EOTECH Invests in Defense Technology

There’s no question that the defense industry is evolving to face the challenges of a changing world. No longer is it simply manufacturing armaments, but, increasingly, investing in systems, such as ritual awareness tools and weapon-mounted sensors.
In a strategic move to expand its role in the defense technology ecosystem, EOTECH recently announced the acquisition of VK Integrated Systems (VKIS), a Tennessee-based developer of advanced weapon electronics and battlefield networking solutions. The acquisition continues EOTECH’s evolution beyond optics into a vertically integrated, American-made defense platform focused on situational awareness, data integration, and mission-ready systems.

“This is a continuation of our thesis,” says EOTECH CEO Joseph Caradonna. “We’re building an integrated, American-made platform for mission-critical awareness, where hardware, software, and sensors work as one. It’s a systems-architecture approach, not just a product expansion.”
Founded in 2014, VKIS specializes in real-time warfighter technologies, including TAK-based situational awareness tools, weapon-mounted sensors, and edge-computing systems. These capabilities directly support U.S. efforts to digitize the battlefield, modernize legacy systems, and bring C5ISR functionality closer to the tactical edge.

VKIS capabilities now joining EOTECH include the following: Weapon Electronics and Sensors are devices like the SIOS and VICE modules that provide real-time orientation and targeting data from the weapon platform. TAK Server as a Service (SaaS) provides a cloud-hosted, managed Team Awareness Kit (TAK) server solution for organizations that lack the resources or expertise to host their own infrastructure. The idea here is to let mission specialists focus on the mission, not managing infrastructure. The secure, scalable, and cost-effective service provides the reliability and performance a team needs to seamlessly leverage the power of TAK. ATAK Plugin Development offers custom extensions to the Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK) ecosystem. TAK Stack is a free-use platform that simplifies access to geospatial maps, plugins, and field tools.

“EOTECH’s scale and trust in the field make this a natural fit,” says Vasilios Kapogianis, president and CEO of VKIS. “Our mission has always been to give warfighters more awareness, more control, and more survivability. With EOTECH, we can deliver that capability faster and further.” As part of the acquisition VKIS will be rebranded as EOTAK, but will continue operations from its Clarksville, Tennessee, headquarters. The acquisition follows a string of U.S. defense investments aimed at tightening supply chains and scaling dual-use systems that blend rugged hardware with real-time software integration.