Acustek
Acustek is an Irish OEM designer and manufacturer of Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM) equipment and covert surveillance solutions, serving government, defence, law enforcement, intelligence and corporate security clients across 50+ territories.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersDublin, Ireland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Acustek does
Acustek Limited is an Irish OEM designer and manufacturer of Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM) equipment and miniature covert surveillance solutions, founded in Dublin in 2009 and operating as a privately held company that has explicitly grown without venture capital. The company serves government agencies, defence organisations, law enforcement, intelligence services, and corporate security units across more than 50 territories worldwide, with primary customer segments in Government & Defence, Law Enforcement & Public Safety, and Intelligence & National Security. Acustek does not sell directly to individual consumers, instead engaging qualified institutional buyers through direct enterprise sales and a structured partner programme with 50+ territory partners, 6+ technology partners and 10+ global strategic partners.
The company's TSCM product line centres on the Dark Compass RF signal analyser (70 MHz to 6 GHz coverage with direction finding and Protocol Intelligence), the SWORD-24/24S Non-Linear Junction Detector with proprietary 5th-generation harmonic analysis, the ACU-S1 smart thermal camera (256x192 IR resolution with Fusion II forensic mix overlay), the LUMINAR dual-colour hidden lens detector, and the Net Shield Android-based network security analysis application. Additional products include the ACU-FVS flexible videoscope, the SAFE-4 ultrasonic counter-eavesdropping enclosure, the PIN-TOOL mobile forensics tool, and the NextGen TSCM Kit — an integrated five-pillar suite bundling signal, network, physical, thermal and optical intelligence tools. A parallel Surveillance division supplies miniature covert hardware such as the Smartphone 23U and Splinter X.
Acustek's revenue model combines hardware sales, software subscriptions (Net Shield on an annual billing cadence), and professional training delivered through a 5-Day TSCM Professional Course and 1-Day Operational Courses. Pricing is quote-based with no public disclosure, and distribution combines direct enterprise engagement with regional trade-show presence across Security & Policing (Farnborough), Milipol Paris, ISNR Abu Dhabi, LEA-DER Prague, FEINDEF Madrid, SEECAT Tokyo and IDEX. The company operates from Swords, Co. Dublin, with a sales and marketing office in Dubai, and supports a headcount in the 11–50 range.
Acustek firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Acustek
- Legal name
- Acustek Limited
- Website
- https://acustek.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Acustek is an Irish OEM designer and manufacturer of Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM) equipment and covert surveillance solutions, serving government, defence, law enforcement, intelligence and corporate security clients across 50+ territories.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Acustek industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Counter-Surveillance (TSCM) Equipment
- NAICS
- Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)
- SIC
- Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- IFF/Identification, Beaconing & Cooperative Surveillance Systems (IMABAGAF)
Keywords
Where Acustek is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dublin
- HQ country
- Ireland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Acustek business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales: Sale of TSCM equipment including Dark Compass signal analyser, SWORD-24 NLJD, ACU-S1 thermal camera, LUMINAR lens detector, ACU-FVS videoscope, and SAFE-4 acoustic jamming safe. Physical products sold with associated datasheets, demos, and support.
- Software Sales: Net Shield mobile application for TSCM network security analysis, available as Android app with advanced features on rooted devices. Software licensing and over-the-air updates.
- Professional Training: TSCM training programmes including 5-Day Professional Course covering RF, Cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NLJD, thermal and optical detection, plus 1-Day Operational Training courses on Dark Compass and full TSCM Kit. Certification awarded upon completion.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Net Shield available with no-root baseline capability or advanced analysis features on rooted devices |
| Other | Multi-year contract | 5-Day TSCM Professional Course - comprehensive intensive programme |
| Other | Multi-year contract | 1-Day Operational Training on Dark Compass or Full TSCM Kit |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Acustek product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Acustek is an OEM designer and manufacturer of professional counter-surveillance TSCM (Technical Surveillance Counter-Measures) solutions and complementary IoT equipment. The company develops, brands, and ships hardware products used to detect, identify, and neutralize illicit surveillance threats (including RF emissions, hidden optical devices, and non-linear electronics), and it also offers related training and software such as the Net Shield mobile application.
Product overview
Acustek provides a comprehensive portfolio of Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM) and covert surveillance solutions for government, intelligence, law enforcement, and corporate security clients. The product ecosystem is organized around two core divisions: TSCM Equipment (bug detection, RF analysis, thermal imaging, electronics detection) and Professional Surveillance (covert audio and video solutions). The TSCM portfolio includes Dark Compass (signal analyser), Net Shield (network security app), ACU-S1 (thermal camera), ACU-FVS (flexible videoscope), SWORD-24/24S (NLJD), LUMINAR (lens detector), SAFE-4 (counter-eavesdropping safe), and the integrated NextGen Countermeasures All-in-One Kit bundling these tools. The Surveillance division offers miniature audio and video systems including Smartphone 23U and Splinter X. Additionally, the company provides TSCM training programs and custom engineering services. Products are distributed through a global partner network spanning 50+ territories.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Dark Compass A professional TSCM signal analyzer used by trained operators to detect, analyze, and locate RF emissions from covert listening devices and other illicit transmitters in secured environments.
- Net Shield (Mobile App) A mobile software platform that supports TSCM specialists with field detection, device analysis, and reporting functions complementing Acustek's hardware product line.
- SWORD-24 / SWORD-24S NLJD A Non-Linear Junction Detector (NLJD) used to locate active or dormant electronic components inside objects, walls, and concealment areas, supporting searches for concealed surveillance devices and contraband electronics in corrections and TSCM contexts.
- ACU-S1 Smart Thermal Camera A smart thermal imaging camera that helps TSCM operators identify heat signatures of concealed electronics and traces of recent activity during counter-surveillance inspections.
- ACU-FVS Flexible Videoscope A flexible videoscope used to visually inspect hard-to-reach cavities, fixtures, and concealed spaces for hidden surveillance devices during TSCM sweeps.
- LUMINAR Hidden Camera Lens Detector An optical device used by TSCM operators and security personnel to detect hidden camera lenses in rooms, vehicles, and meeting spaces.
- SAFE-4 Counter-Eavesdropping Safe An RF-shielded secure enclosure (Faraday-style safe) used during sensitive meetings to isolate mobile devices and prevent remote eavesdropping via cellular or wireless transmission.
- TSCM Kit NextGen Countermeasures All-in-One Kit A bundled, integrated TSCM kit that combines multiple Acustek countermeasure tools into a single ready-to-deploy package for professional TSCM operators and security teams.
- PIN-TOOL A specialized physical-inspection tool in Acustek's TSCM product line, used to support physical search and inspection tasks during counter-surveillance sweeps.
- S.A.I.L.-V2 A TSCM hardware device in Acustek's product portfolio, designed to support counter-surveillance detection workflows for professional operators.
- TSCM Training Programs Structured training programs that teach TSM professionals, security staff, and corporate security teams how to operate Acustek equipment and execute counter-surveillance sweeps.
Quantifiable outcome
- 70 MHz to 6 GHz spectrum coverage for comprehensive threat detection
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Acustek
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Acustek technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature9 records
Acustek partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Grupo Hispa (Spain)coreLocal partner in Spain that participated with Acustek at FEINDEF 2023 in Madrid. Represents Acustek products in the Spanish market, providing local sales and support for surveillance and TSCM solutions.
- RS Dynamics (Japan)coreTrusted partner in Japan presenting Acustek's latest TSCM and Surveillance solutions at SEECAT trade show in Tokyo. Provides local representation and distribution in the Japanese market.
- Irish Defence and Security Association (IDSA)minorAcustek is a member of the Irish Defence and Security Association (IDSA), connecting with leading defence and security professionals in Ireland. IDSA provides networking and industry connections for defence and security companies.
- Territory Partners (50+)core50+ Territory Partners around the world providing local sales, support, and distribution services for Acustek products. Forms the backbone of international distribution network.
- Global Partners (10+)core10+ Strategic Global Partners for worldwide distribution and strategic partnerships. Major channel partners supporting international sales operations.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Acustek competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Thales Group: Thales operates a broad defence and security portfolio that includes communications intelligence, electronic warfare, and secure communications. It competes with Acustek in European and Middle Eastern government tenders for SIGINT-adjacent counter-surveillance work.
- L3Harris Technologies: L3Harris is a large US defence prime with broad electronic-warfare, SIGINT, and sensor portfolios that can subsume TSCM-style RF analysis and direction finding inside wider force-protection and intelligence contracts, making it a strategic incumbent against specialist OEMs like Acustek.
- Teledyne FLIR: Teledyne FLIR dominates the tactical thermal imaging category with products that overlap Acustek's ACU-S1 Smart Thermal Camera, but sells into a much broader defence, security, and industrial customer base rather than specialising in TSCM workflows.
- HENSOLDT: HENSOLDT is a European defence sensor house specialising in radar, electronic warfare, and SIGINT products. Its Spectrum Dominance and SIGINT portfolios compete for the same defence-electronics budget lines that fund Acustek's counter-surveillance procurement.
- BAE Systems: BAE Systems is a global defence prime with electronic-warfare, intelligence, and cyber portfolios that occasionally encroach on the TSCM and SIGINT buyer relationships Acustek cultivates with national-security customers.
Direct peers
- ComSec LLC: ComSec is a US specialist in TSCM and technical surveillance equipment, supplying RF analysers and counter-surveillance tools to US federal, law-enforcement, and intelligence customers. It is a direct competitor to Acustek in the North American TSCM procurement market.
- Optima Technology: Optima is a TSCM hardware specialist selling RF detectors, NLJDs, and counter-surveillance kits to government and corporate buyers in the EMEA region, competing with Acustek in similar security-cleared tender processes.
- Research Electronics International (REI): REI is a US-based direct TSCM competitor and one of the most established OEMs in counter-surveillance, producing flagship signal analysers (OSCOR), TALAN NLJDs, and ORION non-linear junction detectors. Acustek's Dark Compass, SWORD-24, and ACU-S1 compete head-to-head against REI's product family in the same government and law-enforcement TSCM tenders.
- JJN Group (Audiotel): JJN Group is a UK-based TSCM equipment manufacturer (incorporating Audiotel) producing STG signal generators and the Scanlock range of RF detection equipment. It competes with Acustek in UK, European, and NATO defence procurement for counter-surveillance hardware.
Emerging players
- Berkeley Varitronics Systems: Berkeley Varitronics manufactures RF detection and direction-finding products (Yellowjacket, Hound) that overlap with Acustek's Dark Compass and Visual DF capabilities, particularly for wireless threat detection and Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/Cellular surveying.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Acustek social profiles
Digital presenceAcustek financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Acustek leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Acustek funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Acustek 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 Acustek
What does Acustek do?
Acustek is an OEM designer and manufacturer of professional counter-surveillance TSCM (Technical Surveillance Counter-Measures) solutions and complementary IoT equipment. The company develops, brands, and ships hardware products used to detect, identify, and neutralize illicit surveillance threats (including RF emissions, hidden optical devices, and non-linear electronics), and it also offers related training and software such as the Net Shield mobile application.
Is Acustek a public or private company?
Acustek is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Acustek founded?
Acustek was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Acustek based?
Acustek is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, in the Europe region.
How does Acustek make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are software Sales and professional Training.
Who are Acustek's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Thales Group, L3Harris Technologies, Teledyne FLIR, HENSOLDT and BAE Systems. Direct peers are ComSec LLC, Optima Technology, Research Electronics International (REI) and JJN Group (Audiotel). Berkeley Varitronics Systems is listed as an emerging player.
Does Acustek have an API?
No public API is recorded for Acustek.
What industry is Acustek in?
Acustek's product category is Counter-Surveillance (TSCM) Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAGAF, IFF/Identification, Beaconing & Cooperative Surveillance Systems. Its NAICS code is 33451 and its SIC code is 3823.