Contested environments

Army Awards Xwing SBIR Contract for Autonomous Flight Demonstrations

Xwing will showcase its uncrewed flight capabilities to the U.S. Army through a Phase 1 Small Business Innovation Research contract under the Army xTech SBIR Autonomy program that would enable its participation in live operational demonstrations to perform autonomous airlift and logistic missions.

Autonomous technologies will bridge mission capability gaps to improve transport, force structure and combat operations and avoid risking the lives of warfighters in contested environments, Xwing said.

The company offers modular autonomy systems designed to make any aircraft capable of uncrewed flight operations. The technology comes with a detect-and-avoid capability to prevent collisions and an automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast surveillance system.

Xwing is also providing autonomy solutions to the U.S. Air Force as a Phase III SBIR contract awardee and a partner of the AFWERX Autonomy Prime program. In February, the company participated in the Air Force’s Agile Flag 24-1 joint force exercise, during which it flew multiple autonomous missions to deliver cargo to eight military and civilian airports in California.

Kevin Antcliff, Xwing’s product head, said uncrewed aviation is key to enhanced safety, efficiency and operational flexibility.