AIRIA Secures Second $1.8 Million AFWERX Contract with Department of the Air Force to Expand Operational AI Software Platform

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AIRIA (airia20.com) announces it has been selected by AFWERX for a STTR Phase II in the amount of $1.8 million focused on signal fusion capabilities to address the most pressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force (DAF). 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 faster proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business and eliminating 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 in November 2025, AIRIA will start its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America.

“We are delighted by the expanding interest in our technology from the Department of the Air Force,” said Edward Nass, AIRIA’s Chief Executive Officer. “Our team, in collaboration with AFWERX and AFRL, is committed to pushing forward innovation across AI, machine learning and operational software.”

“The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of War, or the U.S. government.”

About AIRIA
AIRIA is an Operational AI company turning real-time signal data into spatial insights for enterprise and government. From campuses to command centers, our software powers smarter operations, live occupancy awareness and mission-critical decision-making. Founded in 2020, AIRIA is trusted by commercial and Department of Defense customers alike. For more information, visit airia20.com.

About AFRL
The Air Force Research Laboratory, or 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 forces. With a workforce spanning across nine technology areas and 40 other operations around the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit afresearchlab.com.

About AFWERX
As the innovation arm of the DAF and a directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFWERX brings cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF. Headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, AFWERX employs military, civilian and contractor personnel executing an annual $1.4 billion annual budget. Since 2019, AFWERX has awarded over 10,400 contracts worth more than $7.24 billion to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit: afwerx.com.