Develops and manufactures defense technology: unmanned systems, hypersonics, propulsion, space and microwave solutions.
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.
San Diego, CA (Headquarters) · Wildau, DE · Glen Burnie, MD · Dallastown, PA · Herndon, VA · Jupiter, FL · Sacramento, CA · Jerusalem, IL · Tehachapi, CA · Odon, INNew on Amplifa
About Kratos Defense
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions is a US provider of technology and systems for national security, focused on unmanned systems, hypersonics, propulsion technology, space, microwave electronics as well as weapon and carrier systems. The company develops and manufactures, among other things, aerial vehicles such as the XQ-58A Valkyrie and BQM-series aerial targets, jet engines (Spartan, GEK), solid rocket motors (Zeus, Oriole), hypersonic test and launch systems (Erinyes, Dark Fury), mobile launch and C2 systems, frequency converters, synthesizers and T/R modules for satellites and electronic warfare. In addition, Kratos operates a materials evaluation laboratory with mechanical, thermal and nondestructive testing up to over 5,500 °F (approx. 3,000 °C), historically originating from the research organization Southern Research founded in 1941, whose Engineering Division was acquired in 2022. The manufacturing operations include over 550,000 square feet (approx. 51,000 m²) of production space with machining, welding, fabrication, system integration and modification of ground support equipment; the manufacturing facilities are certified to ISO 9001 and AS9100D. Customers include NASA, the US Department of Defense, the armed services, the Missile Defense Agency as well as international partners such as Airbus, GE Aerospace and Rafael. The German site in Wildau is part of the Propulsion & Power Division.
- Site
- San Diego, CA
- Processes
- Ground support hardware fabrication (machining, welding, fabrication), System integration & ground support equipment modification, Advanced manufacturing of hypersonic launcher systems, transporter erector launchers, C2 mobility, Mechanical testing: tension (uniaxial/hoop), compression, flexure (3-pt, 4-pt, biaxial), fatigue,, High-temperature material testing (Room temperature to over 5,500°F; tensile up to 3200°F,, Thermal testing: thermal expansion (dilatometer), thermal conductivity (CRA, RIA, GHP), emissivity,, Nondestructive testing: advanced ultrasonic spectroscopy (UltraSpec), computed tomography (micro-CT, Materials characterization and evaluation for heat shields, space vehicles (NASA programs)
- Materials
- Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers (CFRP), Carbon-carbon composites, Ceramic matrix composites, Monolithic ceramics, Intermetallic materials, Metal matrix composites, Additively manufactured metallic materials, Insulations
- Certificates
- ISO 9001, AS9100D, CMMC Level 2, EN 9100 / AS9100D, Other (CMMC Level 2)
- Industries
- Defense/National Security, Aerospace, Space/Satellites, Hypersonics, Unmanned Systems, Microwave Electronics
- 01
Design & System Development
- 02
Machining, Welding & Fabrication
- 03
System Integration & Modification
- 04
Qualification, Test & Evaluation
- 05
Materials Testing & Nondestructive Testing
- 06
MRO (Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul)
Materials & Testing Methods
Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers (CFRP)
Fiber-reinforced polymer, inspected by ultrasonic spectroscopy and computed tomography.
Carbon-Carbon Composites
High-temperature composite material for thermal protection applications, tested up to over 5,500 °F.
Ceramic Matrix Composites
Ceramic composite materials for extreme temperature environments in hypersonics and space.
Metal Matrix Composites
Metal matrix composite materials for structural high-temperature applications.
Intermetallic Materials
Intermetallics for high-temperature loads, characterized in the materials laboratory.
Monolithic Ceramics
Engineering ceramics for mechanical and thermal testing under extreme conditions.
Additively Manufactured Metallic Materials
Additively manufactured metallic components, inspected with micro- to nano-CT and ultrasound.
Ablative Materials
Ablation materials for spacecraft heat shields, evaluated for NASA programs.
Insulation Materials
Insulation materials, thermally characterized from cryogenic conditions up to over 5,500 °F.
Locations
San Diego, CA
USCorporate Headquarters
Wildau
DEPropulsion & Power
Glen Burnie, MD
USDivision HQ Defense & Rocket Support Systems
Dallastown, PA
USDivision HQ C5ISR Systems
Herndon, VA
USDivision HQ Space, Training and Cybersecurity
Jupiter, FL
USDivision HQ Turbine Technologies
Sacramento, CA
USDivision HQ Unmanned Systems
Jerusalem
ILDivision HQ Microwave Electronics
Tehachapi, CA
USSierra Technical Services – Engineering/Design, Aircraft & Hardware Manufacturing
Odon, IN
USHypersonics Test & Production Facilities (Helios, AN/SPY-1, Indiana Payload Integration Facility)
Systems & Components
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground support hardware fabrication (machining, welding, fabrication)Machining | – | – | – | – | – |
| System integration & ground support equipment modificationAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Advanced manufacturing of hypersonic launcher systems, transporter erector launchers, C2 mobilityEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Mechanical testing: tension (uniaxial/hoop), compression, flexure (3-pt, 4-pt, biaxial), fatigue,Testing | – | – | – | – | Composites, Ceramics, Metals, Insulations |
| High-temperature material testing (Room temperature to over 5,500°F; tensile up to 3200°F,Testing | – | – | – | – | carbon-carbon composites, ceramic matrix composites, monolithic ceramics, intermetallics, metal matrix composites |
| Thermal testing: thermal expansion (dilatometer), thermal conductivity (CRA, RIA, GHP), emissivity,Testing | – | – | – | – | composites, ceramics, metals, insulations |
| Nondestructive testing: advanced ultrasonic spectroscopy (UltraSpec), computed tomography (micro-CTTesting | – | – | – | – | CFRP, Carbon-Carbon composites, Ceramic Matrix Composites, additively manufactured metallics, honeycomb structures, multi-material bonds |
| Materials characterization and evaluation for heat shields, space vehicles (NASA programs)Testing | – | – | – | – | structural materials, insulative materials, ablative materials |
| Metrology and shape capture, material property measurementTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacture of turbojet and turbofan engines (Spartan, GEK engines), demonstrator engines, liquidEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacture of solid rocket motors (Zeus, Oriole) and energetics; rocket motor capacity viaEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul (MRO) for propulsion systemsEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacture of unmanned aerial systems (XQ-58A Valkyrie, BQM-167, BQM-177, Firejet aerial targets);Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Microwave electronics manufacturing: frequency converters, synthesizers, T/R modules, amplifiers,Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacture of flight termination systems, flight termination test sets, target control systems,Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality & Certifications
The manufacturing facilities are certified to ISO 9001 and AS9100D (IAPMO SCB, cert. 1105918) and have extensive in-house testing capabilities; in 2025, CMMC Level 2 was additionally achieved. The Materials Evaluation laboratory offers mechanical, thermal and nondestructive testing including micro- to nano-CT, UltraSpec® ultrasound and X-ray radiography.
| Evidence | San Diego, CA |
|---|---|
| ISO 9001 | |
| EN 9100 / AS9100D | |
| Other (CMMC Level 2) |
History
- 1941
Founding of the predecessor of the materials test laboratory as a research organization (Southern Research); later heat shield testing for the NASA Apollo program.
- 2007
Acquisition of Haverstick Consulting; Dave Carter part of the executive team.
- 2008
Stacey Rock joins Kratos through the acquisition of Digital Fusion Solutions.
- 2019
Founding of the Kratos Turbine Technologies division by Stacey Rock.
- 2022
Acquisition of Southern Research's Engineering Division (Materials Evaluation).
- 2024
Re-issue of the ISO 9001/AS9100D certificate for Sierra Technical Services (cert. 1105918).
- 2025
Achievement of CMMC Level 2; groundbreaking for the Helios and AN/SPY-1 test facilities in Odon, Indiana.