US for-profit small business ( 50% US-owned; US-based work. Dual-use commercial technology with a plausible Air/Space Force customer strongly favored.

What burden and restrictions apply?

Awards are contracts or grants with technical milestones, invoices, cybersecurity and federal compliance; Phase II and transition funding are separately competed or negotiated. Funds pay only the awarded topic's allowable R&D costs; lobbying, unsupported costs and work outside contract scope are excluded.

AFWERX SBIR/STTR — Department of the Air Force (incl. AFRL)

Open Topic Phase I ~$75,000 (SBIR) / ~$110,000 (STTR) feasibility; Phase II ~$0.75M–$1.9M; STRATFI up to ~$15M with matching · Department of the Air Force (AFWERX / Air Force Research Laboratory) · deadline 2026-08-19

The Air Force's innovation arm (AFWERX, with AFRL) runs one of the most startup-friendly SBIR/STTR programs, known for 'Open Topic' solicitations that let dual-use commercial companies pitch any technology with an Air/Space Force application. Pathways include Phase I, Direct-to-Phase-II, and Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI/TACFI) matching. Current lifecycle: open; next verified deadline 2026-08-19. Real economics: Open Topic Phase I ~$75,000 (SBIR) / ~$110,000 (STTR) feasibility; Phase II ~$0.75M–$1.9M; STRATFI up to ~$15M with matching.

Tier 2sbirsttrair-forceafwerx

Apply Official site Open in the live directory

Key facts

Funder	Department of the Air Force (AFWERX / Air Force Research Laboratory)
Amount	Open Topic Phase I ~$75,000 (SBIR) / ~$110,000 (STTR) feasibility; Phase II ~$0.75M–$1.9M; STRATFI up to ~$15M with matching
Deadline	2026-08-19
Decision time	Phase I selections typically ~2–3 months after close
Eligibility	US for-profit small business (<500 employees), >50% US-owned; US-based work. Dual-use commercial technology with a plausible Air/Space Force customer strongly favored.
Restrictions	Awards are contracts or grants with technical milestones, invoices, cybersecurity and federal compliance; Phase II and transition funding are separately competed or negotiated. Funds pay only the awarded topic's allowable R&D costs; lobbying, unsupported costs and work outside contract scope are excluded.
Status	open

Always confirm on the official page before applying — dates and terms change.

Application process

Register SAM.gov (UEI), SBIR.gov company registration, and DSIP account
Select an open or specific AFWERX topic in the current release
Prepare volumes (Open Topic requires a short pitch/technical volume + cost volume + commercialization) and submit via DSIP
Air Force evaluation and selection
Phase I award or Direct-to-Phase-II; pursue Phase II and STRATFI/TACFI matching with a government + private funding match

Background

Department of the Air Force (AFWERX / Air Force Research Laboratory) operates AFWERX SBIR/STTR — Department of the Air Force (incl. AFRL). This pass separates direct cash, repayable finance, credits, incentives and umbrella programs so later ranking does not compare unlike instruments. AFWERX publishes awarded companies and transition pathways. The federal SBIR/STTR framework provides a competitive Phase I-to-Phase II pathway. Phase III uses non-SBIR funding and is not guaranteed.

How the application really works

Register SAM.gov (UEI), SBIR.gov company registration, and DSIP account → Select an open or specific AFWERX topic in the current release → Prepare volumes (Open Topic requires a short pitch/technical volume + cost volume + commercialization) and submit via DSIP → Air Force evaluation and selection → Phase I award or Direct-to-Phase-II; pursue Phase II and STRATFI/TACFI matching with a government + private funding match

Tips

Show direct fit with Air Force and Space Force dual-use technology.

Watch out for

Current lifecycle is open.
Awards are contracts or grants with technical milestones, invoices, cybersecurity and federal compliance; Phase II and transition funding are separately competed or negotiated.
Funds pay only the awarded topic's allowable R&D costs; lobbying, unsupported costs and work outside contract scope are excluded.

Track record

AFWERX publishes awarded companies and transition pathways.
The federal SBIR/STTR framework provides a competitive Phase I-to-Phase II pathway.
Phase III uses non-SBIR funding and is not guaranteed.

The reviewed official corpus does not publish an applicant denominator and comparable selection rate.

Frequently asked questions

Is this actionable now?: open. Next verified deadline: 2026-08-19.
What is the real economic value?: Open Topic Phase I ~$75,000 (SBIR) / ~$110,000 (STTR) feasibility; Phase II ~$0.75M–$1.9M; STRATFI up to ~$15M with matching
Who is eligible?: US for-profit small business (<500 employees), >50% US-owned; US-based work. Dual-use commercial technology with a plausible Air/Space Force customer strongly favored.
How does selection work?: Register SAM.gov (UEI), SBIR.gov company registration, and DSIP account; Select an open or specific AFWERX topic in the current release; Prepare volumes (Open Topic requires a short pitch/technical volume + cost volume + commercialization) and submit via DSIP; Air Force evaluation and selection; Phase I award or Direct-to-Phase-II; pursue Phase II and STRATFI/TACFI matching with a government + private funding match. Phase I selections typically ~2–3 months after close
What burden and restrictions apply?: Awards are contracts or grants with technical milestones, invoices, cybersecurity and federal compliance; Phase II and transition funding are separately competed or negotiated. Funds pay only the awarded topic's allowable R&D costs; lobbying, unsupported costs and work outside contract scope are excluded.
What evidence exists?: AFWERX publishes awarded companies and transition pathways. The federal SBIR/STTR framework provides a competitive Phase I-to-Phase II pathway. Phase III uses non-SBIR funding and is not guaranteed. The reviewed official corpus does not publish an applicant denominator and comparable selection rate.

Sources

afwerx.com/divisions/sbir-sttr/sbir-sttr-overview — Official Department of the Air Force and AFWERX program, topics and public contact (checked 2026-08-10)
www.sbir.gov/about — Official federal eligibility, phases, ownership and data-rights framework (checked 2026-08-10)
www.dodsbirsttr.mil/topics-app — Official live defense topic evidence where applicable (checked 2026-08-10)