NASHUA, N.H. - Military + Aerospace Electronics announces the 2026 Innovators Awards to recognize companies offering innovative technologies and substantial design solutions for military, aerospace, space, and avionics applications.

The awards are presented in three tiers: Platinum, the highest honor, followed by Gold and Silver. Honorees are selected based on recommendations from an independent panel of industry judges. 

This year’s innovations span a broad range of enabling technologies, including embedded computing, counter-uncrewed aircraft systems, directed energy, satellite communications, power electronics, networking, autonomy, electronic test and measurement, assured positioning, navigation and timing, and thermal imaging.

Platinum honorees

Comtel Electronics GmbH - VPX/SOSA High Speed 200G Backplane

Comtel Electronics' VPX/SOSA High Speed 200G Backplane enables high-speed interconnects in open-architecture embedded computing systems facing increasing bandwidth demands from processors, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and edge artificial intelligence. Built on the company's Air-/-Plane 56 technology and RT3 VPX connectors, the five-slot monolithic backplane supports Comtel's second-generation C-Frame development platform. The company reports that the backplane passed IEEE COM channel compliance testing for 50GBASE-KR and supports signaling rates of up to 56 gigabits per second per differential pair.

D-Fend Solutions - EnforceAir PLUS

D-Fend Solutions’ EnforceAir PLUS combines radio-frequency (RF) cyber-takeover technology, integrated radar detection, and the SmartAir artificial intelligence fusion engine to detect, identify, and mitigate unauthorized drones. The system can take control of a drone’s communications link and direct it to a predefined landing zone, helping avoid the collateral damage associated with kinetic interception and the wider interference that can accompany broad-spectrum jamming. An optional Smart RF-Effector adds targeted jamming as another mitigation option.

Epirus - Leonidas High-Power Microwave Platform

Epirus’ Leonidas high-power microwave platform uses solid-state power electronics and software-controlled waveforms to counter electronic threats, including groups of uncrewed aerial systems. Its approach enables operators to tailor electromagnetic effects to a target and engage multiple threats without relying on conventional interceptor munitions. The platform’s open-system interfaces also support integration with broader defense architectures, according to the company.

Fortem Technologies - DroneHunter F700

Fortem Technologies’ DroneHunter F700 uses onboard TrueView radar and AI-driven autonomous tracking to intercept uncrewed aircraft with a net-capture system. The interceptor can capture a target and carry it or lower it safely to the ground, reducing the collateral-damage risk of kinetic defeat. Integrated with Fortem’s SkyDome command-and-control platform, the system can coordinate up to five DroneHunter interceptors against five simultaneous threats, the company says.

Infineon IR HiRel - RIC70847 radiation-hardened buck controller with integrated gate drivers

Infineon IR HiRel’s RIC70847 is a radiation-hardened synchronous buck controller with integrated high- and low-side gate drivers, designed for spacecraft power conversion. The device has a 17.1-volt-class absolute maximum input rating and supports 5- and 12-volt nominal inputs. It has a total ionizing dose rating of 100 kilorads (Si) and has been characterized for single-event effects up to 81.9 MeV · cm²/mg. The device is qualified to MIL-PRF-38535 Class V, with full Defense Logistics Agency qualification announced in September 2026.

Intellian Technologies - OW7MP Manpack

Intellian Technologies’ OW7MP Manpack is a portable satellite communications terminal designed for Eutelsat’s OneWeb low-Earth-orbit network. Weighing less than 9 kilograms, the terminal provides data rates of up to 57 megabits per second downstream and 10 megabits per second upstream. Automated true-north calibration and one-touch network acquisition enables setup in less than five minutes. A fanless design supports silent operation, while a transmit-mute function lets users stop RF emissions. The terminal supports communications on the move and on the pause.

LCR Embedded Systems - VE03

LCR Embedded Systems’ VE03 integrates a closed-loop liquid-cooling system into a SAVE-compliant shock-tray chassis for embedded mission computing. The self-contained design incorporates a pump, reservoir, heat exchanger, coolant routing, and shock isolation, reducing reliance on vehicle-level cooling infrastructure. It supports up to 140 watts per slot for 3U VPX and SOSA-aligned payloads and is designed to support deployment in vehicles that may not have been designed for liquid-cooled electronics.

Lone Star Analysis - Evolved AI - Debrief IQ

Lone Star Analysis’ MaxUp TRACE dynamic training evaluation software uses its Evolved AI approach to analyze time-series data, such as aircraft flight logs, and evaluate pilot maneuvers in real time. Developed in collaboration with the Air Force Research Laboratory under a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research program, the software integrates data streams such as roll, pitch, yaw, and throttle to produce objective performance assessments without requiring manual data labeling. Its architecture dynamically orchestrates multiple specialized AI agents to recognize performance patterns in noisy or changing conditions, including rare events, while accounting for uncertainty in its assessments. 

Milpower Source - Miltech 680G3UVPX TSN

Milpower Source’s Miltech 680G3UVPX TSN switch synchronizes data exchange among distributed mission systems, including mission computers, radar processors, electronic warfare systems, sensors, and communications equipment. The 3U VPX platform supports Time-Sensitive Networking, with timing interfaces including one-pulse-per-second and 10-megahertz signals, IEEE 1588 version 2 precision time protocol, and synchronous Ethernet. The company reports switching capacity of up to 680 gigabits per second.

Palladyne AI - IntelliSwarm

Palladyne AI’s IntelliSwarm combines the company’s SwarmOS autonomous swarming software with BRAIN X2, an AI-enabled flight computer developed by subsidiary GuideTech. The integrated avionics platform brings together flight control, AI-driven perception, decision-making, and swarm coordination to support collaborative autonomy across multiple platforms. Its decentralized, platform-agnostic architecture is designed to reduce custom integration work and support operation in environments with degraded communications or limited access to GPS, according to the company.

Siborg Systems Inc. - LCR-Reader-MPB

Siborg Systems’ LCR-Reader-MPB combines an LCR meter and digital multimeter in a 36-gram, tweezer-style instrument for electronics maintenance and troubleshooting. It provides 0.1 percent basic measurement accuracy, with test frequencies from 100 hertz to 250 kilohertz at 1 volt RMS, and can measure small surface-mount components directly on circuit boards. The instrument also supports analog signature analysis for comparing known-good and suspect boards. Each unit ships with a NIST-traceable calibration certificate, according to the company.

SINTRONES Technology Corp. - ABOX-5221 ThermoSiphon liquid-cooled rugged edge AI computer

SINTRONES’ ABOX-5221 rugged edge AI computer uses a pump-free, self-circulating phase-change liquid-cooling system to manage heat in a sealed chassis without conventional mechanical fans. The company says the design supports operation from minus 40 to 70 degrees Celsius and delivers up to 682 AI TOPS. An MXM and M.2 modular architecture supports configuration flexibility, while a backup battery can provide up to 10 minutes of power.

SiTime - Endura Super-TCXO

SiTime’s Endura Super-TCXO maintains precision timing for aerospace and defense systems when global navigation satellite system signals are unavailable or compromised. The temperature-compensated oscillator improves timing stability and supports position, navigation, and timing resilience during GNSS-denied or spoofed conditions. SiTime reports up to 20 times longer holdover and 20 times better PNT accuracy than conventional quartz timing alternatives.

Somewear Labs - Horizon

Somewear Labs’ Horizon communications system is designed to maintain connectivity for mission systems operating beyond line of sight. The system can transition from line-of-sight links to satellite communications within seconds when the primary link degrades, according to the company. Horizon supports MAVLink and routing for the Tactical Assault Kit (TAK), helping connect uncrewed systems and personnel across different communications paths. Its compact design weighs 5.5 ounces.

Spectrum Control - DirectRF+ 16-channel wideband direct-sampling transceiver in 3U VPX

Spectrum Control’s DirectRF+ transceiver integrates eight transmit and eight receive channels in a 3U VPX module for wideband signal acquisition and generation. The system supports sampling rates up to 64 gigasamples per second. Its direct-sampling architecture eliminates the need for frequency downconversion, while a configurable RF mezzanine determines the module's frequency coverage. An Intel Agilex 9 FPGA and swappable RF mezzanine support configurable processing and frequency coverage, while coherent multi-card operation provides deterministic phase alignment.

Teledyne FLIR OEM - Boson SX8

Teledyne FLIR OEM’s Boson SX8 is an uncooled long-wave infrared camera module with an 8-micrometer pixel pitch and 1,280-by-1,024 SXGA resolution. The company says the sensor provides four times as many pixels as VGA-class 640-by-512 Boson models. The Boson SX8 CZ variant adds continuous optical zoom across a 15- to 75-millimeter range. The product is designed for integration into imaging systems for defense and other demanding applications, and is described by the company as compliant with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

Gold honorees

Comtel Electronics GmbH, SOSA/VPX Development System Online Configurator; Curtiss-Wright, NXDP-4000; Curtiss-Wright, PacStar 431 AI Server; Curtiss-Wright, VPX3-730 GPU Card; DroneShield, DroneSentry-C2 Enterprise; Elma Electronic, VERSAPlus Deployable VNX+ Chassis; LEMO, OPTIMA D Series; Lynx, LYNX MOSA.ic.AI; Molex, AirBorn SInergy Modular High-Speed Hybrid Connectors; Molex, Molex AirBorn 3U VPX; New Wave Design, V6074 3U VPX Versal AI Edge Gen2 Adaptive SoC FPGA Module; PIC WIRE & CABLE, UltraLoc; Sealevel Systems, Inc., Relio R1 HPC+; and Systel, Hawk AI.

Silver honorees

Comtel Electronics GmbH, Comtel VPX 200G High Speed Measurement Card; Comtel Electronics GmbH, SOSA/VPX C-Frame Next Gen Evaluation Platform; Durabook Americas Inc., R10 RUGGED TABLET; Durabook Americas Inc., Z14I-HG Rugged Workstation; Elma Electronic, VNX+ Application Starter Platform; Getac Technology Corporation, CommandCore; Getac Technology Corporation, V120; Leonardo DRS, SAGEcore; Leonardo DRS, THOR | Tactical High-performance Open-architecture Rugged Computing System; New Wave Design, V3211 Versal Gen 2 Dual-Wide QMC SOM; Powerbox International AB, POWERBOX ECDD Series DC/DC Converter; Sealevel Systems, Inc., Torvex; and Systel, Warhorse.