Low SWAP-C UAS payload to power replicator initiatives
MatrixSpace has been awarded a $1.25 million Direct-to-Phase II SBIR contract from AFWERX to develop low size, weight, power and cost (SWaP-C) multifunction, multiband antenna payloads. This new project, based on the MatrixSpace Radar hardware platform, aims to address key challenges within the United States Air Force (DAF) and support the Replicator initiative. The contract term is 21 months and begins immediately.
Designed and developed in the United States, MatrixSpace Radar provides powerful situational awareness of both air and ground objects in a variety of lighting and weather conditions. This technology supports accurate drone detection, Counter Unmanned Aircraft System (CUAS) capabilities, Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations for unmanned aerial vehicles, autonomous aircraft, and tethered aircraft, and improves general airspace awareness and security.
The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX have streamlined the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) processes with the goal of accelerating the timeline from proposal to approval. These changes are intended to expand opportunities for small businesses and reduce bureaucratic overhead.
Since its inception in 2018, DAF’s Open Topic SBIR/STTR program has funded a wide range of innovations, including those proposed by small and medium-sized businesses such as MatrixSpace. The plan is consistent with the broader goal of strengthening military capabilities and supporting the development of advanced technologies.
Matthew Kling, Vice President of Intelligent Systems at MatrixSpace, said: “We are honored to deliver innovative military capabilities using core MatrixSpace technologies to strengthen America’s defense. This award provides us with a significant opportunity to advance the large-scale ADA2 (All Area Attenuable Autonomous) system envisioned under the Replicator initiative. MatrixSpace will help address critical requirements for future military systems by providing multi-function, multi-band, agnostic capabilities to onboard autonomous vehicles, allowing warfighters to quickly adapt to any mission.”
The project’s development and testing of low SWaP-C payloads for unmanned aerial systems highlights MatrixSpace’s commitment to advancing military technology and supporting national defense initiatives.
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