Unlocking Autonomous Potential for the Mission
We bridge the gap between advanced engineering concepts and tactical fleet integration, ensuring uncrewed aerial, surface, and subsurface systems perform safely alongside manned assets.
By leveraging deep expertise in aviation engineering, systems integration, and artificial intelligence (AI), StraCon empowers defense programs to rapidly mature emerging technologies from prototype to production.
Our comprehensive support ensures these advanced systems provide a decisive operational advantage, enhancing lethality, survivability, and mission readiness in an increasingly complex and contested global threat environment.
StraCon maintains deep knowledge of the Navy and Marine Corps Unmanned Systems Integrated Roadmap and the specific challenges of autonomous platform acquisition.
We support the integration of unmanned and counter-unmanned aerial (C-UAS) systems into existing carrier air wings and tactical units, ensuring that digital control stations and air vehicles are synchronized through a robust digital thread.
Our team brings deep technical expertise in the complex funding streams and technical baselines required for unmanned programs, including the orchestration of research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) and Aircraft Procurement, Navy (APN) funds to support rapid prototyping and fleet fielding.
We deliver a comprehensive understanding of the Unmanned Carrier Aviation (UCA), Multi-Mission Tactical UAS, and C-UAS life cycles, ensuring that autonomous capabilities are not just fielded, but are sustainable, interoperable, and audit-ready from day one.
Concept to Fleet
Navigating Autonomy and Integration
Integrating unmanned platforms, C-UAS, and emerging AI capabilities into DOW architecture presents significant engineering, acquisition, and operational challenges. Program teams often struggle to establish clear certification pathways, maintain strict airworthiness, and integrate uncrewed systems seamlessly with legacy manned platforms.
Furthermore, the rapid pace of AI and autonomous technology development frequently outpaces traditional acquisition cycles, making it difficult to transition prototypes into scalable, fleet-ready solutions. Programs must aggressively manage complex technical data, secure communication networks, and rigorous model-based systems engineering requirements while ensuring continuous interoperability and trusted autonomy during high-stakes operations in highly contested environments.
Architecting the Future of Uncrewed Systems
StraCon provides the specialized engineering, programmatic, and AI integration expertise required to successfully acquire and field unmanned and C-UAS systems and emerging capabilities. We support defense programs through the entire life cycle, from early concept development and rapid prototyping to fleet introduction and long-term sustainment. Utilizing structured, comprehensive integration strategies, our teams embed directly with program offices to architect solutions that align precisely with critical mission objectives and evolving tactical requirements.
Our approach centers on advanced AI integration and robust digital engineering to manage the complex technical baselines of autonomous systems. We help defense programs develop secure, model-centric environments that explicitly trace requirements from initial behavioral models through physical product architectures. By synchronizing Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), StraCon ensures that rapid iterations in AI algorithms, sensor payloads, and autonomous flight controls are rigorously tested, validated, and configuration-managed before physical deployment.
We have a complete understanding of the unique airworthiness and certification demands of unmanned aviation and the human-machine interface. StraCon personnel apply extensive operational and engineering experience to facilitate rigorous technical reviews, manage complex engineering changes, and strictly align system designs with DOW digital engineering and safety standards. Through strategic planning, AI workflows, and applied technology, we actively reduce technical debt, streamline acquisition pathways, and ensure that emerging uncrewed systems can securely communicate and seamlessly operate within the broader joint force architecture.
Systems Integration
End-to-end integration across air, surface, and subsurface platforms.
Digital Engineering
Model-based approaches and open architectures to accelerate development.
AI Integration
Data, autonomy, and decision-support solutions for real-world operations.
Test & Certification
Planning, analysis, and testing to achieve operational approval.
Scaling Digital Ecosystems for Unmanned Aviation
StraCon possesses proven, verifiable experience managing complex technical baselines for advanced uncrewed and C-UAS systems within the Naval Aviation enterprise. StraCon has the ability to operationalize modern digital environments that support advanced engineering collaboration, complex flight demonstrations, and the critical transition toward fleet readiness for first-of-their-kind unmanned platforms. By strengthening the intricate relationships among requirements, system models, configurations, and program processes, our specialized integration teams provide stakeholders with highly reliable access to the technical information necessary to make timely, data-driven decisions. This foundational experience scales seamlessly to support other emerging capabilities, advanced artificial intelligence integrations, and next-generation autonomous platforms across the DOW.
Autonomous Systems Acquisition & Integration
Carrier Integration (CVN):
Expert management of the interfaces between unmanned air vehicles, the Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control Station (UMCS), and carrier shipboard systems.
Open Architecture Development:
Enables the rapid fielding of agile unmanned and C-UAS capabilities quickly without long integration cycles, serving as a template to scale flexible defense technology across the fleet.
Ground Control Station (GCS) Management:
Oversight of the hardware and software baselines required for persistent, remote command and control.
Mission-Ready Data:
Transforming autonomous system telemetry and program data into actionable executive insights for DOW leadership.
Payload & Sensor Integration:
Managing the rapid integration of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and strike payloads into autonomous architectures.
Flight Test & Certification Support:
Coordinating with Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) and DOW testing authorities to accelerate the transition from Experimental to Initial Operational Capability (IOC).
Advanced Technical & Financial Oversight
Digital Engineering & MBSE:
Utilizing MBSE and PLM software to manage complex unmanned requirements and prevent design drift.
Interoperability Focused:
Ensuring Link-16 and future Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) compatibility across unmanned platforms.
Predictive Financial Execution:
Utilizing advanced analytics to forecast funding requirements for long-lead autonomous components.
Logistics & Sustainment Planning:
Developing innovative sustainment models for autonomous systems that reduce the footprint of shipboard support.
Rapid Prototyping:
Accelerating the sensor-to-shooter timeline through agile financial and program management.
Accelerate Your Autonomous Capabilities
Accelerate the fielding of trusted autonomous systems and next-generation technologies. Contact StraCon today to integrate our unmanned platforms, AI, and specialized engineering expertise into your mission.