What Would The World Miss if Sagetech Avionics Didn’t Exist?
- Akshata
- Jan 5
- 4 min read
Sagetech Avionics began six years ago with a simple but uncompromising conviction: drones deserve equipment that is not just compact, but truly professional. The company did not emerge from a casual market opportunity, it came from a moment of resolve, an internal decision that the uncrewed aircraft industry could not mature without aviation-grade technology built at a scale appropriate for small platforms. If Sagetech had not shown up, a major gap in global airspace integration would remain. Many drones today would still lack access to real aerospace-qualified equipment, limiting their ability to safely operate in national airspace systems. Identification, categorization, and coordination especially in crowded or contested environments would remain far more difficult. Defense and public safety operators would struggle to distinguish friendly drones from hostile ones, increasing operational risk. Civil operators would face greater barriers to regulatory approval and routine beyond visual line of sight operations. And without Sagetech’s ACAS X collision avoidance systems, the likelihood of midair incidents would rise significantly as airspace grows more congested with both crewed and uncrewed aircraft.
This article is part of a series where we sit down with companies that fundamentally shifted the trajectory of the drone industry and enabled foundational capabilities. Read on to learn why Sagetech is a critical contributor to that ecosystem.
Early Course Correction
Like many companies in the Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) space, Sagetech entered the market expecting the industry to scale faster than it ultimately did. In the early phase, the company leaned too aggressively into sales and marketing investments under the assumption that demand would rise quickly. Rather than retreat, Sagetech accelerated its pace of technology development to match the industry’s slower, more deliberate evolution. That course correction allowed the company to redirect resources toward long-term value rather than short-term market anticipation. One of the most influential contributions Sagetech introduced to the industry was the conversation around using aviation transponders on drones to integrate safely into crowded airspace with manned aircraft. By pushing this discussion forward, Sagetech helped shape the pathway toward safe UAS integration into crowded airspace shared with manned aviation.
Engineering Through Complexity, Not Shortcuts
Sagetech tackled one of its most technically demanding challenges: implementing antenna diversity, two antennas, in a very small transponder. Miniaturizing diversity while still meeting rigorous Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) technical specifications required a long and intensive engineering effort. It wasn’t a quick enhancement, it took months of refinement, testing, and iteration to ensure the feature performed at aviation-grade levels. During this process, the team developed numerous engineering tools, including software and small hardware accessories, to test and operate transponders internally. These tools were created for engineering needs, not as commercial products. But once customers began relying on them during integration, demand grew. Eventually, Sagetech had to turn these internal tools into actual product offerings to simplify how customers installed transponders into their aircraft avionics suites.
UAS to Manned Aviation
Initially, Sagetech designed its products exclusively for small aircraft, assuming their compact size made them suitable only for drones. That perspective shifted when manned aviation customers recognized the advantages of lighter, smaller systems that still meet strict specifications. For larger aircraft, reduced size and weight translate directly into additional fuel capacity, extended mission range, and expanded payload options. What once appeared to be a niche application now serves as a key part of Sagetech’s sales narrative.
The Hidden Advantage
Beyond what is visible at a glance, the company’s products have many hidden innovations. One example is dynamic transmit power, implemented within the MX series transponders. The FAA and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) specifications traditionally mandate high-power transmissions capable of detection beyond 100 nautical miles. Certified transponders are authorized to transmit only at that power level, regardless of need. Sagetech introduced a range from below 0.1 watts up to 316 watts, allowing aircraft to adjust transmission power based on flight profile. For drones that do not require long-range visibility, reducing power lessens spectrum congestion, enabling more aircraft to safely operate in dense airspace.
A Call to Collaborate, Not Compete
“Focus on collaboration.” For anyone entering the drone industry, that principle matters more than anything else. The industry needs people and companies working together, especially because technological advancements are progressing faster than regulations can keep pace. When organizations align to create standard solutions to shared challenges, it reduces the burden on regulators and supports safer, faster industry-wide adoption.
Culture, Humor, and the Myth They Push Back Against
Despite its technical achievements, Sagetech maintains internal humility. Tom Furey, the company’s CEO openly acknowledges that innovation is rarely linear and that expertise can take unconventional forms. He holds two engineering degrees but has never worked as a practicing engineer. Sagetech’s CTO, Matthew Hamilton, “would probably roast me for knowing just enough about technology to be dangerous, but not enough to help”, says Tom.
Inside the company, culture shows up not just in values but in running jokes that keep the team grounded. One long-standing reference comes from an ’80s movie where the main character pretends to work on a complex electrical project, and when asked whether he is installing 220 volts, casually replies, “Yeah, 220, 221, whatever it takes.” At Sagetech, that line surfaces whenever a problem does not yet have a clear fix, someone inevitably says, “220, 221, whatever it takes.” The company is equally committed to dismantling the belief that serious work cannot be fun. Tom believes Sagetech’s strongest advantage is its culture because it helps them attract and retain great people. They work hard, build meaningful technology, and have a great time doing it.
If Sagetech Vanished Tomorrow…
According to Tom, the one thing the world would absolutely miss if Sagetech Avionics disappeared tomorrow is “Really amazing aerospace electronics solutions that fit in your pocket.” Their core value lies in delivering aviation-grade technology at a scale small enough for the uncrewed systems that rely on compact, lightweight hardware to operate safely and efficiently. Their work bridges aerospace standards with miniaturized design, making safety-critical capabilities accessible to both small UAS and manned aircraft that benefit from reduced size and weight. Without that contribution, the industry would lose high-performance avionics that do not compromise on footprint.
