Opto Sessions – Invest in the Next Big Idea Kratos CEO on Drones, Hypersonics & Future of Defense
Mar 19, 2026
Eric DeMarco, CEO of Kratos Defense, leads work on low-cost autonomous drones, hypersonic systems, and satellite communications. He discusses affordability as a strategy for high-volume defense platforms. Conversations cover hypersonic flight progress, scalable drone production, software-defined space command-and-control, AI-enabled autonomy, and shifting international sales dynamics.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Software Defined Satellite Ground Systems
- Kratos' space and satellite business is its 'crown jewel', focused on software-defined command-and-control and telemetry for high-throughput spot-beam satellites.
- DeMarco notes a $100M+ investment and claims Kratos was first to market with ground software converting antenna signals to IP for distributed control.
Turning Antenna Signals Into Remote Control
- Kratos focuses on ground antennas and electronics that convert analog satellite signals at the antenna into IP, enabling remote command-and-control from any office.
- DeMarco uses spot-beam satellites as an example where software spins up beam coverage rather than huge dedicated hardware.
Real Satellite Mission Control Examples
- Kratos operates satellites: they can re-task sensors, move satellites, and direct telemetry to users, providing practical mission control examples.
- DeMarco references a Patriot Games-style scenario where Kratos commanded a satellite to reposition and activate sensors.