NDAA-Compliant, Cybersecure, UxS Controller IronClad

IronClad is a low-SWaP-C (size, weight, power, and cost) UxS controller and compute module designed to deliver cybersecure, platform-agnostic capabilities to unmanned systems across air, land, and sea.

Contact Us For More Information

Download IronClad Slick Sheet

Two electronic circuit boards with red heatsinks, adorned with various connectors and components. A U.S. quarter is placed nearby for scale.

IronClad Overview

NDAA-Compliant, Cybersecure, Platform-Agnostic, Low SWaP-C, UxS Controller and Compute Module

Contact Us For More Information

Developed in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), IronClad offers a highly vetted and American-made capability that seamlessly supports multi-rotor, fixed-wing, and hybrid UAS, as well as ground and maritime robots.

Its modular design allows for easy upgrades or platform-specific expansions, ensuring adaptability to evolving mission needs. With robust onboard CPUs and GPUs, IronClad provides advanced autonomy features, video processing, and AI/ML applications, all while maintaining a high level of embedded hardware and firmware security.

A high-level overview of the IronClad UxS Controller.

IronClad Benefits & Features

IronClad offers numerous benefits to entities operating unmanned systems, including, the ability to extend the service life of legacy unmanned systems through retrofitting, the ability to offer a common interface for mixed UAS fleets, and the ability to reduce operator requirements for complex tasks.

Its integration of open-source autopilot software, vetted through academic and industry research, allows for tailored configurations that meet mission-specific demands. With Hardware-In-The-Loop (HWIL) simulation capabilities, IronClad enables risk-reduced flight control refinement and payload testing, making it a trusted solution for OEMs and operators seeking an agile, secure, and cutting-edge controller for unmanned systems.

Made in the USA

IronClad was developed in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The IronClad UxS controller is designed and made in the USA.

Platform Agnostic

IronClad UxS controllers are suitable for Multi-Rotor UAS, Fixed-Wing UAS, Hybrid UAS, Ground Robots, and Maritime USVs and UUVs. Its modular design allows for simple base configuration or platform-specific expansion boards.

Robust Embedded Hardware

IronClad includes robust CPUs/GPUs allowing for advanced autonomy features, video processing/conversion, and a variety of other applications requiring onboard computing modules.

Modular Design & Common Interfaces

Additional processor types and digital I/Os can easily be added to IronClad via expansion ports and common interfaces reduces training time and the quantity and variety of ground control equipment necessary on-site.

Security

Embedded hardware and firmware security. “Security Umbrella” for payloads and applications. Vetted by DoD and DHS. Passed multiple DoD and 3rd-Party security assessments.

Open-Source Autopilot

Autopilot software is vetted and allows for tailored packages. Software is informed by academic and industry research. Can be considered Government-Off-The-Shelf (GOTS) system.

Integrated HWIL Simulator

Hardware-In-The-Loop Simulation capability allows for risk-reduced flight control refinement and payload development testing.

Service Life Extension

Extend the service life and upgrade the capabilities of older UAS through retrofitting.

Three stylized figures icon, two in grey and one in blue, representing a group or community.

Reduce Required Personnel

For complex tracking and targeting tasks.

Where Can IronClad Be Used?

Upgrade Your Fleet

IronClad comes with common ground control station interfaces, flight controls, mission planning, cybersecurity Authority to Operate (ATO), training, and logistics.

A small drone with a long wingspan flies over a dirt path in a barren, mountainous desert landscape.

Upgrade Your Product

In need of a Pixhawk replacement? Upgrade from Pixhawk hardware while using the same codebase. Looking for an NDAA-compliant, cybersecure controller for your UxS? Choose IronClad.

A technician adjusts a large drone on a workbench. There are tools and equipment in the background.

Research & Development

IronClad is well-suited for R&D efforts with fault- and damage-tolerant flight controls, onboard collision avoidance autonomy packages, and capabilities to enable autonomous flights in urban and other severe geographic environments.

A small drone with a camera flies outdoors against a cloudy sky, with blurred trees and buildings in the background.
A small electronic circuit board with various connectors and components is shown next to a U.S. quarter for scale. The board has a red heat sink and a microSD card slot.

IronClad Specifications

Size:

    • Dimensions – 4.4” x 2.2” x 1.0”
    • Weight – 75g (Enclosed Kit – 150g)

FMU Computer Specs:

    • Main Cores –

      • 4 x Arm Cortex-A53 @ 1.6Ghz
      • 1 x Arm Cortex-M7 @ 800 Mhz

    • Neural Processing Unit –

      • Up to 2.3 TOPS

    • Graphics Processing Unit –

      • 16GFLOPS (high precision) OpenGL® ES 3.1/3.0, Vulkan®, OpenCL™ 1.2 FP, OpenVG™ 1.1

    • Video Processing Unit –

      • Hardware Video Encoding

    • Cryptographic Acceleration & Assurance –

      • True Random # Generator
      • Symmetric – AES-128/192/256
      • Asymmetric – RSA (up to 4096), Elliptic Curve (up to 1023)

Onboard Sensors:

    • 3 x IMUs, Temp-Controlled, 9DOF
    • 2 x Barometer

Environmental:

    • -40°C to 85°C

Electrical:

    • Input Voltage – 4-40V DC

Expansion:

    • Gigabit Ethernet RGMII
    • MIPI-CSI2 4-lane (x2)
    • HDMI Output
    • USB 2.0 & USB 3.0
    • PCI 2.0 1-Lane
A black and red electronic circuit board is placed next to a U.S. quarter for scale.

We installed a retrofit IronClad kit into our existing UAV. It tripled our operating range – it’s a complete game changer.

- IronClad Customer

A wooden table with electronic devices, two webcams, and a laptop displaying graphs. Black chairs are arranged around the table in a room setting.

Let’s Work Together

Are you interested in learning more about this product, integrating your technology into one of our solutions, or receiving a quote?

Connect With Us

Explore All Products

Explore our range of products designed to help end-users SEE the Invisible Battlespaces.

Half blue, half gray Spartan helmet icon above text reading "DIGITAL OVERWATCH" on a black background.

Digital Overwatch

Real-Time Force Protection

Cross-section of a mechanical device, showing internal components including a coil, circuit board, and cylindrical parts encased in a gray outer shell.

Ear Melds

Precision Audio & Health Monitoring Wearable

Foundation

Composable, Containerized Environment for Data Collection, Exploration, and Integration

Two electronic circuit boards with red heatsinks, adorned with various connectors and components. A U.S. quarter is placed nearby for scale.

IronClad

NDAA-Compliant, Cybersecure, UxS Controller and Compute Module

Yellow diamond logo with red and black mountain silhouette. Text reads "LandForm X.

LandForm® X

Carry-On ISR Mission Management System

Logo with a stylized blue letter "M" on a black background. The word "MERLIN" is written below in white capital letters.

Merlin

Spectrum Battlespace Mod & Sim Software for Multi-Domain Operations

Blue and gray stylized circle design on a tilted square-shaped background.

SmartCam3D®

Geospatial Augmented Reality, Analytics, and Annotation Tools for Real-Time FMV

CTI logo with a stylized shield featuring an eagle silhouette, a blue and black color scheme, and the letters "cti.

TAKaaS

TAK-as-a-Service

A shield emblem with a skull at the top and the word "TAK" across the middle. A red "X" overlaps the word. The background is black with a textured appearance.

TAKX

Cross-Platform Situational Awareness COP and MMS

Military-grade communication device with a rugged case, metal plate, and attached cable.

WAVE

LPI/LPD, High-Bandwidth Communications for Vehicles

The image shows the word "WHISPER" in stylized silver text with a waveform symbol above it, set against a black background.

Whisper

LPI/LPD, High-Bandwidth Communications

Join the Mission

Engineers. SMEs. Veterans. Talent from every part of America.

We hire the best, wherever you are. Want to make an impact by working with our products? Come be part of our team.

Learn About CTI Careers

People in a dark room monitor several screens displaying maps and data, appearing focused and engaged in analysis or control operations.

Let’s Work Together

Join us on our mission to create collaboration where none exists and deliver solutions from ideation to operation rapidly via open, integrated, multi-domain technology solutions for the Invisible Battlespaces.

Connect With Us