Firehawk Aerospace, a producer of superior energetic programs for protection purposes, introduced it has been awarded a US$1.25 million Part II Small Enterprise Innovation Analysis (SBIR) contract by AFWERX, the innovation arm of the Division of the Air Drive, supported by the Air Drive Analysis Laboratory (AFRL). The funding will advance Firehawk’s work on next-generation shelf-stable propellant applied sciences to help nationwide protection initiatives.
“Our crew appears to be like ahead to additional demonstrating the efficiency, scalability, and affordability of our propellant options for air-to-air weapon programs,” stated Mike Stark, President of Firehawk Aerospace.
AFWERX, via applications like SBIR, helps rising applied sciences that tackle vital operational wants, connecting small companies to protection priorities and contributing to a extra resilient industrial base.
Firehawk’s Technological Developments
Beneath the Part II contract, Firehawk conducts a complete research of its additive manufacturing strategy to strong propellants. The challenge scope consists of formulation improvement, subscale motor validation, full-scale static-fire demonstrations, lifecycle price analyses, and efficiency assessments.
By combining superior manufacturing strategies with manufacturing strategies, Firehawk is working to modernize strong rocket motor design and manufacturing. The corporate’s objectives embrace enhancing shelf life, facilitating environment friendly storage and deployment, and enabling fast activation in contested or distant environments, serving to to make sure a resilient, domestically sourced provide chain for vital energetic supplies.
Current AFWERX Awards Supporting Protection Innovation
In November 2024, AFWERX awarded Kansas Metropolis-based startup Raven Area Techniques a US$1.8 million Part II Small Enterprise Know-how Switch (STTR) contract to develop 3D printed reentry aeroshells for hypersonic flight testing. Raven Area Techniques is collaborating with SpaceWorks Enterprises and the College of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Heart for Hypersonics and Entry System Research (CHESS) on the challenge.
Equally, AscendArc secured a US$1.8 million Part II STTR contract to advance its Fast, Scalable Geosynchronous Bandwidth expertise. In partnership with Portland State College, AscendArc goals to reinforce safe, resilient navy communications to deal with vital U.S. Division of Protection operational wants.
Who gained the 2024 3D Printing Business Awards?
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Featured picture Michael Stark, Firehawk President and George Liddell, Director of Operations. Picture by way of Firehawk.
