Tandem was built from a simple realization: the tactical level has long been underserved by traditional acquisition pathways.

Early in my career, alongside a small group of colleagues with deep experience in federal acquisition, we believed the solution was education. If tactical units understood how to navigate requisitions, approvals, and contracting complexity, they could finally access modern technology. For a time, that approach helped—but it wasn’t enough.

Over time, we learned a harder truth: accessibility is not just about procurement.
It is about whether the technology itself fits within the realities of the tactical level.

That means:

Cost structures aligned with approval thresholds

Risk profiles commanders can actually accept

Designs that meet strict regulatory constraints

Equipment shaped by end users—not distant program offices

Most importantly, it means products that are modular, repairable in the field, and purpose-built for those who rely on them.

Why Partners Matter

We were never a manufacturing company or a research lab. We didn’t build motors, batteries, or production lines. What we did have was direct trust with end users and a clear understanding of their operational requirements.

Everything changed when our first production partner took a leap of faith—working with us to translate real-world military needs into viable product specifications. That collaboration led to the release of our first modular systems and proved something powerful:

Small businesses, working together, can compete—and win—by doing the right thing.

By prioritizing:

Reasonable margins over inflated pricing

Volume and sustainability over short-term gains

Listening to soldiers instead of dismissing their requirements

Eliminating unnecessary R&D markups

we demonstrated that ethical, user-driven manufacturing is not only possible—it’s effective.

Tandem exists today because of its partners. We would not function, scale, or succeed without them.

What It Means to Join the Network

The Tandem Partner Network is not a traditional vendor list or reseller program. It is a working alliance of small businesses that share capability, infrastructure, and opportunity.

When you join, you gain:

Access to the collective expertise of the network—manufacturing, integration, power systems, propulsion, software, logistics, and sales

Shared overhead, equipment access, and production efficiencies

Faster pathways to customers through existing contract vehicles

Direct insight from end users shaping real-world requirements

Our partners don’t just sell to government customers. They also support each other—supplying components, subassemblies, materials, and specialized capabilities to fellow manufacturers who need quality, speed, flexibility, and personal accountability.

Who This Is For

The Tandem Partner Network is built for companies that:

Believe end users should shape product design

Are willing to collaborate rather than compete in isolation

Value long-term trust over short-term margins

Want to build scalable, accessible technology that actually gets fielded

We never set out to create a platform or chase programs. We set out to be a responsible commercial supplier—one that listens, adapts, and delivers. The growth of this network is a byproduct of doing that consistently.

If our approach resonates with you, we invite you to join us—and help shape what accessible, ethical, and effective defense innovation looks like going forward.

—CEO, Tandem Defense

Our Partners are the strongest part of Tandem Defense. We are constantly seeking cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions from our world’s best minds, and successfully implementing technology from Modern battlefields across the globe.

If your solutions would be a value to our service members, first responders, and the federal government, please contact us.