The Air Force Work Project (AFWERX) is a part of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) that focuses on innovation based at the Air Force Research Laboratory. It partners with small businesses and defense contractors to quickly and affordably bring new technology. AFWERX has experienced recent growth, increasing its contract team members by 80% and nonmilitary staff by 50%.
With rampant steps toward innovation, the USAF launched AFWERX to expeditiously issue SBIR and STTR contracts valued at least $7.5 million.
Top AFWERX government contracts awarded the U.S. Air Force
Xage Security’s Military Cybersecurity and Digital Transformation
- Contract date: December 2019
- Company Awardee: Xage Security
In December 2019, the United States Air Force (USAF) awarded a Phase-1 SBIR contract to Xage Security. Xage Security creates trusted networks in intricate systems using blockchain technology. This technology stores information about which nodes can join the network, identity and privilege details and a record of activities.
The blockchain cybersecurity contract was a part of AFWERX’s program, which allows Xage Security to supply the Air Force and the Department of Defense’s computer security and data management needs.
About Xage Security
Xage Security is a security company renowned for its unique zero-trust approach. Its cutting-edge solution is based on blockchain technology and covers dynamic data security, cybersecurity, access management, etc. Xage’s services cater to energy, utilities, mining, transportation, and manufacturing industries.
Exosonic’s Fifth-Generation Supersonic Targets Development
- Contract date: May 2023
- Contract value: $1.25 million
- Company Awardee: Exosonic
In May 2023, Exosonic received an estimated $1.25 million SBIR Phase 2 contract from AFWERX. Under the contract, Exosonic develops a digital design and trade study for a fifth-generation supersonic target. This allows the Air Force to maintain its edge in aerial combat. Exosonic’s Direct-to-Phase II SBIR analyzes propulsion, avionics, and landing gear options, which can lead to a viable design and potential aircraft prototyping.
The project also addresses the need for supersonic targets for missile training, which expands capabilities beyond previous proposals by other companies.
About Exosonic
Exosonic is an early-stage aerospace start-up that develops supersonic UAVs for many military and commercial use cases, including air combat training, aerial targets, and collaborative combat aircraft.
VivSoft’s MLOps and DevSecOps Automation Security
- Contract date: January 2020
- Company Awardee: VivSoft
In January 2020, VivSoft won a contract from the U.S. Air Force through its SBIR AFWERX technology innovation program to support the Air Force Cyber Systems and Process.
VivSoft’s patent-pending blockchain technology, ENCHOC, will enhance USAF’s security for MLOps and DevSecOps automation pipelines. This safeguards software artifacts and AI/ML data sets within the federal government and encourages collaboration across agencies.
ENCHOC integrates with DevSecOps and MLOps guidelines, which provides visibility into creating and deploying code and data sets.
About VivSoft
VivSoft uses innovative technologies to solve the public sector’s complex problems. It partners with federal, state, and local government leaders to accelerate innovation using DevSecOps, cloud, AI/ML, and blockchain technology. The company thrives on ongoing contracts and partnerships with the Department of Defense accelerators like AFWERX and DIU.
SCOUT Space’s Space Domain Awareness Enhancement
- Contract date: July 2022
- Company awardee: SCOUT Space
In July 2022, the U.S. Air Force AFWERX program awarded SCOUT Space a Phase II SBIR contract to enhance space domain awareness. Under the agreement, SCOUT collaborates with Air Force Research Lab Intelligence Systems Division (AFRL/RIE) and Space Operations Command (spOC) Delta 2 to advance Space Development Agency metric observation tasking and catalog augmentation using space-based sensing. SCOUT also developed an orbital-distributed sensor network for spacecraft to understand their surroundings better.
About SCOUT
SCOUT is a volunteer-run startup established in 2019. Its mission is to create technologies and orbital products to bring a new era of space safety, transparency, and enhanced Space Domain Awareness to government and defense customers.
Spectrohm and Battelle’s Threat Detection Tool Development
- Contract date: April 2023
- Company awardee: Spectrohm and Battelle
In April 2023, Spectrohm and Battelle’s partnership secured a Phase II contract from the U.S. Air Force’s innovation arm. The agreement requires them to create a hand-held screening tool to check sealed vehicle tanks for illegal substances like narcotics and explosives.
This award is also a part of AFWERX’s Small Business Technology Transfer program that develops a fuel-tank screening technology to ensure safety at the entry points in the Department of Defense facilities. Spectrohm-Battelle Team’s threat detection tool can enhance border security, critical infrastructure protection, and law enforcement.
About Spectrohm and Battelle
Spectrohm is an expert in internal imaging applications for security, medicine, and inspection. Battelle is a worldwide leader in devising real-world carbon management strategies serving as a valued collaborator for industry and government for a safer future for all generations.