Michigan-based drone developer Darkflite not too long ago introduced that that they had acquired a Division of the Air Drive Direct-to-Part II contract within the quantity of $1,249,911 centered on its tilt-rotor logistics drone platform. The Air Drive Analysis Laboratory and AFWERX have streamlined the Small Enterprise Innovation Analysis (SBIR) and Small Enterprise Expertise Switch (STTR) course of by accelerating award timelines, increasing alternatives to small enterprise and eliminating bureaucratic overhead, permitting Darkflite to entry this system.
A quote included within the press launch mentioned, “We’re honored to companion with AFWERX and the Division of the Air Drive on this Part II contract award. Our superior logistics drone expertise will deliver a brand new stage of autonomy, resilience, and mission flexibility to the DAF’s medical logistics and emergency response operations. Being primarily based in Michigan, we’re proud to contribute to the nation’s management in superior aerial mobility and sit up for demonstrating how this expertise can improve readiness and effectivity for the Air Drive.”
The Darkflite logistics drone platform is a carbon composite logistics UAV with independently actuated tilt rotors, giving the relatively gangly silhouette outstanding agility. In 2024, the corporate acquired an SBIR for a blood supply system, saying, “We’re proud to announce that we’ve been awarded a U.S. Division of Transportation (USDOT) Part 1 Small Enterprise Innovation Analysis (SBIR) contract for the groundbreaking undertaking “Prehospital Blood Transfusion Methods Enchancment: Increasing Entry by means of Revolutionary Applied sciences and Instruments.”
Darkflite is the dual-use sibling of blueflite, who make business drones centered on logistics. Extra details about Darkflite is out there right here.
About Darkflite
Darkflite Inc. is a U.S.-based aerospace firm creating next-generation uncrewed aerial techniques for protection and nationwide safety purposes. Headquartered in Michigan, Darkflite serves federal businesses, authorities clients, and allied companions in search of superior aerial capabilities. The corporate builds on the confirmed business basis of its affiliate firm, blueflite, leveraging patented tilt-rotor drone expertise to speed up innovation and transition essential capabilities to the Division of Protection and public businesses.
About AFRL
The Air Drive Analysis Laboratory, or AFRL, is the first scientific analysis and growth heart for the Division of the Air Drive. AFRL performs an integral position in main the invention, growth and integration of inexpensive warfighting applied sciences for our air, area and our on-line world forces. With a workforce spanning throughout 9 expertise areas and 40 different operations across the globe, AFRL supplies a various portfolio of science and expertise starting from elementary to superior analysis and expertise growth.
About AFWERX
Because the innovation arm of the DAF and a directorate inside the Air Drive Analysis Laboratory, AFWERX brings cutting-edge American ingenuity from small companies and start-ups to tackle probably the most urgent challenges of the DAF. AFWERX employs roughly 370 army, civilian and contractor personnel at 4 hubs and websites executing an annual $1.4 billion funds. Since 2019, AFWERX has awarded over 10,400 contracts value greater than $7.24 billion to strengthen the U.S. protection industrial base and drive sooner expertise transition to operational functionality.
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Ian McNabb is a journalist specializing in drone expertise and way of life content material at Dronelife. He’s primarily based between Boston and NH and, when not writing, enjoys mountain climbing and Boston space sports activities.
