Latest news with #DepartmentoftheAirForce
Malaysian Reserve
5 days ago
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Arize AI's AI Engineering Platform for R&D Selected by AFWERX
Arize's AI and agent engineering tools will be adapted to the Department of the Air Force's secure NIPRNet environment BERKELEY, Calif., Aug. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Arize AI announces it has been selected by AFWERX for a Direct-to-Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract in the amount of approximately $1.2 million per year to conduct a 12–month R&D focused effort on AI engineering capabilities for NIPRGPT / GCP AI enhancement to address the most pressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force (DAF). The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the small business experience through faster proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business and eliminating bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution. The DAF began offering the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018 which expanded the range of innovations the DAF funded and now effective July 22, 2025 Arize AI starts its journey to create and provide an R&D AI Engineering Platform that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America by accelerating the deployment of powerful generative AI applications such as agentic AI and RAG based use cases. 'Arize AI is excited to support DAF in maintaining and accelerating global AI dominance and innovation for the American warfighter.' — Jason Lopatecki, co–founder & CEO, Arize AI NIPRGPT is a prototype large language model (LLM) authorized at Impact Level 5 (IL5), developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory for the Department of the Air Force's Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) workloads. It offers a ChatGPT-like experience with the ability to maintain chat history, enabling critical assessments of the feasibility and security of deploying Generative AI on the Non-classified Internet Protocol Router Network (NIPRNet). NIPRGPT provides valuable insights into technical challenges, security implications, and operational benefits, assisting the Department of the Air Force in the secure and ethical adoption of commercial AI technologies. The Arize AX R&D effort promises to help NIPRGPT by automating prompt engineering and online evaluation within CAC/NIPRNet constraints with metrics for quality, safety, efficiency, and compliance so leaders can see what works in practice. Insights from user feedback and key operational telemetry metrics will flow back to inform future policy, acquisition, and investment decisions across the DAF. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government. About Arize AI Arize AI is an AI and agent engineering platform. Arize's tools allow teams to quickly detect issues when they emerge, troubleshoot why they happened, and improve overall performance across both traditional ML and AI agent engineering. Arize is headquartered in Berkeley, CA About AFRL The Air Force Research Laboratory, or AFRL, is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space and cyberspace forces. With a workforce spanning across nine technology areas and 40 other operations around the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit About AFWERX As the innovation arm of the DAF and a directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFWERX brings cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF. AFWERX employs approximately 370 military, civilian and contractor personnel at four hubs and sites executing an annual $1.4 billion budget. Since 2019, AFWERX has awarded over 10,400 contracts worth more than $7.24 billion to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit: Contract No.: FA864925P0276Award / Selection Date: July 22, 2025Period of Performance: July 22, 2026TPOC: William Jinkins Media Contact:David BurchHead of Content, Arize AIdavidburch@
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Solideon Announces $1.25 Million AFWERX Contract
BERKELEY, Calif., June 11, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(Additive Space Technologies Inc., d.b.a. Solideon) announces it has been selected by AFWERX for a Direct-to-Phase II contract in the amount of $1.25 million focused on developing a single pallet additive manufacturing cell that is capable of flexibly manufacturing critical systems across expeditionary environments. to address the most pressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force (DAF). The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the small business experience through faster proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business and eliminating bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution. The DAF began offering the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018, which expanded the range of innovations the DAF funded, and now, on May 21st, 2025, Additive Space Technologies Inc, d.b.a Solideon will start its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America. Quote From Company "The future of industrial power isn't centralized — it's deployable. This award is a signal that the Department of the Air Force is ready to break from the past and lead with agility. With this contract, we're building the foundation for a world where manufacturing happens not in factories but wherever the mission demands — from airbases to shipyards and, eventually, orbit." CEO Oluseun Taiwo The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government. About Additive Space Technologies Inc., d.b.a. Solideon Solideon is revolutionizing manufacturing by transforming readily available robotic arms into multi-robotic-enabled factories. This innovative approach empowers end-users with the capability to robotically weld, fabricate, and assemble entire structures on-site. By doing so, Solideon is fundamentally reshaping how the industrial base approaches the manufacturing of critical assets, such as ships, submarines, and other large vehicles. About AFRL The Air Force Research Laboratory is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space, and cyberspace forces. With a workforce of more than 12,500 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit About AFWERX As the innovation arm of the DAF and a directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFWERX brings cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF. AFWERX employs approximately 370 military, civilian and contractor personnel at four hubs and sites executing an annual $1.4 billion budget. Since 2019, AFWERX has awarded over 10,400 contracts worth more than $7.24 billion to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit: View source version on Contacts Company Press Contact: Kait EwoldtCreative Director and Strategic Erreur lors de la récupération des données Connectez-vous pour accéder à votre portefeuille Erreur lors de la récupération des données Erreur lors de la récupération des données Erreur lors de la récupération des données Erreur lors de la récupération des données
Business Wire
11-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Solideon Announces $1.25 Million AFWERX Contract
BERKELEY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(Additive Space Technologies Inc., d.b.a. Solideon) announces it has been selected by AFWERX for a Direct-to-Phase II contract in the amount of $1.25 million focused on developing a single pallet additive manufacturing cell that is capable of flexibly manufacturing critical systems across expeditionary environments. to address the most pressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force (DAF). The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the small business experience through faster proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business and eliminating bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution. The DAF began offering the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018, which expanded the range of innovations the DAF funded, and now, on May 21st, 2025, Additive Space Technologies Inc, d.b.a Solideon will start its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America. Quote From Company 'The future of industrial power isn't centralized — it's deployable. This award is a signal that the Department of the Air Force is ready to break from the past and lead with agility. With this contract, we're building the foundation for a world where manufacturing happens not in factories but wherever the mission demands — from airbases to shipyards and, eventually, orbit.' CEO Oluseun Taiwo The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government. About Additive Space Technologies Inc., d.b.a. Solideon Solideon is revolutionizing manufacturing by transforming readily available robotic arms into multi-robotic-enabled factories. This innovative approach empowers end-users with the capability to robotically weld, fabricate, and assemble entire structures on-site. By doing so, Solideon is fundamentally reshaping how the industrial base approaches the manufacturing of critical assets, such as ships, submarines, and other large vehicles. About AFRL The Air Force Research Laboratory is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space, and cyberspace forces. With a workforce of more than 12,500 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit About AFWERX As the innovation arm of the DAF and a directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFWERX brings cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF. AFWERX employs approximately 370 military, civilian and contractor personnel at four hubs and sites executing an annual $1.4 billion budget. Since 2019, AFWERX has awarded over 10,400 contracts worth more than $7.24 billion to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit:
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
SpaceX plans up to 76 Starship launches annually from old Delta IV launch site
The first of two Environmental Impact Statements around SpaceX plans for Starship launch sites on Florida's Space Coast was released last week, and it lays out the company's plans to fly as many as 76 times a year from Cape Canaveral Space Station. The Department of the Air Force owns the property at Space Launch Complex 37 that was most recently used by United Launch Alliance, but was shut down after the final launch of ULA's last Delta IV Heavy rocket in 2024. The Air Force has been taking the lead for the EIS on the site while the Federal Aviation Administration has its own EIS in the works for a Starship launch site at neighboring Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39-A, where SpaceX plans to perform as many as 44 Starship launches a year. The 120 combined potential launches would swell SpaceX's already prodigious pace. With its existing Falcon rockets added to the total, the company could easily make more than 200 launches from the Space Coast in a single year. While the former ULA site was always an option, SpaceX had also eyed a brand new launch complex at Canaveral known as SLC-50, but the just-released draft EIS took that off the board citing it as potentially more harmful environmentally and archeologically, since the proposed site is currently undeveloped green space. 'The development of SLC-50 is less ideal than the redevelopment of an existing SLC,' the report reads. 'Additionally, leveraging existing infrastructure would increase efficiency and reduce environmental impacts.' The final version of the EIS is expected to be released in fall. But first, a series of in-person meetings, as well as one virtual presentation, are slated during a comment period for the draft EIS that's open from June 13-July 28. The three public meetings will be on Tuesday, July 8, from 4-7 p.m. at the American Police Hall of Fame and Museum in Titusville, on Wednesday, July 9 from 4-7 p.m. at the Radisson Resort at the Port in Cape Canaveral, and on Thursday, July 10 from 4-7 p.m. at the Dr. Joe Lee Smith Recreation Center in Cocoa. The virtual hearing will be from July 15-28 at a link that will be posted at the dedicated website for the Cape Canaveral EIS at The draft EIS outlines the potential effect of launches and landings of Starship, which is the most powerful rocket to have ever made it to space. For now, SpaceX has launched it only on suborbital test missions from its Texas site Starbase. The first two test launches of 2025 ended with the Starship's upper stage disintegrating in a spectacle that could be seen from South Florida, Bahamas and the Caribbean. The most recent fared better, but still saw the Starship spin out of control on its path halfway across the world. But already SpaceX is in the midst of a $1.8 billion infrastructure project on the Space Coast to build out a Starship factory and support what it hopes will be both the launch site at Cape Canaveral and one at KSC. SpaceX most recently declared it is aiming for its first Starship launch from the Space Coat before the end of the year, but that would be subject to the acceptance of the EIS and then approval to launch from the FAA. For now, Starship is grounded until SpaceX submits the results of its investigation into the latest Starship mishap. Within the Air Force EIS for the Canaveral site, it outlined SpaceX's intentions not only to launch as many as 76 times, but potentially to have twice as many landings: 76 for the powerful Super Heavy booster that would return minutes after launch, and 76 for the returning upper stage, which depending on its mission could return within hours, or even potentially years after launch. SpaceX would build out two launch pads and two landing pads among the new infrastructure. Half of the launches would be at night, and some of the return landings could still take place offshore as happens with most of the booster landings for Falcon 9 launches using droneships stationed in the Atlantic. While the Air Force is taking the lead, the EIS also includes input from the FAA, NASA, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service. The EIS looks at not only environmental, but social, economic, historic and cultural impacts. For each of 68 potential impacts, the draft EIS concluded that there would at worst be no impact or no significant impact. 'The only known potential significant cumulative effect is associated with noise,' the EIS reads. 'Given the increased launch activity on CCSFS and KSC, community annoyance may increase in the surrounding areas.' Sonic booms from returning boosters and upper stages would become more common, and potentially louder than those currently heard along the Space Coast from the smaller Falcon 9 boosters. Some other impacts could be mitigated, especially involving endangered and threatened species that could be found at the site during construction. 'Southeastern beach mouse habitat permanently lost during construction would be mitigated by providing funding to offset the loss of habitat at an offsite location in accordance with an agreement with the USFWS,' the statement reads as an example. There's a special note saying if tricolored bats are found roosting at the site, they would be allowed to leave before demolition begins. There are also mitigation plans for Florida scrub jays, eastern indigo snakes, gopher tortoises and bald eagles. The report also noted the construction and operation of Starship launches from Canaveral would benefit the area economically. And it stated the Space Force's Space Launch Delta 45 unit, which oversees launch operations at both KSC and Canaveral, would be relied on to ensure that SpaceX competitors would not be shoved to the side. 'SLD 45 would aim to reduce scheduling conflicts between launch providers and will develop mitigation strategies to reduce impacts from conflicts,' the report stated. The goal of the EIS from the Air Force and Space Force point of view was to ensure SpaceX could launch its new rocket as part of the Department of Defense's Assured Access to Space program. 'The (proposed launch site) would increase the space launch mission capability of the U.S. DOD, NASA, and other federal and commercial customers and enhance the resilience and capacity of the nation's space launch infrastructure, while promoting a robust and competitive national space industry,' the report stated. -----------
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
SpaceX Starship plans call for up to 76 launches from old Delta IV launch site
The first of two Environmental Impact Statements around SpaceX plans for Starship launch sites on the Space Coast was released last week, and it lays out the company's plans to fly as many as 76 times a year from Cape Canaveral Space Station. The Department of the Air Force owns the property at Space Launch Complex 37 that was most recently used by United Launch Alliance, but was shut down after the final launch of ULA's last Delta IV Heavy rocket in 2024. The Air Force has been taking the lead for the EIS on the site while the Federal Aviation Administration has its own EIS in the works for a Starship launch site at neighboring Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39-A, where SpaceX plans to perform as many as 44 Starship launches a year. The 120 combined potential launches would swell SpaceX's already prodigious pace. With its existing Falcon rockets added to the total, the company could easily make more than 200 launches from the Space Coast in a single year. While the former ULA site was always an option, SpaceX had also eyed a brand new launch complex at Canaveral known as SLC-50, but the just-released draft EIS took that off the board citing it as potentially more harmful environmentally and archeologically, since the proposed site is currently undeveloped green space. 'The development of SLC-50 is less ideal than the redevelopment of an existing SLC,' the report reads. 'Additionally, leveraging existing infrastructure would increase efficiency and reduce environmental impacts.' The final version of the EIS is expected to be released in fall. But first, a series of in-person meetings, as well as one virtual presentation, are slated during a comment period for the draft EIS that's open from June 13-July 28. The three public meetings will be on Tuesday, July 8, from 4-7 p.m. at the American Police Hall of Fame and Museum in Titusville, on Wednesday, July 9 from 4-7 p.m. at the Radisson Resort at the Port in Cape Canaveral, and on Thursday, July 10 from 4-7 p.m. at the Dr. Joe Lee Smith Recreation Center in Cocoa. The virtual hearing will be from July 15-28 at a link that will be posted at the dedicated website for the Cape Canaveral EIS at The draft EIS outlines the potential effect of launches and landings of Starship, which is the most powerful rocket to have ever made it to space. For now, SpaceX has launched it only on suborbital test missions from its Texas site Starbase. The first two test launches of 2025 ended with the Starship's upper stage disintegrating in a spectacle that could be seen from South Florida, Bahamas and the Caribbean. The most recent fared better, but still saw the Starship spin out of control on its path halfway across the world. But already SpaceX is in the midst of a $1.8 billion infrastructure project on the Space Coast to build out a Starship factory and support what it hopes will be both the launch site at Cape Canaveral and one at KSC. SpaceX most recently declared it is aiming for its first Starship launch from the Space Coat before the end of the year, but that would be subject to the acceptance of the EIS and then approval to launch from the FAA. For now, Starship is grounded until SpaceX submits the results of its investigation into the latest Starship mishap. Within the Air Force EIS for the Canaveral site, it outlined SpaceX's intentions not only to launch as many as 76 times, but potentially to have twice as many landings: 76 for the powerful Super Heavy booster that would return minutes after launch, and 76 for the returning upper stage, which depending on its mission could return within hours, or even potentially years after launch. SpaceX would build out two launch pads and two landing pads among the new infrastructure. Half of the launches would be at night, and some of the return landings could still take place offshore as happens with most of the booster landings for Falcon 9 launches using droneships stationed in the Atlantic. While the Air Force is taking the lead, the EIS also includes input from the FAA, NASA, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service. The EIS looks at not only environmental, but social, economic, historic and cultural impacts. For each of 68 potential impacts, the draft EIS concluded that there would at worst be no impact or no significant impact. 'The only known potential significant cumulative effect is associated with noise,' the EIS reads. 'Given the increased launch activity on CCSFS and KSC, community annoyance may increase in the surrounding areas.' Sonic booms from returning boosters and upper stages would become more common, and potentially louder than those currently heard along the Space Coast from the smaller Falcon 9 boosters. Some other impacts could be mitigated, especially involving endangered and threatened species that could be found at the site during construction. 'Southeastern beach mouse habitat permanently lost during construction would be mitigated by providing funding to offset the loss of habitat at an offsite location in accordance with an agreement with the USFWS,' the statement reads as an example. There's a special note saying if tricolored bats are found roosting at the site, they would be allowed to leave before demolition begins. There are also mitigation plans for Florida scrub jays, eastern indigo snakes, gopher tortoises and bald eagles. The report also noted the construction and operation of Starship launches from Canaveral would benefit the area economically. And it stated the Space Force's Space Launch Delta 45 unit, which oversees launch operations at both KSC and Canaveral, would be relied on to ensure that SpaceX competitors would not be shoved to the side. 'SLD 45 would aim to reduce scheduling conflicts between launch providers and will develop mitigation strategies to reduce impacts from conflicts,' the report stated. The goal of the EIS from the Air Force and Space Force point of view was to ensure SpaceX could launch its new rocket as part of the Department of Defense's Assured Access to Space program. 'The (proposed launch site) would increase the space launch mission capability of the U.S. DOD, NASA, and other federal and commercial customers and enhance the resilience and capacity of the nation's space launch infrastructure, while promoting a robust and competitive national space industry,' the report stated.
