Air Force Commercial Investment Arm Opens Funding Opportunities for Space, Air Projects

The Department of the Air Force’s commercial investment seeks air and space project proposals from small businesses with Phase II Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer contracts.

According to a notice of opportunity issued on Monday, AFWERX AFVentures will provide funding under the Strategic Funding Increase program, with selected businesses expected to transition commercial technologies to a Phase III contract to accelerate the solutions’ deployment to warfighters.

Interested businesses can submit their proposals until Sept. 18, the Air Force said.

Col. Elliott Leigh, AFWERX director and chief commercialization officer for the DAF, said the STRATFI initiative aims to ensure that U.S. warfighters have the latest technologies developed by the private sector for a competitive advantage in the aerospace domain.

Launched with STRATFI in March 2020, AFVentures has been encouraging commercial businesses to use their investments to advance the nation’s military capabilities. Both programs are designed to address the so-called “valley of death” between Phase II and Phase III efforts.

AFWERX has been funding various efforts to improve the U.S. defense capabilities in recent months. In May, it unveiled with SpaceWERX potential funding opportunities for space-related research projects.