ERA
ERA a.s. is a Czech aerospace company that develops, manufactures, and implements multilateration and passive surveillance systems for civil air traffic management and military reconnaissance, selling turnkey hardware and multi-year maintenance services to air navigation service providers, airports, and defense forces across 70+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersPardubice, Czechia
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What ERA does
ERA a.s. is a Czech aerospace and defense company founded in 1994 in Pardubice, specializing in multilateration, passive surveillance, and reconnaissance technology for civil air traffic management and military applications. The company's product portfolio is organized around two parallel lines: a civil ATM portfolio anchored by the 5th-generation MSS-5 Multilateration Surveillance System (combining multilateration and ADS-B), NEO, the ERIS information systems family (ERIS-ATM, ERIS-A, ERIS-DART, ERIS-COMMS), and the SQUID vehicle tracking beacon; and a military portfolio built on the VERA-NG Passive ESM Tracker, PLESS over-the-horizon surveillance system, ERIS C2 command and control, and supporting tools (EW-SIM, EW-EDMT, LAPDIS, 3R). Underlying technology is TDOA-based multilateration and passive ESM/ELINT, with five generations of system evolution since the 1960s-era KOPÁČ military radar, and standards compliance with ICAO Annex 10, EUROCONTROL, and EUROCAE (ED-142, ED-117A, ED-129B). Systems are designed for extreme environments (-40°C to +60°C, IP65) and certified for mission-critical 24/7 operations.
The company operates an enterprise field-sales motion selling turnkey hardware systems directly to air navigation service providers, civil aviation authorities, airports, and defense organizations, with regional channel partners (DAVCOM SAS in Colombia, ClearWisdom in Malaysia, NERA in Saudi Arabia) supporting market access in selected countries. Revenue is generated through three streams: one-time licensing of surveillance system hardware (MSS-5, WAM, MLAT, ADS-B ground stations), recurring MasterCare post-sale maintenance contracts spanning multiple years (e.g., KLIA through 2029), and professional services for system integration and certification. Pricing is custom and not publicly disclosed. The installed base exceeds 160 systems across 70+ countries on 5 continents, with named anchor customers including DFS (Germany), PANSA (Poland), LVNL (Netherlands), Oro Navigacija (Lithuania), Kuala Lumpur International Airport, and Prague Airport. ERA is privately held by Czech conglomerate OMNIPOL Group since 2011, has approximately 400 employees, and operates branches in Brno, Prague, Strakonice, and Uherské Hradiště, plus a majority-owned Slovak subsidiary R-SYS s.r.o. acquired in 2016.
ERA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ERA
- Legal name
- ERA a.s.
- Website
- https://era.aero
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- ERA a.s. is a Czech aerospace company that develops, manufactures, and implements multilateration and passive surveillance systems for civil air traffic management and military reconnaissance, selling turnkey hardware and multi-year maintenance services to air navigation service providers, airports, and defense forces across 70+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ERA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Air Traffic Management Surveillance Systems
- NAICS
- Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- IFF/Identification, Beaconing & Cooperative Surveillance Systems (IMABAGAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Defense Software, Mission Applications & Open Architecture (MOSA) Systems (IMABAOAM)
Keywords
Where ERA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pardubice
- HQ country
- Czechia
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices6 records
Markets served
ERA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Surveillance Systems (Hardware): Sale of multilateration surveillance systems including MSS-5, WAM, MLAT, ADS-B ground stations, and related hardware components (receiving modules, supply modules). Systems are sold as complete turnkey solutions to airports and ATC authorities.
- MasterCare Maintenance Services: Post-sale maintenance services covering hardware, firmware, and software support. Includes spare parts, preventive maintenance, repairs, and system updates. Long-term service contracts typically spanning multiple years (e.g., KLIA contract extended to 2029).
- System Integration Services: Professional services for system installation, integration with existing ATC infrastructure, certification, and project management. WAM systems delivered as comprehensive solutions including sensor deployment and system configuration.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
ERA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ERA develops, manufactures, and implements mission-critical multilateration and passive surveillance systems for civil and military air traffic management. The company offers complete turnkey solutions including the MSS-5 multilateration platform, ADS-B ground stations, passive ESM trackers (VERA-NG), command and control systems, and associated information systems. Products are sold with accompanying system integration services and long-term MasterCare maintenance programs to airports, civil aviation authorities, and defense organizations globally.
Product overview
ERA develops, manufactures, and implements mission-critical multilateration and passive surveillance systems for civil and military air traffic management. The product portfolio consists of two main lines: civil ATM products (MSS-5, NEO, ERIS-ATM, ERIS-A, ERIS-DART, SQUID) and military products (VERA-NG, PLESS, ERIS C2, EW-SIM). The civil portfolio centers on the MSS-5 multilateration platform which combines multilateration and ADS-B technologies, with ERIS-ATM for air traffic management and ERIS-A for airport control. Military products include VERA-NG passive ESM tracker for tactical targeting and PLESS for long-range over-the-horizon surveillance. Supporting tools include ERIS-DART for validation, EW-SIM simulator, 3R recording system, and MASTERCARE service program. Solution applications include WAM (wide area), MLAT (surface), ADS-B, PRM (parallel runway monitoring), HMU (height monitoring), and VTS (vehicle tracking). The company claims over 160 installations in 70+ countries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ERIS: Information systems for air traffic management, airport control, and surveillance data analysis
- MSS-5
- VERA-NG
- SQUID
- NEO
- MasterCare
- 3R
- PLESS
- ERIS-DART
Products and services
- MSS-5 Multilateration Surveillance System 5th generation multilateration surveillance system combining multilateration and ADS-B technologies. Provides real-time localization, tracking and identification of transponder-equipped objects at airport surface, TMA and en-route. Features dual station data output (ASTERIX format and raw MLAT), expandable modular solution, all-weather operation from -40°C to +60°C, and worldwide multi-GNSS synchronization (GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BEIDOU). For airports, ANSPs, and ATC authorities.
- NEO Enhanced Multisensor Surveillance System Enhanced multi-sensor surveillance system building on proven MSS technology. Combines multilateration and ADS-B sensors, decodes ADS-B messages, and can be configured as standalone ADS-B ground station network. Used for air traffic management surveillance.
- ERIS-ATM Air Traffic Management Information System Information system for radar and procedural air traffic management at all types of ATC centers. Features modular open architecture with standardized interfaces, multi-sensor data fusion, tracker, electronic flight strips, monitoring aids, and safety nets. Built on SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension. For ATC center operators.
- ERIS-A Airport Control System Information system for airport surveillance and surface movement control developed in accordance with A-SMGCS standards. Includes RIMCAS, CATC, and CMAC safety functions. Offers Common Ground Surveillance System (CGSS) for small/regional airports without surface movement radars. For airport operators.
- VERA-NG Passive ESM Tracker 5th generation Passive ESM Tracker (PET) providing high-capacity 3D tactical real-time targeting display. Tracks and identifies air, ground, and maritime targets. Provides long-term strategic ELINT analysis. Used by Czech Army and exported worldwide. Sees without being seen. For military and defense forces.
- PLESS Passive Long-range ESM Surveillance System Passive Long-range ESM Surveillance System using Over-the-Horizon capability with Direction Finding. Uses tropospheric scatter for beyond-radio-horizon detection up to 700km. Functions as early warning system for air, ground, and maritime targets. For military defense applications.
- ERIS C2 Command and Control System Command and Control information system for air force command support at operational and tactical levels. Supports planning and execution of air operations and GBAD (Ground-Based Air Defense) operations. Meets military C2 and ATC requirements. For air force commands and defense organizations.
- IXO Unmanned Aircraft System Solution Comprehensive solution for airspace users and air traffic controllers integrating real-time information about piloted and remotely piloted aircraft (RPAS). Used for flight planning and drone zone management. For airspace users, drone operators, and ATC authorities.
- ERIS-DART Surveillance Data Analysis Tool Surveillance Data Analysis and Replay Tool for validation and evaluation of surveillance system performance against EUROCAE specifications. Enables mono-static and multi-static sensor validation according to ED-142, ED-117A, ED-129B standards. Provides interactive multi-level surveillance data view from packets to decoded ASTERIX messages to trajectories. For ATC engineers and surveillance system operators.
- ERIS-COMMS Information Distribution System Information system for transmitting outputs from VERA-NG and other sensors to recipients in communication networks according to configured rules. Implements 'need to know' principle with sensitivity suppression capabilities. For military and security operations.
- SQUID Vehicle Tracking Transmitter Vehicle-mounted ADS-B beacon for determining position and identification of airport vehicles. Installed on vehicle roof (permanent or magnetic) and permanently broadcasts precise position for tower controller situational awareness. For airport surface vehicle tracking.
- 3R Record & Replay & InvestigatoR System Recording system for audio, video, and data with long-term storage and synchronized replay capability. Technical and Investigation Client suitable for extraordinary event analysis. For military and ATC operations requiring incident reconstruction.
- EW-SIM Training Simulator Training platform for passive surveillance systems, especially VERA-NG. Simulates combat conflicts on ground, air, and sea. Significantly reduces operator training time with various scenario variants. For military training organizations.
- EW-EDMT Electronic Warfare Data Mining Tool Electronic Warfare ERA Data Mining Tool for managing and analyzing data from ESM/ELINT missions. Imports, modifies, filters, identifies, and stores incoming data to build and expand reference target database. For military intelligence and electronic warfare analysts.
- LAPDIS Local Air Picture Display
- MIPS Mission Data Processing System Mission data processing system for ground control stations. Processes mission data from surveillance systems. For military ground control operations.
- MasterCare Post-Installation Service Program Post-installation support program covering hardware, firmware, and software maintenance. Includes repairs, spare parts delivery, preventive maintenance, and system updates. Long-term multi-year service contracts (e.g., KLIA extended to 2029). For all ERA surveillance system customers.
Quantifiable outcome
- More than 160 installations deployed globally in over 70 countries across 5 continents
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use ERA
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ERA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
ERA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- DAVCOM SAS (Colombia)minorFirst authorized company to sell ADS-B technology in Colombia. Partnership for Palonegro International Airport ADS-B system delivery. ERA's third South American reference country after Chile and Peru.
- ClearWisdom (Malaysia)minorLocal Malaysian partner assisting ERA with maintenance services for KLIA airport surveillance system. Collaboration on MasterCare service program extending system life through 2029.
- Airbus Defence and SpacecoreStrategic partnership for integration of ERA's passive sensor data (VERA-NG) with Airbus's Fortion 1SkyControl C2 system for air defense applications. Demonstrated at ILA Berlin 2026 with successful data fusion showing improved situational awareness. Partnership aims to break barriers between military and civil air space management through a 'system of systems' approach.
- NERA (Saudi Arabia)minorSaudi Arabian partner for ERA projects in the region, announced during Airspace World exhibition.
- DFS (Deutsche Flugsicherung)coreGerman air traffic control authority. DFS contracted ERA for wide-area ADS-B expansion covering significant portions of German airspace, including Munich region. Partnership built on successful previous phases and multiple ERA systems operating at German airports.
- Oro NavigacijacoreLithuanian air navigation services provider. ERA delivered WAM system covering Lithuanian airspace as a pilot project addressing cybersecurity challenges for critical infrastructure. System successfully completed with full compliance to European regulations and EUROCAE standards.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves14 records
Expansion highlights7 records
ERA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Thales: Thales is a global ATC and defense prime that supplies primary radars, Mode S multilateration, and integrated surveillance solutions. ERA competes against Thales on large-scale civil and military tenders but Thales operates a much broader portfolio.
- Leonardo: Leonardo offers ATC radars, Mode S multilateration, and integrated command-and-control for air defense through its Sensors & Mission Systems division, overlapping with ERA's civil and military surveillance portfolios.
- L3Harris Technologies: L3Harris provides surveillance, electronic warfare and air traffic management solutions, including multilateration and ADS-B ground stations, with significant overlap to ERA's civil and military product lines.
- Northrop Grumman: Northrop Grumman supplies air defense C2 systems and passive sensor payloads that overlap with ERA's VERA-NG and ERIS C2 offerings, particularly through its land and air dominance portfolios for the US and allied militaries.
- RTX (Raytheon): Raytheon's Collins Aerospace unit produces surveillance and ATM systems, while Raytheon Missiles & Defense supplies air defense electronics. Both compete with ERA in civil ATC and integrated air defense contracts globally.
Direct peers
- Hensoldt: Hensoldt is a German defense electronics specialist in sensors, radar and electronic warfare, comparable to ERA's VERA-NG passive ESM tracker and PLESS systems. Both serve European defense customers with passive sensor solutions.
- Frequentis: Frequentis provides ATM voice/data communication and surveillance data processing systems that integrate with multilateration ground stations. It is a peer in the same procurement workflows for ANSPs alongside ERA's ERIS-ATM and ERIS-DART products.
- Indra Sistemas: Indra's ATM business supplies multilateration systems, surface movement radars, and air traffic management centers, directly competing with ERA in Spanish-speaking markets and at international ANSPs (e.g., PANSA, DFS).
- Saab: Saab's Surveillance division manufactures multilateration, ADS-B and WAM ground stations for civil and military ATC, directly competing with ERA's MSS-5 and NEO products in tenders for air navigation service providers worldwide.
Emerging players
- Terma: Terma is a Danish defense and aerospace specialist with multilateration, surface movement radar and air defense integration products that compete with ERA in European and NATO tenders, though at smaller scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ERA social profiles
Digital presenceERA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ERA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
ERA subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
ERA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ERA 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 ERA
What does ERA do?
ERA develops, manufactures, and implements mission-critical multilateration and passive surveillance systems for civil and military air traffic management. The company offers complete turnkey solutions including the MSS-5 multilateration platform, ADS-B ground stations, passive ESM trackers (VERA-NG), command and control systems, and associated information systems. Products are sold with accompanying system integration services and long-term MasterCare maintenance programs to airports, civil aviation authorities, and defense organizations globally.
Is ERA a public or private company?
ERA is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was ERA founded?
ERA was founded in 1994. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is ERA based?
ERA is headquartered in Pardubice, Czechia, in the Europe region.
How does ERA make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Surveillance Systems (Hardware) is the primary driver. The others are masterCare Maintenance Services and system Integration Services.
Who are ERA's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Thales, Leonardo, L3Harris Technologies, Northrop Grumman and RTX (Raytheon). Direct peers are Hensoldt, Frequentis, Indra Sistemas and Saab. Terma is listed as an emerging player.
Does ERA have an API?
No public API is recorded for ERA.
What industry is ERA in?
ERA's product category is Air Traffic Management Surveillance Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAGAF, IFF/Identification, Beaconing & Cooperative Surveillance Systems, with a secondary code of IMABAOAM, Defense Software, Mission Applications & Open Architecture (MOSA) Systems. Its NAICS code is 334512 and its SIC code is 3812.