Hidden Level Delivers Battlefield-Ready Sensor Platform to US Army in Only 18 Months

Defense procurement has a reputation for moving slowly, with years-long development timelines, multi-layered approvals, and cost overruns. Hidden Level is changing that paradigm.

Eighteen months ago, Hidden Level was given a new government requirement. Today, we’re delivering. Our clean-sheet Surge sensor platform began delivery last week under an Army Program of Record, capping an 18-month sprint from concept to fielded system.

Not only is the product ready, but it’s also already TRL-9 certified, and integrated into a rapidly scaling production line. This story isn’t just about technical readiness. It’s about a new model for defense innovation.

A New Standard for Speed and Scale

But this isn’t just about delivering technology, it’s about redefining how fast and affordably the Department of Defense can adopt it. Hidden Level was founded on the belief that defense innovation could move faster. As a venture-backed team of experienced engineers and mission-focused leaders, we’ve self-invested in capabilities, stayed close to mission users, and built with the battlefield in mind.

That approach just paid off. We delivered a mission-ready, TRL-9 system two years ahead of schedule, and proved that startup discipline can deliver where traditional acquisition struggles.

Adopted, Not Just Invented

What used to take five years, we did in less than two. In 2024, Hidden Level’s technology was selected as the core sensor technology for a Program of Record, two years ahead of plan, via the Army’s Urgent Capabilities Acquisition pathway. This channel was designed to bypass the slow churn of traditional procurement and prioritize solutions that are already proven and urgently needed.

A Directed Requirement co-signed by two 4-star generals underscored just how urgent the need was, and we were ready to meet it.

Key Milestones:

• 18 months from new requirement to delivery of next generation sensor technology
• TRL-9 and MRL-9 certified
• Deployments to NORTHCOM, EUCOM, CENTCOM, AFRICOM, and INDOPACOM this year
• APFIT Award recipient from DoD
• Delivering Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) Surge sensors today

Enabling Faster, Better, and Cost-Effective Weapon Development

Hidden Level’s approach leverages a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS)-based architecture, allowing its systems to outperform legacy defense platforms at a fraction of the cost, estimated at 4–10x less expensive than traditional programs of record. Our model fuses the agility of Silicon Valley with the rigor of battlefield validation.

This isn’t just about cost-cutting. It’s capability at speed, scale, and sustainability. It’s a blueprint for how the DoD can move faster, field smarter, and spend better.

A Model for What’s Next

As the Department of Defense shifts toward a more agile acquisition model, through initiatives like the Golden Dome of America, Hidden Level stands as proof that it works

The takeaway? The next generation of defense systems doesn’t have to take a generation to deliver. At Hidden Level, we’re not just building new technology, we’re building a new model for how the DoD adopts it. Delivery starts now.

Ready to move faster?

👉 Connect with our team to see how Hidden Level’s deployable, scalable sensing solutions can support your mission—at the speed of relevance.