Manufacturer catalog

Zone 5 Technologies

Zone 5 Technologies is a San Luis Obispo, California missile and unmanned-systems developer focused on affordable mass munitions, modular interceptors, and autonomous aircraft. Its public portfolio spans the Rusty Dagger long-range strike missile, White Spike open interceptor platform, and Paladin multi-mission UAS.

1 weapons

Zone 5 Technologies develops low-cost precision-strike, interceptor, and unmanned aircraft systems for U.S. defense programs and international affordable-mass munition demand. The company presents its effectors as digitally engineered systems that can adapt during development, production, and sustainment rather than fixed one-off designs.

Kongsberg completed a 90 percent acquisition of Zone 5 in June 2026, with Zone 5 continuing as an independent subsidiary led by founder and chief executive Thomas Akers and the existing management team. Kongsberg cited Zone 5's rapid-production missile work as complementary to its air-defense and strike portfolio.

Affordable mass munitionsLong-range strike missilesAir-defense interceptorsUnmanned aircraft systemsCounter-UAS systems

Notable Systems

AGM-188A Rusty Dagger, Air-launched stand-off cruise missile, Munitions

AGM-188A Rusty Dagger

Air-launched stand-off cruise missile

Kongsberg describes Rusty Dagger as a low-cost long-range strike missile and links Zone 5 programs to AGM-188 FAMM and ERAM.

Sources: Kongsberg Completes Zone 5 Acquisition

White Spike

Kongsberg identifies White Spike as an air-defense missile in Zone 5's product line, while Zone 5 describes it as a surface- or air-launched open interceptor platform for counter-UAS and precision-strike missions.

Sources: Kongsberg Completes Zone 5 Acquisition, Zone 5 Technologies Website

Paladin

Zone 5 describes Paladin as a TAK-integrated multi-mission UAS listed on DIU's Blue UAS List, with counter-UAS, munitions-drop, rifle, loudspeaker, and spotlight payload options.

Sources: Zone 5 Technologies Website

Manufacturer History

  1. Zone 5 founded

    Kongsberg's acquisition announcement states that Zone 5 was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in San Luis Obispo, California. Public SBIR records later show Zone 5 pursuing autonomy, low-cost air vehicles, counter-UAS, and palletized-airdrop concepts before the Rusty Dagger period.

    Sources: Kongsberg Zone 5 Acquisition, SBIR Zone 5 Portfolio

  2. Zone 5 advances in Enterprise Test Vehicle work

    Breaking Defense reported that the Air Force and Defense Innovation Unit selected Zone 5 and Anduril to advance in the Enterprise Test Vehicle program for a modular, low-cost air vehicle.

    Sources: Breaking Defense Enterprise Test Vehicle

  3. Kongsberg announces acquisition agreement

    Kongsberg announced an agreement to acquire 90 percent of Zone 5, citing Zone 5's ERAM, FAMM, and DIU low-cost kill-system work.

    Sources: Kongsberg Zone 5 Acquisition

  4. Acquisition closes

    Kongsberg completed the acquisition after U.S. regulatory approval, with Zone 5 continuing as an independently operated subsidiary.

    Sources: Kongsberg Completes Zone 5 Acquisition

Website links
Official websiteKongsberg acquisition closingSBIR award portfolio

Public Zone 5 material emphasizes product families and program participation, while detailed production quantities, customer configurations, and some system designations remain limited in open sources. Official website imagery is available, but it has not been added until the local image-optimization manifest can cover the selected asset.

Manufacturer Sources

  • Zone 5 Technologies WebsitePublisher: Zone 5 Technologies | Note: Supports official company website, headquarters address, low-cost missile focus, White Spike and Paladin public product context, and ERAM news link. | Accessed: 2026-07-11
  • Kongsberg Zone 5 AcquisitionPublisher: Kongsberg | Note: Supports Zone 5's founding year, headquarters, employee/revenue context, product focus, ERAM/FAMM program context, and Kongsberg's 90 percent acquisition agreement. | Accessed: 2026-07-11
  • Kongsberg Completes Zone 5 AcquisitionPublisher: Kongsberg | Note: Supports acquisition closing, 90 percent ownership, independent-subsidiary status, Rusty Dagger and White Spike product context, and Zone 5's AGM-188 FAMM/ERAM program connection. | Accessed: 2026-07-11
  • SBIR Zone 5 PortfolioPublisher: Small Business Innovation Research / U.S. Small Business Administration | Note: Supports public award-history context for Zone 5 low-cost air vehicles, counter-UAS LCEI work, PAC-RAT, and other government-funded development activity. | Accessed: 2026-07-11
  • Breaking Defense Enterprise Test VehiclePublisher: Breaking Defense | Note: Supports Zone 5's selection with Anduril to advance in the Air Force and DIU Enterprise Test Vehicle effort. | Accessed: 2026-07-11

Produced weapons

Category

Munitions

Standalone missiles, bombs, rockets, torpedoes, and guided or unguided explosive payloads.

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