Government contracts awarded by Air Force Research Lab have since been an effective collaboration between the government and private sectors. The purpose of these research and development programs is to advance technical and scientific expertise and apply what is gained to achieve national and agency goals
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is a scientific research organization maintained by the U.S. Air Force Materiel Command. It is mainly responsible for discovering, developing, and integrating cost-effective warfighting technologies for the air, space, and cyberspace forces.
Established in 1997, it has been pivotal to significant advancements in electronics, modern communications, manufacturing, and medical research products. AFRL keeps up with emerging and innovative space technologies through contract awards to companies with stellar research and development capabilities. Get to know the top government contracts the Air Force Research Lab has recently awarded.
10 Government Contracts Awarded by Air Force Research Lab
Space Dynamics Laboratory’s Space and Nuclear Advanced Prototypes, Experiments, and Technology (SNAPET) Contract
- Date: November 2021
- Contract type: Sole-source, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity
- Contract amount: $1 billion
- Contract duration: 5 years
In November 2021, Utah State University’s nonprofit research unit Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) won a $1 billion contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory. This largest-ever contract by the federal agency falls under the Space & Nuclear Advanced Prototypes, Experiments and Technology (SNAPET) program which develops space and nuclear-advanced prototypes, experiments, and technology for the Air Force Research Laboratory’s space vehicles directorate.
Paired with a contract from the Missile Defense Agency, this is one of the government contracts awarded by Air Force Research Lab with a total value reaches $1.3 billion. The latter contract, worth $300 million, lasts seven years. Its focus areas include space cybersecurity, space sensors, nuclear science and technology for advanced satellite navigation. Also included are space cybersecurity and sensors, Global Positioning Systems technology, and small satellites.
Parsons’ Global Application Research, Development, Engineering and Maintenance (GARDEM) Contract
- Date: January 2020
- Contract type: Multiple-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity
- Contract amount: $427 million
- Contract duration: 7 years
In January 2020, Parsons Corporation was selected for the multiple-award GARDEM contract with an estimated value of $427 million. It was responsible for performing modifications, enhancements, testing, research and development, and deployment of the GARDEM software baselines.
Further responsibilities per task order included installation and sustainment, software development, and rapid prototyping for the U.S. Air Force, the Intelligence Community, the Department of Defense, and other federal agencies. This contract is a recompete for Parsons.
Northrop Grumman’s Contract to Modernize Intelligence Systems
- Date: January 2023
- Contract amount: $406 million
In January 2023, Northrop Grumman was awarded a $406 million contract to modernize the Air Force Research Laboratory’s data sharing and artificial intelligence operations. The Intelligence Systems Infrastructure, Tools and Enhancements (InSITE) program improves the collection and analysis of information for AFRL’s customers. The InSITE program helps military personnel to effectively counter threats across varying domains, enabling collaboration with global allies.
Northrop also leverages its digital capabilities to develop cloud-based applications for data exchanges within the Department of Defense, Intelligence Community customer centers, as wel as satellite locations.
Advanced Aerospace Systems Technology Research Program
- Date: April 2023
- Contract type: Indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity
- Contract amount: $400 million
- Contract duration: 7 years
In April 2023, the Air Force Research Lab started awarding contracts with a $400 million ceiling to major defense contractors that includes Raytheon, Kratos, Lockheed, and Boeing, as a part of the Advanced Aerospace Systems Technology Research program. All awardees received the contract at different times.
The objective is to research new aerospace vehicle technologies, design, and integrated systems to advance the Department of the Air Force’s capabilities. The program assists the Aerospace Systems’ Directorate in advancing vehicles, control sciences, high-speed systems, and turbine engines.
Infoscitex’s Two Contracts under the ASTRA Program
- Date: July 2023
- Contract type: Indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity
- Contract amount: $243 million
- Contract duration: 7 years
In July 2023, Infoscitex (IST), a DCS Company, was awarded two contracts with a combined total of $243 million. ASTRA is the follow-on to the Research of Aerospace Systems Technology (RAST) contract, expanding Infoscitex’s research and development support to the Aerospace Systems Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory.
The Aerospace Technology Development and Testing contract advances aerospace capabilities, control theory and application, manned and unmanned teaming, verification and validation, and modeling, simulation, and analysis (MS&A) of aerospace system concepts.
The Multi-Domain Operations Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis contract holds Infoscitex responsible for developing MS&A tools. The contractor also performs military effectiveness, tactics refinement, cost-effectiveness, trade space, and logistics analysis for new technologies and concepts.
Booz Allen Hamilton and Ball Aerospace’s Contract to Research Advanced Cybersecurity for Flight Electronics
- Date: August 2021
- Contract type: Indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity
- Contract amount: $200 million
- Contract duration: 5 years
In August 2021, the Air Force Research Laboratory awarded Booz Allen Hamilton and Ball Aerospace with contracts worth $200 million for advanced cybersecurity and digital engineering research. Under the contract, the companies’ research involves developing cyber assessment and testing tools, cyber hardening technologies, and open-system architectures. These are part of the Agile and Resilient Platform Architectures program to enhance avionics cybersecurity tools and system architectures.
Howard University’s Contract to Establish a Research Facility for Tactical Autonomy Studies
- Date: January 2023
- Contract amount: $90 million
- Contract duration: 5 years
In January 2023, Howard University won a $90 million contract award from the Air Force Research Laboratory to establish a center and manage an academic consortium focused on studying tactical autonomy.
Under the agreement, Howard University receives $18 million annually to do research for the development of affordable, efficient, and reliable human-machine teaming and autonomous systems with artificial intelligence capabilities aligned with the Space Force, Air Force, and Defense Department’s objectives. Establishing this center brings Howard University to a prime position in advancing progressive science and technology initiatives.
Verus Research’s Contract Under the Tools for Enabling Autonomous Multi-Satellite Systems (TEAMS) Program
- Date: January 2023
- Contract amount: $37.5 million
- Contract duration: 5 years
In January 2023, Verus Research won an estimated $37.5 million contract award from the Air Force Research Laboratory to develop Tools for Enabling Autonomous Multi-Satellite Systems (TEAMS). Verus leverages its expertise in autonomy software design, satellite communications, radio frequency systems, and autonomy research and testbed development. It aims to create the necessary technology and capabilities for demonstrating autonomous and coordinated satellite operations. The TEAMS project holds a series of autonomy payloads being integrated into an on-orbit space experiment to promote its use case and benefit satellite operators.
KBR’s Contract to Study Non-Traditional Orbits
- Date: July 2023
- Contract type: Cost-plus-fixed-fee
- Contract amount: $25 million
- Contract duration: 5 years
In July 2023, KBR won an estimated $25 million contract from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory. Under the agreement, KBR studies the behavior of objects in nontraditional and chaotic orbits, particularly the XGEO domain. The contractor is also responsible for predicting the movement of celestial bodies as influenced by gravity and developing Space Situational Awareness frameworks.
KBR performs data association, motion prediction, maneuver detection, and data association to help the U.S. government understand the motions of such orbits and N-body problems. It has had several AFRL contracts involving the operation and maintenance of sensor sites and managing research projects on space domain awareness. This includes a $39.5 million contract exploring the effects of manufactured and natural threats to spacecraft in orbit.
Stratolaunch’s Talon-A Hypersonic Flight Test Contract
In November 2022, Stratolaunch secured funding from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to facilitate the flight test of its first expendable Talon-A hypersonic test vehicle. This test vehicle is inspired by the U.S. Air Force’s North American X-15 rocket aircraft flight test program of the 1960s. Stratolaunch aims to conduct TA-1’s flight in early 2023.
Talon-A was built to test hypersonic vehicles’ aerodynamic properties and flight tracking methods. Although TA-1 is expendable, Talon-A’s future vehicles are reusable. Talon-A also resembles a smaller version of NASA’s Space Shuttle. It features shorter wings and a single, shorter tail stabilizer to make hypersonic flight testing more dependable.
In May 2023, Stratolaunch successfully released its hypersonic Talon-A vehicle from its giant Roc launch aircraft.
