Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education

What Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education does

The Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education (OAIRE) is a research institute operating within Oklahoma State University's Division of the Vice President of Research, positioned as a statewide aerospace innovation hub with core locations in Stillwater, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa. OAIRE organizes its work across six technical focus areas: propulsion (rocket motor manufacturing and testing, hybrid propulsion, battery technology); autonomous systems (atmospheric sensing, mapping, aerial navigation, vehicle design, swarming); aerospace sustainment (precision manufacturing, predictive maintenance, non-destructive inspection); advanced air mobility (advanced manufacturing, aircraft electrification, airspace integration, counter-UAS); airspace policy and regulation (air traffic and pilot management, human factors, Part 107 training); and education and training (co-ops, internships, micro-credentialing, certificates). The institute operationalizes this portfolio through two named centers — the Counter-UAS Center of Excellence and the LaunchPad innovation accelerator — alongside the Emerging Aerospace Collaboratory, an adaptive industry consortium that convenes global aerospace technology leaders.

OAIRE serves three primary customer segments: U.S. federal and defense agencies seeking counter-UAS and airspace security R&D; commercial aerospace companies engaging through the Collaboratory and LaunchPad for collaborative R&D; and students and industry trainees pursuing workforce credentials such as Part 107 drone pilot certification. Revenue is generated through federal research contracts, sponsored industry collaboration projects via the Collaboratory, and education and training program fees, with services delivered on a project-based contract and grant basis rather than disclosed commercial pricing. The institute's go-to-market is sales-led and partnership-driven, relying on direct engagement with federal agencies, commercial aerospace firms, and academic institutions, with marketing primarily conducted through Oklahoma State University's institutional web, news, and events platforms.

The business model is structurally that of an academic research unit embedded in a public land-grant university, with no independent corporate entity, disclosed financials, headcount, or external funding rounds in the source data. OAIRE's competitive position rests on its statewide physical footprint, its talent base of affiliated faculty, engineers, researchers, and student technicians, and its convening role through the Emerging Aerospace Collaboratory that connects commercial, federal, and academic stakeholders across Oklahoma's aerospace ecosystem.

Name

Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education

Legal name

Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education

Website

https://oaire.okstate.edu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

OAIRE is a research institute within Oklahoma State University that conducts multi-disciplinary aerospace R&D across propulsion, autonomous systems, sustainment, and advanced air mobility, serving federal agencies, commercial aerospace firms, and students through the Emerging Aerospace Collaboratory, LaunchPad, and the Counter-UAS Center of Excellence.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aerospace Research and Development

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Flight Training (611512), Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)

akta.pro primary industry

UAS Integration, Certification & Compliance Systems (Remote ID, Detect-and-Avoid) (IMABAIAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Aviation & Aerospace (EDABALAC), NDT/Inspection & Testing Services (Aviation) (IMABALAJ)

Keywords

• Aerospace research and development
• Counter-UAS technology
• Rocket propulsion testing
• Autonomous aerial systems
• Aerospace workforce training

Headquarters

HQ city

Stillwater

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Federal Research Contracts: Government-funded research contracts for aerospace R&D, counter-UAS technology, and defense-related projects through federal agencies.
2. Industry Collaboration Projects: Sponsored research and development projects with commercial aerospace companies and industry partners through the Emerging Aerospace Collaboratory.
3. Education and Training Programs: Cooperative education, internships, micro-credentialing, and certificate programs for workforce development in aerospace sectors, including Part 107 drone pilot training.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

OAIRE conducts applied aerospace research, development, testing, and fielding across propulsion, autonomous systems, counter-UAS, aerospace sustainment, and advanced air mobility, while delivering workforce education through co-ops, internships, micro-credentialing, certificates, and Part 107 drone pilot training. Its delivery vehicles include the Counter-UAS Center of Excellence, the LaunchPad innovation accelerator, and the Emerging Aerospace Collaboratory industry consortium.

Product overview

OAIRE is a research and education institute organized as a platform of centers and programs. The portfolio includes the Counter-UAS (CUAS) Center of Excellence focused on counter-drone technology development and testing, and the LaunchPad center for aerospace innovation acceleration. Key operational focus areas span Propulsion (rocket motor manufacturing/testing, hybrid propulsion, battery technology), Autonomous Systems (atmospheric sensing, mapping, aerial navigation, vehicle design, swarming), Aerospace Sustainment (precision manufacturing, predictive maintenance, non-destructive inspection), Advanced Air Mobility (advanced manufacturing, aircraft electrification, airspace integration), Airspace Policy and Regulation, and Education and Training. OAIRE also operates the Emerging Aerospace Collaboratory, an adaptive industry consortium connecting global aerospace technology leaders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Counter-UAS Center of Excellence: A center focused on developing, testing, and fielding counter-drone technology, leveraging Oklahoma's assets and strategic partnerships to maximize resource efficiency across industries.
• LaunchPad
• Emerging Aerospace Collaboratory
• Dronies Awards

Products and services

• Counter-UAS (CUAS) Center of Excellence

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Oklahoma State University (Land-Grant Mission)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOAIRE operates as part of OSU's Division of the Vice President of Research, leveraging the university's land-grant mission to grow Oklahoma's aerospace industry and leverage unique assets of the Oklahoma aerospace ecosystem.
• Commercial Aerospace CompaniescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partners engage through the Emerging Aerospace Collaboratory and LaunchPad to develop groundbreaking aerospace solutions, navigate policy hurdles, and anticipate key industry shifts in the fast-evolving aerospace sector.
• Federal Government AgenciescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agencies partner with OAIRE for counter-UAS technology development, testing, and fielding, leveraging Oklahoma's strategic assets and the institute's research capabilities to maximize resource efficiency across defense and security applications.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Dedrone: Counter-drone detection and airspace security company serving defense, government, and commercial customers. Direct overlap with OAIRE's CUAS Center of Excellence mission and a likely procurement competitor for federal CUAS dollars.
• D-Fend Solutions: Counter-drone takeover-technology provider for military, homeland security, and airports. Comparable to OAIRE's CUAS focus on fielding counter-drone capability for sensitive and restricted environments.
• DroneShield: Counter-UAS specialist offering detection and defeat products to defense, law enforcement, and critical infrastructure. Comparable niche focus with OAIRE's CUAS work but operating as a listed commercial vendor.

Direct peers

• Universities Space Research Association (USRA): Non-profit university consortium operating research facilities and programs for NASA, DoD, and industry. Comparable as a multi-university research organization with aerospace and defense R&D scope and consortium-style member engagement.
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Office of Research): Specialized aviation and aerospace university with an active research portfolio covering UAS, autonomous systems, and aerospace engineering. Comparable as a university research organization with aviation-focused workforce training and applied programs.
• National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) at Wichita State University: University-affiliated aerospace research institute at Wichita State that performs aerospace R&D, certification, and training. The most directly comparable peer given the shared land-grant university model, multi-disciplinary scope, and state-level aerospace industry focus.
• Southwest Research Institute (SwRI): Independent, non-profit applied R&D organization with major aerospace, propulsion, and defense programs. Comparable as an institute-style R&D organization delivering contract research and testing across similar aerospace disciplines.
• National Institute of Aerospace (NIA): Non-profit aerospace research institute affiliated with multiple universities that conducts R&D across aeronautics, atmospheric sciences, and space. Comparable as a university-consortium-style research organization working on advanced aerospace topics.

Broad incumbents

• Anduril Industries: Defense technology company with major counter-UAS capabilities (Roadrunner, Pulsar). Comparable as a competitor in OAIRE's CUAS focus area, but operating at far greater commercial scale and procurement pace.

Others

• Aerospace Industries Association (AIA): U.S. aerospace industry trade association representing manufacturers and suppliers. Comparable to OAIRE's Emerging Aerospace Collaboratory as a convening body for aerospace stakeholders, though operating at national policy scale rather than state R&D scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oaire

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education