Defense & Dual-Use Technology — Traksjon
Sectors · Defense & dual-use technology

European defense innovation meets US DoD compliance. We navigate both.

We unlock US defense market access through prime contractor relationships, compliance expertise, and institutional channels European companies can’t access alone.

The challenge

You’re already here. But are you winning?

Your dual-use technology is proven in Europe. You’ve established a US presence, perhaps secured initial contracts — and scaling feels impossible. You’re hitting walls you can’t see.

The US defense market isn’t opaque. It’s relationship-driven and compliance-intensive in ways European companies underestimate:

We see these channels because we’ve built them. Our legal partners at Snell & Wilmer specialize in aerospace and defense; our institutional relationships span primes, integrators, and DoD program offices. You can’t Google your way into a prime contractor relationship.

What we unlock

Four channels. One firm.

Compliance & regulatory navigation

ITAR, EAR, CMMC, security clearances, entity structuring for defense work — with aerospace-and-defense legal expertise alongside, so nothing is reinvented.

Prime & integrator relationships

Access to Tier 1 defense contractors actively seeking European innovation partners. Introductions at program level, not procurement level.

DoD acquisition pathways

SBIR/STTR applications, OTA positioning, traditional FAR contracting. We help you choose the right pathway before investing resources.

Allied partnership leverage

European defense companies benefit from NATO interoperability requirements. We position you within allied frameworks that accelerate US adoption.

How we work here

The method, applied to defense

Think slow: map the acquisition landscape

We don’t chase every RFP. We map which DoD programs align with your technology, which primes seek solutions like yours, and which acquisition pathway maximizes the probability of success. Defense contracts take years — systems thinking prevents wasted effort.

Act fast: use institutional access

Through aerospace-and-defense legal partnerships, Nordic defense relationships, and UK trade connections, we compress compliance and prime introductions by 12 to 18 months.

Win big: position for program-level wins

We position European defense technology for multi-year programs and prime partnerships, not pilot projects. One strategic Tier 1 relationship unlocks access across multiple programs.

Straight answers

Asked often

How long does US defense market entry take?

Realistically 12 to 36 months from first serious effort to meaningful contract activity. Compliance — ITAR registration, CMMC readiness — runs in parallel with relationship-building, and neither can be skipped.

Do we need ITAR registration before talking to primes?

You need your export-control classification (USML under ITAR or ECCN under EAR) before serious conversations, because it determines what you can share and how a partnership can be structured. Registration follows from classification.

Can a foreign-owned company win US defense work?

Yes — with the right structure. Foreign ownership is managed through FOCI mitigation, such as a Special Security Agreement or a proxy arrangement, which is what makes a facility security clearance possible for a foreign-owned US entity.

SBIR, OTA, or traditional contracting?

It depends on technology maturity and the target program. SBIR/STTR suits earlier-stage innovation; OTAs suit rapid prototyping with non-traditional suppliers; traditional FAR contracting suits proven systems. Choosing the pathway before investing resources is most of the battle.

Where will you play in this market?

If your dual-use technology is proven at home and underrealized here — we should have a conversation.

Traksjon assesses fit before committing. The conversation is the first step, not the commitment.

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