and ECLSS industries. The product line includes All Metal Pressure Vessels, Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessels (COPV), Positive Expulsion Propellant Tanks, and Surface Tension Propellant Tanks, built to order and qualified to AIAA-S-080, AIAA-S-081, and SSCMAN91-710 standards.

Product overview

ARDE Inc is a manufacturer of engineered pressure vessels and propellant tanks for spaceflight, launch vehicle, satellite, and defense industries. The company offers four main product lines: All Metal Pressure Vessels (using Aluminum, Inconel, Stainless Steel, and Titanium), Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessels (COPV) with proprietary ARDE 31-43b resin system and carbon/fiberglass/Kevlar overwraps, Positive Expulsion Propellant Tanks with RMD technology, and Surface Tension Propellant Tanks. With over 70 years of experience and more than 6,000 tanks produced, ARDE serves human spaceflight, launch vehicle, missile, and environmental control and life support system (ECLSS) markets. All designs are qualified per AIAA-S-080, AIAA-S-081, and SSCMAN91-710 standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• All Metal Pressure Vessels

Quantifiable outcome

• 70+ years of incident-free service demonstrating exceptional reliability record
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered major and parent.

• Intuitive MachinesmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025ARDE/L3Harris supplied helium pressurant tank for the IM-2 Nova-C lunar lander mission. The Athena lunar lander targets the Moon's Mons Mouton region with launch scheduled for February 26, 2025.
• Aerojet Rocketdyne of DE, Inc.parentOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 July 2023ARDE, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aerojet Rocketdyne of DE, Inc. This subsidiary structure was established following L3Harris Technologies' acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc. in July 2023.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Northrop Grumman: Large defense prime operating across missile systems, space, and propulsion (including legacy Orbital ATK capabilities in solid rocket motors and composite cases). Comparable as a broad incumbent that competes for the same missile and space propulsion content that ARDE supplies at the component level.

Direct peers

• GKN Aerospace: Tier-one supplier of aerospace structures, propulsion system components, and specialty materials including composite technologies. Comparable in supplying propulsion-adjacent components and high-spec engineered hardware to launch and defense customers.
• Senior plc: UK-based manufacturer of engineered fluid conveyance and structural aerospace components serving commercial and military aerospace. Comparable to ARDE in serving the same aerospace and defense primes with engineered, qualification-driven hardware.
• MT Aerospace: German subsidiary of OHB that produces rocket propulsion components, tank structures, and high-pressure hardware for launch vehicles including Ariane. Comparable as a European counterpart specialized in propellant tanks and propulsion structures for space launch.
• Precision Castparts Corp. Specialty metal components manufacturer (now part of Berkshire Hathaway) producing complex cast and forged parts for aerospace propulsion and airframe applications. Comparable in supplying precision, qualification-driven metal hardware to engine and propulsion customers.
• Aerojet Rocketdyne: ARDE's direct parent company (now part of L3Harris) that produces rocket propulsion systems, propellant tanks, and pressure vessels for missiles, launch vehicles, and spacecraft. Most comparable in product mix and customer base since ARDE itself sits within this organization.
• Nammo: Norwegian aerospace and defense manufacturer producing propulsion, gas generators, and composite motor cases for space and missile applications. Comparable as a specialty propulsion and pressure-vessel components supplier serving similar defense and space primes.
• MOOG Inc. Designs and manufactures precision motion control products, fluid systems, and aerospace components for space and defense platforms. Comparable because MOOG supplies high-pressure fluid components, valves, and actuation subsystems to similar launch vehicle and spacecraft customers.

Regional players

• AVIO S.p.A. Italian aerospace company that designs and manufactures solid and liquid rocket propulsion systems, including for the Vega launch vehicle family. Comparable as a regional propulsion manufacturer specializing in propellant tanks and engine components for European space programs.

Emerging players

• Rocket Lab: Small launch vehicle and space systems company developing its own Rutherford and Neutron propulsion systems. Comparable as an emerging player that builds propulsion components in-house for its own launch and space platforms, partially overlapping with ARDE's customer profile.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/L3HarrisTech
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCENNhz_O63zkKUHkj6bsIIQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/L3HarrisTechnologies
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arde-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/l3harristech

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Arde Inc