XRDi
XRDi is a privately held US company that designs, prototypes, and licenses proprietary multi-fuel 2-stroke engines (6-150 HP) based on its MCDi direct injection system, serving primarily US military and defense UAV and small-engine programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersBeaufort, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What XRDi does
XRDi is a privately held US engine technology company founded in 2002 by Andy Allen, inventor of the proprietary MCDi (Mechanically Compressed Direct Injection) fuel system. The company designs, prototypes, and licenses multi-fuel 2-stroke engines for military and defense customers, with a product family spanning 6-150 HP across modular 75cc, 200cc, and 265cc platforms and the FAA Part 33-certified RE-400 (33HP). Core technology atomizes fuels to droplets under 5 microns, enabling engines to run on any combustible liquid fuel (diesel, kerosene, Jet A, JP-5, JP-8, gasoline) without modification, delivering a 1.3 hp/lb average power-to-weight ratio and BFSC under 4.2.
XRDi makes money through three channels: licensing its engine designs to OEMs for integration into client products, collaborative custom engine development programs with defense primes, and design modification services for specialized applications. The company holds no stock engines and operates on a project-by-project, custom-engineered basis. Customers are concentrated in US military and defense, including Textron/AAI, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin (Skunk Works), Cessna, Aurora Flight Sciences, Lycoming, Jabil, and Resolute ISR, with the M17 decontamination unit deployed in 2,000+ units. Cumulative R&D investment of over $35 million from military contractors (2000-2014) has funded technology development, and the company is registered in Beaufort, SC with its corporate headquarters at Livingston County Airport, Howell, MI.
XRDi firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- XRDi
- Legal name
- XRDi
- Website
- https://xrdi.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- XRDi is a privately held US company that designs, prototypes, and licenses proprietary multi-fuel 2-stroke engines (6-150 HP) based on its MCDi direct injection system, serving primarily US military and defense UAV and small-engine programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
XRDi industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Multi-Fuel Small Engine Technology
- NAICS
- Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing (3336)
- SIC
- Aircraft Engines & Engine Parts (3724), Engines & Turbines (3510)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Military Aerospace Engines & Propulsion (IMABAMAD)
Keywords
Where XRDi is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Beaufort
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
XRDi business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Engine Design Licensing: XRDi licenses its proprietary engine designs to clients, allowing them to manufacture or use XRDi technology under license agreements.
- Custom Engine Development Collaboration: Collaborative development of custom engines to meet specific client requirements. Revenue generated through R&D partnerships and development contracts.
- Engine Design Modification: Modifying existing XRDi designs to specific client needs for specialized applications.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels1 record
XRDi product offering
Product offeringCore offering
XRDi designs, prototypes, and licenses proprietary multi-fuel 2-stroke small engines based on its MCDi (Mechanically Compressed Direct Injection) fuel system, with power ranging from 7HP to 150HP. The company does not hold stock engines; each unit is custom-designed per client specification and delivered through engine design licensing, collaborative development, or design modification engagements with military and aerospace customers.
Product overview
XRDi offers a family of powerful 2-stroke multi-fuel engines designed for propulsion, power generation, and hybrid extension markets. The product portfolio centers on the proprietary MCDi (Mechanically Compressed Direct Injection) Fuel System technology, which enables engines to run on any combustible fuel without modification. Core engine products include the 75cc Series (7-15HP), 265cc Series (17-150HP), and 200 Series platforms, all featuring modular, stackable cylinder configurations with shared common parts. The RE-400 engine, rated at 33HP, has achieved FAA 33-hour endurance certification and is deployed in the Resolute Eagle UAV. XRDi provides licensing, collaborative development, and custom design modification services alongside its engine products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- MCDi (Mechanically Compressed Direct Injection) Fuel System Proprietary engine fuel delivery modification enabling 2-stroke engines to run on any liquid fuel (diesel, kerosene, Jet A, JP-5, JP-8, gasoline) without modification or adjustment; atomizes fuels to droplets under 5 microns. Licensed and integrated into XRDi's engine products for defense and aerospace customers.
- 75cc Multi-Fuel Engine Compact 2-stroke multi-fuel engine available as single cylinder (75cc/7HP) or 2-cylinder (150cc/15HP) configuration, designed for lightweight applications requiring lower power output.
- 200 Series Multi-Fuel Engine 200cc Series engine using modular concept, available as single, twin, or four cylinder unit for mid-range power applications.
- 265cc Multi-Fuel Engine Series Modular 2-stroke engine family scalable from single to six cylinder configurations: 265cc/17HP, 530cc/40HP, 795cc/75HP, 1060cc/100HP, and 1,590cc/150HP.
- RE-400 (400cc) Multi-Fuel Engine 33-horsepower 2-stroke engine that successfully completed 150-hour FAA 14 CFR Part 33 Endurance Test. Integrated in Resolute Eagle UAV with 500-hour TBO (Time Before Overhaul).
- Engine Licensing Services License XRDi engine designs for integration into client products and applications, allowing clients to manufacture or use XRDi technology under license agreements.
- Engine Development Collaboration Collaborative engineering partnerships to develop custom multi-fuel 2-stroke engines for specific client requirements, delivered through R&D and development contracts.
- Custom Engine Design Modification Modify existing XRDi engine designs to meet specific client application needs for specialized propulsion and power generation use cases.
Quantifiable outcome
- Power-to-weight ratio of 1.3 hp/lb average
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use XRDi
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
XRDi technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
XRDi partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Textron (AAi)coreOngoing partnership since 2002 with Textron subsidiary AAi to develop drone engines including replacement for Shadow drone engine. Project team established in 2005 for engine development.
- RaytheoncorePartnership for heavy fuel engine testing for KillerBee unmanned aircraft system for US Army (2009-2011).
- Lockheed MartincoreSupplied engines to Lockheed Martin Advanced Development Programs (Skunk Works) in 2008.
- L3 AuroracoreWorked with L3 Aurora on bid for Abrams tank APU (2016-2017).
- JabilcoreDown selected partnership to supply replacement engine for Shadow drone for US Army (2013-2015).
- Resolute ISRcoreCurrent engine development partnership for Resolute Eagle UAV. RE-400 successfully completed 150-hour FAA 33 endurance test and integrated in Resolute Eagle UAV.
- RicardomajorStrategic alliance from 2008-2011 to develop Wolverine engine for military applications. Also strategic alliance in 2012 to develop outboard engine meeting military NBOE requirements.
- SiemensmajorPartnership with Siemens, XRDi, and USC (2005-2012) to develop hydrogen-powered engines.
- Mercury MarinemajorOngoing development relationship with Mercury Marine (2004-2006) including 2001 design project for 777 jet ski engine and strategic alliance for military outboard engine requirements.
- CessnacoreLong-term partnership since 2002 for military drone engine development.
- AerosondecorePartnership since 2002 for military drone engine development.
- Aurora Flight SciencescorePartnership since 2002 for military drone engine development.
- LycomingcoreLong-term partnership since 2002 for military drone engine development.
- EzGo (Textron)minorDeveloped and tested multifuel golf cart engine with EzGo in 2001.
- Harley DavidsonminorDeveloped sidevalve motorcycle engine in 2001.
- NWUAVminorPartnered with Ricardo and NWUAV to develop Wolverine engine for military applications (2008-2011).
- PAE-ISRminorPartnership since 2002 for military drone engine development.
- AeromechminorPartnership since 2002 for military drone engine development.
- SESIminorPartnership since 2002 for military drone engine development.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
XRDi competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Lycoming Engines: Long-standing piston aviation engine manufacturer supplying the military and general aviation markets. XRDi is named as a partner to Lycoming in defense drone engine development, and both sell small piston engines to defense primes.
- UAV Engines (formerly 3W-Modmotoren): Specialist manufacturer of engines tailored for unmanned aerial vehicles, including heavy-fuel/jet fuel conversions. Direct overlap with XRDi's primary defense UAV propulsion use case.
- Rotax (BRP): Subsidiary of BRP that produces small high-performance 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines for light aircraft, UAVs, and industrial applications. Competes directly with XRDi in the lightweight, high-power-density small engine segment.
Broad incumbents
- Williams International: Established manufacturer of small turbofan and turboshaft engines for cruise missiles, UAVs, and aerospace applications. Competes with XRDi in the small-engine-on-UAV category but at a much larger scale and higher power output.
- Mercury Marine: Major marine propulsion OEM. XRDi has a long-running development relationship with Mercury Marine including jet ski and military outboard engines, and the two are comparable in the marine multi-fuel engine segment.
- Pratt & Whitney: Major aerospace propulsion OEM with decades of military engine programs. Andy Allen worked at Pratt & Whitney before founding XRDi, and the company is a broader incumbent in the same defense propulsion supply chain.
- Continental Aerospace Technologies: Established piston aviation engine manufacturer serving military and general aviation. Comparable to XRDi as a small-piston-engine supplier to defense primes, though at a far larger scale.
Emerging players
- Hirth Engines: German specialist in small 2-stroke and Wankel engines for UAVs, automotive, and recreational applications. Closely comparable on engine technology (small 2-stroke) and target use cases (UAVs, light propulsion).
- HFE International: Specialist in heavy fuel engines for UAVs and small aircraft. Direct overlap with XRDi's heavy-fuel drone engine positioning and defense customer base.
Others
- Ricardo: Engineering consulting and powertrain development firm. Already a named strategic alliance partner of XRDi on the Wolverine engine and NBOE outboard programs, and a peer in the custom engine development services space.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
XRDi social profiles
Digital presenceXRDi compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
XRDi financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
XRDi leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
XRDi funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
XRDi M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about XRDi
What does XRDi do?
XRDi designs, prototypes, and licenses proprietary multi-fuel 2-stroke small engines based on its MCDi (Mechanically Compressed Direct Injection) fuel system, with power ranging from 7HP to 150HP. The company does not hold stock engines; each unit is custom-designed per client specification and delivered through engine design licensing, collaborative development, or design modification engagements with military and aerospace customers.
Is XRDi a public or private company?
XRDi is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was XRDi founded?
XRDi was founded in 2002.
Where is XRDi based?
XRDi is headquartered in Beaufort, United States, in the North America region.
How does XRDi make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Engine Design Licensing is the primary driver. The others are custom Engine Development Collaboration and engine Design Modification.
Who are XRDi's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Lycoming Engines, UAV Engines (formerly 3W-Modmotoren) and Rotax (BRP). Broad incumbents are Williams International, Mercury Marine, Pratt & Whitney and Continental Aerospace Technologies. Emerging players are Hirth Engines and HFE International. Ricardo is listed as an others.
Does XRDi have an API?
No public API is recorded for XRDi.
What industry is XRDi in?
XRDi's product category is Multi-Fuel Small Engine Technology. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAMAD, Military Aerospace Engines & Propulsion. Its NAICS code is 3336 and its SIC code is 3724.