Signal Systems Corporation

Signal Systems Corporation, a small business subchapter S corporation headquartered in Millersville, Maryland, specializes in advanced signal processing, acoustic measurement, and sensor systems for the U.S. Navy, operating as a prime contractor on 98% of its federal awards across SBIR Phase I, II, and III programs and a single-award Basic Ordering Agreement. The company competes primarily in small business set-aside categories — SBIR awards carry total small business designations; a small subset of full-and-open definitive contracts and task orders account for non-set-aside work.

Signal Systems' customer footprint is heavily concentrated within Naval technical commands. The Department of the Navy Naval Air Systems Command Naval Air Warfare Center anchors 59 of 110 total awards (91% coverage across top customers), worth $87 million combined potential value. The Office of Naval Research adds 16 awards worth $11.7 million, the Naval Sea Systems Command 14 awards worth $5.8 million, Naval Information Warfare Systems Command 5 awards worth $2.3 million, and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency 1 award worth $1 million. Across the two customer rankings, Naval Air Warfare Center dominates both volume and dollars with minimal tension — it is Signal Systems' primary customer by a wide margin.

Signal Systems' capability portfolio centers on acoustic signal processing, distributed acoustic sensor design, automated target recognition, multi-sonar data fusion software, passive contact signature simulation, and active noise control for undersea warfare applications. Representative work includes a $20.2 million SBIR Phase III delivery order with Naval Air Warfare Center (awarded June 2025, completion July 2030) for signal processing and sensor technology R&D; a $1.3 million SBIR Phase II definitive contract with Naval Air Warfare Center (awarded July 2025, completion January 2029); a $1.98 million SBIR Phase II contract from Naval Sea Systems Command for the Space-Based Infrared System High (SBIRS High) program (awarded September 2024, completion September 2027); a $1.4 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract from the Office of Naval Research for development of an Autonomous Active Acoustic Processor (awarded May 2024, completion April 2027); and a $151,462.90 definitive contract from Naval Air Warfare Center for AI solutions for air anti-submarine warfare systems (awarded January 2026, completion August 2027). The company also holds a $13.8 million single-award Basic Ordering Agreement with Naval Air Warfare Center for SBIR Phase III R&D through November 2029.

NAICS concentration reflects the R&D posture: 47 awards fall under Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology), and 27 under the same category excluding nanotechnology and biotechnology. Engineering Services and specialized R&D in biotechnology and nanotechnology account for smaller slices. Top PSCs align with defense electronics and communications R&D at basic, applied, and advanced development levels.

Signal Systems maintains named subcontract relationships with Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (Maritime Technology Research Program services, September 2024) and Lockheed Martin Corporation (improved range rate processing task, July 2024), reflecting Signal Systems' role primarily as a Navy-focused prime rather than a deep subcontractor to large defense integrators. The company's sub-award footprint is minimal (2% of 110 awards), with the vast majority of activity flowing through direct primes to Naval commands.

Activity averaged four to seven awards per year over the past five years, with four awards in 2025 and one in 2026 year-to-date. Five awards (combined potential value $6.4 million) face ultimate completion within the next twenty-four months and therefore expose Signal Systems to recompete risk on those vehicles in the near term. Combined potential value across all 110 awards stands at $109 million, with $91 million obligated (83% realization), indicating strong contract execution against Navy SBIR and Phase III awards.

SSC is a high technology, small business. Projects related to active noise control. Specializing in services & software for acoustic surveillance and sonar systems through innovative signal processing & real-time solutions.