Defense & naval startups in San Diego

Eric DeMarco (CEO)

San Diego–HQ defense-tech firm; NASDAQ: KTOS, ~4,300 employees. Builds jet-powered tactical drones (Valkyrie XQ-58), high-performance aerial targets, hypersonic vehicles, solid rocket motors and C5ISR/satell...

Mark Dankberg, Mark Miller, Steve Hart

Founded 1986 in Carlsbad; NASDAQ: VSAT. Global satellite-communications leader providing high-throughput satellite broadband, in-flight Wi-Fi (American, JetBlue, United) and secure government/military networ...

Brandon Tseng, Ryan Tseng, Andrew Reiter

Founded 2015; builds Hivemind, an AI 'pilot' enabling drones/aircraft to fly autonomously in GPS- and comms-denied combat (deployed since 2018) plus the V-BAT VTOL drone. Raised $240M at a $5.3B valuation (M...

founded 1951 by Walter Zable

Founded 1951 in San Diego. Defense-electronics and transportation-tech company (secure tactical comms, training/simulation, and fare-collection systems for transit agencies worldwide). Taken private in May 2...

Dan Magy, Ian Muceus

Founded 2022 in San Diego. Builds expeditionary, 3D-printed modular UAS ('xCells' — containerized additive-manufacturing units that print drones at the tactical edge for the DoD). Raised a $12.5M seed (Mar 2...

Bo Ryu & Tamal Bose (co-founders)"

** Poway-based tactical-AI/autonomy firm whose software flew the U.S. Air Force's first AI-vs-human dogfight and supported DoD's Project Overmatch (surface warfare, maritime tracking, UAS, battle management)...

Sunny Kaila / Steve Cheng (leadership)"

** San Diego defense engineering firm supplying communications, networking and edge-computing/C4ISR solutions to U.S. Navy, Air Force and other defense agencies — including tactical gateways and airborne net...

Neal Blue / Linden Blue (parent owners)"

** Privately held (Blue family) unit of General Atomics; the original maker of the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper medium-altitude long-endurance drones, plus MQ-1C Gray Eagle, MQ-20 Avenger and MQ-9B SkyGuard...

** San Diego provider of precision LiDAR mapping, GPS/inertial navigation and positioning for aerial, land and maritime platforms — including drone-based survey and PNT (position/navigation/timing) in GPS-ch...

Larsen Jensen (founder)"

** One of the few VC firms investing primarily in defense/dual-use tech, with a San Diego office and ~$300M AUM across AI, deep tech, cyber and enterprise infrastructure. A key local capital source (alongsid...

** Founded 2004; a space "non-traditional defense contractor" building radiation-tolerant, cyber-secure space avionics — flight computers, software-defined radios, crypto/encryption and data-storage — for sa...

Aleksey Matyushev & Anatoly Starikov (co-founders)"

** Founded 2016, moved HQ to San Diego from the Bay Area in 2022; develops hyper-efficient blended-wing-body (BWB) aircraft — the KONA regional cargo plane (3.8-ton payload) and future passenger/defense vari...

U.S. Navy"

** The largest Navy complex on the West Coast and homeport of the Pacific Surface Fleet; San Diego drives ~$30B in annual regional defense spending. Home to the Navy's growing unmanned-surface-vessel squadro...

U.S. Navy"

** Formerly SPAWAR (renamed 2019); the Navy's premier information-warfare RDT&E command, relocated to San Diego's Old Town in 1997 with ~5,000+ personnel. Anchors the region's C4ISR, cyber and space-warfare ...

** San Diego drone-autonomy startup; the first to focus on launching/landing UAS autonomously from moving platforms (vehicles and boats) in GPS-denied conditions for defense and industrial use. Acquired by A...

Mike Flanigan (co-founder/CEO)"

** Founded ~2020; builds lightweight, solar-powered autonomous surface vessels (ASVs) that stay at sea for months for ISR, maritime domain awareness and commercial survey. Backed by L3Harris (2022) and Shiel...

** San Diego company developing autonomous, wind/solar-powered undersea and surface vehicles for long-duration ocean sensing and naval/ocean-warfare ISR missions. Early-stage maritime-autonomy player leverag...

Walter Zable (founder, legacy)" - **venue:** San Diego (Kearny Mesa) - **la:** 32.8236 - **ln:** -117.1517 - **desc:** Long-standing San Diego defense and transportation technology firm at 9333 Balboa Ave, Kearny Mesa; Cubic Mission & Performance Solutions delivers networked C4ISR — command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance — plus live/virtual training systems for defense customers. Taken private by Veritas Capital/Evergreen Coast in 2021 (~$2.8B); remains a major SD defense employer. - **link:** https://www.cubic.com - **vertical:** ["Defense"] - **stage:** unicorn ### 6 -

Long-standing San Diego defense and transportation technology firm at 9333 Balboa Ave, Kearny Mesa; Cubic Mission & Performance Solutions delivers networked C4ISR — command, control, communications, computer...

Bo Ryu & Tamal Bose (co-founders)" - **venue:** Poway, San Diego - **la:** 32.9628 - **ln:** -117.0359 - **desc:** Poway-based tactical-AI/autonomy firm whose software flew the U.S. Air Force's first AI-vs-human dogfight and supported DoD's Project Overmatch (surface warfare, maritime tracking, UAS, battle management). Acquired by Applied Intuition (Feb 2026, announced Feb 2025) to form Applied Intuition Defense; now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary with the full team retained. - **link:** https://www.episci.com - **vertical:** ["Defense","Deeptech"] - **stage:** funded ### 11 -

Poway-based tactical-AI/autonomy firm whose software flew the U.S. Air Force's first AI-vs-human dogfight and supported DoD's Project Overmatch (surface warfare, maritime tracking, UAS, battle management). A...

Dan Magy (co-founder/CEO)" - **venue:** Miramar, San Diego - **la:** 32.8700 - **ln:** -117.1420 - **desc:** Founded 2022; builds xCell, a containerized "factory-in-a-box" that 3D-prints modular drone airframes and mission payloads at the point of need in under ~24 hours. Raised a $47M Series A in July 2025 led by NEA (with Lockheed Martin Ventures, Booz Allen Ventures, Decisive Point; ~$77M total), later a larger 2026 round, and holds a U.S. Air Force UAS deal worth up to $100M. Operates ~60,000 sq ft in Miramar. - **link:** https://www.launchfirestorm.com - **vertical:** ["Defense","Deeptech"] - **stage:** funded ### 7 -

Founded 2022; builds xCell, a containerized "factory-in-a-box" that 3D-prints modular drone airframes and mission payloads at the point of need in under ~24 hours. Raised a $47M Series A in July 2025 led by ...

Sunny Kaila / Steve Cheng (leadership)" - **venue:** San Diego - **la:** 32.7157 - **ln:** -117.1611 - **desc:** San Diego defense engineering firm supplying communications, networking and edge-computing/C4ISR solutions to U.S. Navy, Air Force and other defense agencies — including tactical gateways and airborne networking. A steady SD prime/sub in the connected-battlespace and JADC2 space. - **link:** https://www.fuseintegration.com - **vertical:** ["Defense"] - **stage:** funded ### 15 -

San Diego defense engineering firm supplying communications, networking and edge-computing/C4ISR solutions to U.S. Navy, Air Force and other defense agencies — including tactical gateways and airborne networ...

Neal Blue / Linden Blue (parent owners)" - **venue:** Poway - **la:** 32.9628 - **ln:** -117.0359 - **desc:** Privately held (Blue family) unit of General Atomics; the original maker of the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper medium-altitude long-endurance drones, plus MQ-1C Gray Eagle, MQ-20 Avenger and MQ-9B SkyGuardian/SeaGuardian. Based at 14200 Kirkham Way, Poway. The Predator line has flown 30+ years and anchors San Diego's status as a UAS manufacturing hub; General Atomics also runs a growing space-systems (GA-EMS) satellite business. - **link:** https://www.ga-asi.com - **vertical:** ["Defense"] - **stage:** unicorn ### 3 -

Privately held (Blue family) unit of General Atomics; the original maker of the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper medium-altitude long-endurance drones, plus MQ-1C Gray Eagle, MQ-20 Avenger and MQ-9B SkyGuardian...

including drone-based survey and PNT (position/navigation/timing) in GPS-challenged environments. Dual-use deeptech serving defense and commercial geospatial customers. - **link:** https://geodetics.com - **vertical:** ["Deeptech","Defense"] - **stage:** early --- ## ECOSYSTEM ANCHORS & INFRASTRUCTURE (San Diego) ### 16 -

San Diego provider of precision LiDAR mapping, GPS/inertial navigation and positioning for aerial, land and maritime platforms — including drone-based survey and PNT (position/navigation/timing) in GPS-chall...

Larsen Jensen (founder)" - **venue:** San Diego (+ Menlo Park) - **la:** 32.7157 - **ln:** -117.1611 - **desc:** One of the few VC firms investing primarily in defense/dual-use tech, with a San Diego office and ~$300M AUM across AI, deep tech, cyber and enterprise infrastructure. A key local capital source (alongside NavalX and DoD innovation programs like DIU/APFIT) fueling SD's defense-tech founders. - **link:** https://www.harpoon.vc - **vertical:** ["Defense"] - **stage:** funded --- ## HQ-FLAGS — companies active/visible in San Diego but NOT SD-headquartered (EXCLUDED from records) - **Saronic Technologies** — HQ **Austin, TX**. Opened an 83,000-sq-ft San Diego (Midway District) facility in Oct 2025 for autonomous surface vessels; unicorn, but not SD-HQ. Excluded. - **HavocAI** — HQ **Providence, RI** (with Austin & a San Diego office; maritime production in Rhode Island). Raised ~$100M for autonomous boats (Rampage/Sea Hound). Not SD-HQ. Excluded. - **Epirus** — HQ **Torrance/Los Angeles, CA**. High-power-microwave counter-UAS (Leonidas). Not SD. Excluded. - **Ondas Holdings** — HQ **West Palm Beach, FL**. Counter-drone/autonomous systems. Not SD. Excluded. - **Ocean Aero** — Founded/incubated in San Diego but **relocated HQ & manufacturing to Gulfport, MS** (2021–2023). Triton AUSV. SD roots only. Excluded. - **Impulse Space** — HQ **Redondo Beach, CA** (LA area). In-space transportation; some SD-linked activity. Not SD-HQ. Excluded. - **Anduril Industries** — HQ **Costa Mesa, CA** (Orange County). Frequently cited alongside SD but not SD-HQ. Excluded. --- ## SOURCES (key) - Shield AI: https://shield.ai ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shield_AI ; https://fortune.com/2026/03/26/shield-ai-revenue-series-g-funding-12-billion-valuation/ - GA-ASI: https://www.ga-asi.com/remotely-piloted-aircraft/mq-9a ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Atomics_MQ-9_Reaper - Kratos: https://www.kratosdefense.com/newsroom/kratos-receives-7-million-order-for-counter-uas-systems ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kratos_Defense_%26_Security_Solutions - Viasat: https://www.sdbj.com/technology/communication-tech/viasats-fy2025-rakes-in-4-5b/ ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viasat_(American_company) - Cubic: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cubic-corporation-breaks-ground-on-new-san-diego-headquarters-300886156.html - Firestorm Labs: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/firestorm-labs-announces-47-million-series-a-funding-302506303.html ; https://businessofsandiego.substack.com/p/sd-defense-tech-startups-land-government - Seasats: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/seasats-raises-20-million-series-a-302688401.html ; https://www.sdbj.com/defense/seasats-grows-with-20m-series-a-funding/ - SubSeaSail: https://subseasail.com/ - Brain Corp: https://www.braincorp.com/about - EpiSci: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/applied-intuition-acquires-episci-302369178.html ; https://www.sdbj.com/defense/software-co-finds-norcal-match/ - Natilus: https://natilus.co/natilus-raises-28-million-series-a-to-commercialize-family-of-hyper-efficient-blended-wing-aircraft/ ; https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/04/09/natilus-aerospace-startup-building-futuristic-fuel-efficient-planes - Innoflight: https://innoflight.com/about-us/ - Planck Aerosystems: https://www.avinc.com/resources/press-releases/view/aerovironment-acquires-planck-aerosystems - Fuse Integration / Geodetics: https://builtin.com/companies/location/na/usa/ca/san-diego/type/aerospace-startups - NIWC Pacific: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Information_Warfare_Center_Pacific - Ecosystem/flags: https://businessofsandiego.substack.com/p/sd-defense-tech-startups-land-government ; https://www.defenseone.com/business/2026/02/crowded-field-robot-boat-makers-vying-navys-attention/411390/ ; https://mississippi.org/news/ocean-aero-locating-manufacturing-operations-and-headquarters-in-gulfport/

One of the few VC firms investing primarily in defense/dual-use tech, with a San Diego office and ~$300M AUM across AI, deep tech, cyber and enterprise infrastructure. A key local capital source (alongside N...

flight computers, software-defined radios, crypto/encryption and data-storage — for satellite buses and payloads. San Diego–based, now backed by PE firm TJC; a core SD space-electronics supplier for national-security smallsats. - **link:** https://innoflight.com - **vertical:** ["Spacetech","Defense"] - **stage:** funded ### 13 -

Founded 2004; a space "non-traditional defense contractor" building radiation-tolerant, cyber-secure space avionics — flight computers, software-defined radios, crypto/encryption and data-storage — for satel...

Eric DeMarco (CEO)" - **venue:** San Diego (Kearny Mesa) - **la:** 32.8236 - **ln:** -117.1517 - **desc:** Publicly traded (NASDAQ: KTOS) San Diego defense company focused on unmanned aerial systems (Valkyrie/XQ-58 tactical drones), hypersonics, satellite/space, target drones, C5ISR and counter-UAS. Received a ~$7M production award for a counter-UAS system to detect, track and classify low-profile drones, cruise missiles and other aerial threats. A key SD anchor in affordable/attritable autonomous aircraft. - **link:** https://www.kratosdefense.com - **vertical:** ["Defense","Spacetech"] - **stage:** public ### 4 -

Publicly traded (NASDAQ: KTOS) San Diego defense company focused on unmanned aerial systems (Valkyrie/XQ-58 tactical drones), hypersonics, satellite/space, target drones, C5ISR and counter-UAS. Received a ~$...

Aleksey Matyushev & Anatoly Starikov (co-founders)" - **venue:** Otay Mesa, San Diego - **la:** 32.5530 - **ln:** -116.9370 - **desc:** Founded 2016, moved HQ to San Diego from the Bay Area in 2022; develops hyper-efficient blended-wing-body (BWB) aircraft — the KONA regional cargo plane (3.8-ton payload) and future passenger/defense variants — built in Otay Mesa. Raised a $28M Series A (announced early 2026) led by Draper Associates with an order book exceeding 570 aircraft; strong dual-use (cargo/logistics) potential. - **link:** https://natilus.co - **vertical:** ["Deeptech","Defense"] - **stage:** funded ### 12 -

Founded 2016, moved HQ to San Diego from the Bay Area in 2022; develops hyper-efficient blended-wing-body (BWB) aircraft — the KONA regional cargo plane (3.8-ton payload) and future passenger/defense variant...

U.S. Navy" - **venue:** Naval Base San Diego, Barrio Logan - **la:** 32.6790 - **ln:** -117.1210 - **desc:** The largest Navy complex on the West Coast and homeport of the Pacific Surface Fleet; San Diego drives ~$30B in annual regional defense spending. Home to the Navy's growing unmanned-surface-vessel squadrons (e.g., USVRON 7, stood up 2025) developing autonomous "ghost ship" fleets — the demand engine for SD's maritime-autonomy startups. - **link:** https://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnrsw/installations/navbase_san_diego.html - **vertical:** ["Defense"] - **stage:** public ### 18 -

The largest Navy complex on the West Coast and homeport of the Pacific Surface Fleet; San Diego drives ~$30B in annual regional defense spending. Home to the Navy's growing unmanned-surface-vessel squadrons ...

U.S. Navy" - **venue:** Old Town Campus, San Diego - **la:** 32.7550 - **ln:** -117.1970 - **desc:** Formerly SPAWAR (renamed 2019); the Navy's premier information-warfare RDT&E command, relocated to San Diego's Old Town in 1997 with ~5,000+ personnel. Anchors the region's C4ISR, cyber and space-warfare research and is undergoing a 1.7M-sq-ft campus revitalization — the gravitational center that pulls defense-tech startups to San Diego. - **link:** https://www.niwcpacific.navy.mil - **vertical:** ["Defense"] - **stage:** public ### 17 -

Formerly SPAWAR (renamed 2019); the Navy's premier information-warfare RDT&E command, relocated to San Diego's Old Town in 1997 with ~5,000+ personnel. Anchors the region's C4ISR, cyber and space-warfare res...

San Diego drone-autonomy startup; the first to focus on launching/landing UAS autonomously from moving platforms (vehicles and boats) in GPS-denied conditions for defense and industrial use. Acquired by Aero...

Mike Flanigan (co-founder/CEO)" - **venue:** San Diego - **la:** 32.7157 - **ln:** -117.1611 - **desc:** Founded ~2020; builds lightweight, solar-powered autonomous surface vessels (ASVs) that stay at sea for months for ISR, maritime domain awareness and commercial survey. Backed by L3Harris (2022) and Shield Capital; closed a $20M Series A led by Konvoy Ventures (Feb 2026), raised $40M+ total and won $100M+ in U.S. government contracts including a $24M DoD APFIT award and a Navy SBIR Phase 3. Cites SD's "major Navy presence" as its edge. - **link:** https://www.seasats.com - **vertical:** ["Defense","Deeptech"] - **stage:** funded ### 8 -

Founded ~2020; builds lightweight, solar-powered autonomous surface vessels (ASVs) that stay at sea for months for ISR, maritime domain awareness and commercial survey. Backed by L3Harris (2022) and Shield C...

Brandon Tseng, Ryan Tseng & Andrew Reiter" - **venue:** Downtown San Diego - **la:** 32.7157 - **ln:** -117.1611 - **desc:** Founded 2015 by former Navy SEAL Brandon Tseng, his brother Ryan, and Andrew Reiter; builds Hivemind, an AI autonomy stack that pilots aircraft and drones in GPS- and comms-denied environments, plus the V-BAT VTOL UAS and the new X-BAT autonomous fighter concept. Hivemind has flown 26+ vehicle classes including F-16s. In March 2026 it raised ~$1.5B Series G (plus $500M preferred) at a $12.7B valuation and projected $540M+ revenue — San Diego's flagship defense-tech company. - **link:** https://shield.ai - **vertical:** ["Defense","Deeptech"] - **stage:** unicorn ### 2 -

Founded 2015 by former Navy SEAL Brandon Tseng, his brother Ryan, and Andrew Reiter; builds Hivemind, an AI autonomy stack that pilots aircraft and drones in GPS- and comms-denied environments, plus the V-BA...

San Diego company developing autonomous, wind/solar-powered undersea and surface vehicles for long-duration ocean sensing and naval/ocean-warfare ISR missions. Early-stage maritime-autonomy player leveraging...

Mark Dankberg (co-founder/Chairman)" - **venue:** Carlsbad - **la:** 33.1581 - **ln:** -117.3506 - **desc:** Founded 1986, publicly traded (NASDAQ: VSAT) satellite-communications company in Carlsbad; provides high-speed satellite broadband plus secure military networking, cybersecurity and ground equipment. Reported record ~$4.5B revenue in FY2025, with a fast-growing Defense & Advanced Technologies segment. Serves government/commercial aircraft including Air Force One and rolled out a UAV-specific network for government clients. - **link:** https://www.viasat.com - **vertical:** ["Spacetech","Defense"] - **stage:** public ### 5 -

Founded 1986, publicly traded (NASDAQ: VSAT) satellite-communications company in Carlsbad; provides high-speed satellite broadband plus secure military networking, cybersecurity and ground equipment. Reporte...