Safire Group Awarded U.S. Air Force Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II Contract
March 29 2023 - 10:00AM
Business Wire
AFWERX selects Safire Group for $1.25M SBIR
Phase II contract to adapt SAFIRE™ battery technology for Safire
Light Tactical Vehicles/Battle Airmen Gear (SLTV/BAG).
Safire Technology Group, Inc. (Safire Group) announces it has
been selected by AFWERX for a SBIR Phase II in the amount of $1.25M
USD focused on adapting the company’s innovative Lithium-ion
(Li-ion) battery technology, SAFe Impact Resistant Electrolyte
(SAFIRE™), to enhance the safety and performance of tactical
electric dirt bikes and multi-functional body armor for the
Department of the Air Force (DAF). Safire’s proprietary drop-in
additive for Li-ion batteries prevents fire and explosion through
an instantaneous liquid-to-solid transformation upon kinetic
impacts, such as an electric dirt bike crash or ballistic
event.
The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX have partnered to
streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small
Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the
small business experience through a faster proposal to award
timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding
opportunities to small business and losing bureaucratic overhead by
continually implementing process improvement changes in contract
execution. The DAF began offering 'The Open Topic' SBIR/STTR
program in 2018 which expanded the range of innovations the DAF
funded, and now Safire Group will start its journey to create and
provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national
defense of the United States of America.
About Safire
Safire Group is a venture-backed company developing batteries
that prevent fire and explosion and improve performance. The
company’s core technology, SAFe Impact Resistant Electrolyte
(SAFIRE™), is the world’s first patented and proprietary drop-in
additive for Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries that prevents fire and
explosion through an instantaneous liquid-to-solid transformation
upon kinetic impacts, such as in electric vehicle (EV), electric
Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) or E-Bike crashes. For more
information, visit: www.safire.co.
About AFRL
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is the primary
scientific research and development center for the Department of
the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the
discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting
technologies for our air, space, and cyberspace force. With a
workforce of more than 11,000 across nine technology areas and 40
other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse
portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to
advanced research and technology development. For more information,
visit: www.afresearchlab.com.
About AFWERX
AFWERX, a program office at the Air Force Research Laboratory
(AFRL), connects innovators across government, industry and
academia. Through innovation and collaboration with our nation’s
top subject-matter experts and harnessing the power of ingenuity of
internal talent, by expanding technology, talent, and transition
partnerships for rapid and affordable commercial and military
capability. For more information, visit:
https://www.afwerx.com/.
About AFVentures
AFVentures invests in emerging technologies to scale Department
of the Air Force capabilities, strengthening the US industrial base
that empowers Airmen and Guardians by incentivizing private,
for-profit investment in national security interests. Our success
is achieved by connecting novel commercial solutions with defense
problem sets, de-risking Airmen and Guardian initiatives to fill
capability gaps and transition technologies. Learn more at
https://afwerx.com/afventures-overview/.
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Company Press Contact: partnerships@safire.co