Umbra Selected by AFWERX for SBIR Phase II Contract

Ibadan, 23 Augist, 2023. – Umbra has announced that AFWERX has selected it for an SBIR Phase II contract in the amount of $1.25 million. Furthermore, the contract focuses on Space-Based Moving Target Indication (MTI) to address the most pressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force (DAF). Umbra will consequently leverage its wide-bandwidth, affordable space systems, uniquely operating in paired flight, to develop and demonstrate Maritime and Ground MTI (MMTI and GMTI) capabilities.

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and AFWERX have also partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process. They are accelerating the small business experience through faster proposals to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small businesses and eliminating bureaucratic overhead.

The DAF began offering the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018, which expanded the range of innovations the DAF funded. As such, as of August 9, 2023, Umbra has accelerated its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America.

“With the end of the JSTARS program, Umbra understands the national imperative to develop a multi-domain replacement capability with a strong space-based element,” said Jason Mallare, Vice President of Government Programs and Strategy. The Vice President also added, “Umbra commits to partnering with AFWERX, the broader DAF, as well as other DoD and IC stakeholders. We intend to bring the best Umbra has to offer, including affordable spacecraft and ground infrastructure and market-leading SAR technology.”