The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is the primary research and development center for the Department of the Air Force, playing a key role in developing warfighting technologies for air, space, and cyberspace. As an integrated lab, AFRL supports both the Air Force and the Space Force, providing solutions ranging from satellites and rocket fuel to advanced materials and manufacturing processes. AFRL partners with organizations like NASA, other government agencies, academia, and industry to conduct research, develop technologies, and test new concepts for space-based capabilities, including space weather observation and data transport. Key areas of focus include space vehicles, rocket propulsion, directed energy, and advanced materials for aerospace systems.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
The Air Force Research Laboratory launched the Space Power InfraRed Regulation and Analysis of Lifetime experiment on 2024-11-04.
On 2024-11-12, the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory awarded Rocket Lab a federal defense contract with a value up to $8,000,000.
The AFRL contract includes options to build the digital engineering framework for National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 1 launch providers.
A 2021 test conducted with the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency used different optical terminals that did not comply with the current SDA standard.
The two-year AFRL award announced on 2024-09-05 covers development of Benchmark 22-newton to 100-newton propulsion systems for ASCENT.
On 2024-09-04, Benchmark Space Systems won a two-year, $4,900,000 Air Force Research Lab award to further develop non-catalytic 22 Newton-to-100 Newton class propulsion systems using ASCENT monopropellant for government missions.
Kevin DiMarzio is Director of Business Development at Benchmark Space Systems and Ryan McDevitt is Benchmark’s Chief Executive Officer, and both are key members of the team advancing ASCENT viability with support from the $8,400,000 AFRL award.
The Air Force Research Laboratory awarded Benchmark Space Systems $4,900,000 to develop propulsion systems for the ASCENT monopropellant.
The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory awarded Raytheon Technologies a $51,700,000 contract to develop satellite communications antennas for military aircraft.
LeoLabs is developing next-generation radar technology for the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory via a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research award to enhance tracking of noncooperative launches, smaller orbital debris, and objects in Very Low Earth Orbit.
The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX have partnered to change the pool of potential SBIR/STTR applicants by expanding opportunities to small businesses.
The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX partnered to streamline the SBIR and STTR process by accelerating proposal-to-award timelines, expanding the pool of potential applicants, and implementing process improvements to reduce bureaucratic overhead in contract execution.
The CRADA with AFRL West provides iRocket with resources, expertise, and site facility support to conduct propulsion, stage, and grasshopper testing at the High Thrust Research Facility at Edwards Air Force Base.
Advanced Space is working with NASA and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory to provide testing opportunities on CAPSTONE.
NAVSYS was awarded a contract under the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Commercial Alternative Positioning, Navigation and Timing for RAPID (CAPR) program to develop and mature key elements of its PNTaaS system architecture to support operations where GPS is degraded or denied.
Dr. Alison Brown, CEO of NAVSYS, supports working with the AFRL and NAVSYS’ SATCOM partners to accelerate deployment of the PNTaaS capability to provide resilient PNT alternatives when GPS is unavailable.
Ursa Major built a Draper-specific test stand with funding from the Air Force Research Laboratory under a contract awarded last year.
The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX have partnered to expand the pool of potential applicants to small businesses for SBIR and STTR opportunities.
The Air Force Research Laboratory launched the Defense Experimentation Using Commercial Space Internet (DEUCSI) program in 2018 to explore augmenting military communications with commercial satellite internet.
The Air Force Research Laboratory awarded BlueHalo a $24,400,000 contract to support the Satellite Assessment Center.