Applied Physical Electronics wins $9.6 million Navy pulse simulator upgrade
The Spicewood, Texas, firm will upgrade the Navy's Vertical Electromagnetic Pulse Simulator at Patuxent River, expanding capacity for larger test assets through January 2029.
Applied Physical Electronics LC won a $9.6 million Navy contract modification to upgrade an electromagnetic pulse simulator on July 6, 2026.
Here is the full post (see war.gov): “Applied Physical Electronics LC,* Spicewood, Texas, is awarded a $9.6 million modification (P00003) to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N0042126C0012). This modification exercises an option to provide for the development, fabrication, installation, and acceptance testing of upgrades to the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division’s Vertical Electromagnetic Pulse Simulator in support of improved reliability, ensuring compliance with current testing standards, enhancing testing capability, and expanding the simulator’s capacity to accommodate larger and taller test assets for the Navy. Work will be performed in Spicewood, Texas (85%); and Patuxent River, Maryland (15%), and is expected to be completed in January 2029. Fiscal 2026 research, development, test and evaluation (Defense Wide) funds in the amount of $2.9 million will be obligated at time of award. This contract was not completed. Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.”
The modification funds development, fabrication, installation, and acceptance testing of upgrades to the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division’s Vertical Electromagnetic Pulse Simulator. The work aims to improve reliability, meet current testing standards, and expand the simulator’s capacity for larger and taller test assets. Fiscal 2026 research, development, test and evaluation funds worth $2.9 million will be obligated at the time of award. Most of the work will occur in Spicewood, Texas, with the remainder at Patuxent River, Maryland, through January 2029.
Applied Physical Electronics has led electromagnetic pulsed power research since 1998, building compact Marx generators and EMP simulators for the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, and commercial clients (see apelc.com). The company recreates threat-level waveforms to test systems for vulnerabilities and to harden critical assets against attack (see complus.in). Founder Jon Mayes launched the firm on work using compact Marx generators to inject fast-rising pulses onto structures for generating microwave energy (see apelc.com).
The company previously contracted with the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, to refurbish pulsed power components of the Naval Ordnance Transient Electromagnetic Simulator (see magneticsmag.com). “With this contract, APELC reaffirms its dedication to advancing EMP simulation technology and contributing to national defense,” said Jon Mayes, president of the company (see magneticsmag.com).
This marks the first contract awarded to Applied Physical Electronics LC in 2026, bringing the company’s total contract value for the year to $9.6 million. It is also the 64th Department of Defense contract awarded in Texas during 2026. The award falls between the 2026 Navy portfolio’s year-to-date minimum of $9.2 million and maximum of $8 billion. This award was announced among five Department of Defense contracts issued nationwide on July 6, 2026.
This contract represents the 1st contract awarded to Applied Physical Electronics LC, in 2026, bringing the company’s total contract value for the year to $9,620,094. It is also the 64th Department of Defense contract awarded in Texas during 2026. Because this is the first award to Applied Physical Electronics LC recorded in the database, it establishes the company’s initial benchmark within the Navy portfolio. Specifically, it falls between the 2026 Navy portfolio’s year-to-date minimum of $9,235,416 and maximum of $8,000,000,000. Overall, this award was announced among 5 Department of Defense contracts issued nationwide on July 6, 2026.
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