Opto-Knowledge Systems Inc.

Opto-Knowledge Systems Inc., doing business as Oksi, is a small business prime contractor based in Torrance, California, that specializes in advanced electro-optical sensor systems, algorithms, and data collection technologies for defense, aerospace, and space exploration applications. Oksi competes predominantly under small-business set-asides—99% of its recent awards are prime contracts and indefinite delivery vehicles under total small business designations—and holds a seat on the $47 billion Eglin Wide Agile Acquisition Contract (EWAAC) with the Department of the Air Force, a multiple-award vehicle for weapons development and modernization spanning research, development, test, evaluation, production, and sustainment across the ten-year contract period through September 2031.

Oksi's customer concentration reflects a split between defense R&D agencies and civilian space science missions. The top five funding agencies account for 45% of recent awards by count: NASA's Shared Services Center (31 awards, $16.4 million potential value), the Air Force Research Laboratory (23 awards, $15.5 million), the Army's Research Development and Engineering Command (17 awards, $9.3 million), the Missile Defense Agency (15 awards, $7.5 million), and the broader Department of the Air Force (14 awards, $1 thousand). When ranked by potential value, Naval Air Systems Command and Naval Sea Systems Command each account for roughly $10.8 million and $8.4 million respectively, anchored by higher-value Phase II and Phase III SBIR contracts and a $6.35 million Phase III delivery order at Naval Air Warfare Center. The portfolio is heavily weighted toward SBIR and Small Business Technology Transfer programs across multiple agencies, with 74 awards falling under R&D in physical, engineering, and life sciences (excluding nanotechnology and biotechnology) and significant representation in space R&D services and national defense applied research PSC categories.

Oksi's recent work portfolio centers on infrared and electro-optical sensor development for defense systems. Representative prime awards include a $1.997 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract from the Missile Defense Agency (March 2026) for SWIFT (Scalable Weapon for Intercepting Fast Threats), a modular endoatmospheric interceptor concept; a $1.8 million Phase II SBIR from the Air Force Research Laboratory (September 2025) for mobile target tracking technology for loitering munitions; a $1.956 million SBIR Direct to Phase II from the Missile Defense Agency (August 2025) for threat detection in the ultraviolet-infrared spectrum; a $1.73 million Phase II SBIR from the Army (November 2024) for advanced counter-unmanned aerial system applications; and a $1.799 million Phase II SBIR from the Air Force Research Laboratory (October 2024) for multiple-target tracking for counter-swarm employment. Oksi also executes Phase III commercialization work on space science instruments, including a $2.448 million grant recipient award from the Department of Energy (February 2024) for ultra-low sample volume capillary absorption spectrometry for lunar volatiles and water isotope analysis, and a $910,950 NASA Phase II contract (June 2023) for methane isotopes analyzer development supporting Enceladus plume flythrough analysis. Activity has remained steady at 10–19 awards per year from 2022 through 2024, with 16 awards (combined potential value $22.8 million) reaching completion within the next twenty-four months and therefore facing recompete.

Oksi holds a Basic Ordering Agreement with Naval Air Warfare Center for SBIR Phase II/III efforts and places task orders against EWAAC, with two additional indefinite delivery vehicles driving smaller volumes. The company acts as a subcontractor on select defense programs, most recently subbcontracting to Dzyne Technologies LLC on a small payload precision air-launched inexpensive delivery system integration effort (March 2025) and to BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc. on two low-cost counter-unmanned aerial systems technology contract line items (August and November 2024). Across both roles, Oksi's capability footprint emphasizes multi-target tracking systems, thermal imaging algorithms, infrared seeker technologies, optical interfaces for laser delivery, AI-enabled image processing, and spectroscopic sensor development for hypersonic and aerospace applications. The vendor's grant work is limited; beyond the Department of Energy award noted above, Oksi received a $206,500 Department of Energy Office of Science grant (February 2024) for hybridized parametric amplification research for advanced accelerator applications under CFDA 81.049.

Over our thirty-year history, OptoKnowledge has developed innovative technological solutions to the most complex problems of national defense, aerospace, and the environment. We are leaders in applying artificial intelligence and machine learning to our technology focus areas of Precision Guided Systems, Survivability Systems, Environmental Monitoring, Remote Sensing, Mission Planning and Execution, and Hypersonics. We are an agile organization, employing incredibly talented people striving to exceed our clients' expectations. Our employees are recognized leaders in their respective fields, and we encourage collaboration across focus areas to enable leading edge client solutions. We provide world class benefits and a flexible work environment.