A division of the U.S. Air Force has awarded a Small Business Innovation Research grant to Dallas-based Firehawk Aerospace to help develop hybrid rocket engines.
“Our unique approach to fuel production allows Firehawk to quickly design and test solid rocket motors and hybrid rocket engines, enabling the potential for large-scale production of our motors for a variety of systems both domestically and internationally,” CEO Will Edwards said in a news release.
Founded in 2019 in Dallas, Firehawk designs and manufactures next-generation rocket engines for the country’s aerospace and defense programs. Its 3D-Ultra Hybrid Rocket Engine “follows a streamlined and scalable design process that shortens production times, reduces cost by up to 90%, and leverages additive manufacturing in unique ways,” according to the release.
The company also performs static fire and flight tests of its rocket engines at two facilities in West Texas, including a 30-square-mile launch range.
“Firehawk Aerospace remains dedicated to solving the supply chain problems that plague the propulsion industry, and this SBIR Phase I award will help accelerate their mission as they work towards a solution,” according to the release.
The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX, the innovation arm of the Department of the Air Force, are working to “streamline” the award process.
“AFWERX brings cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF,” its website says. “The four core arms of AFWERX — AFVentures, Spark, Prime, and SpaceWERX — serve to expand the defense industrial base for advanced technologies, empower Airmen and Guardian talent, and drive faster technology transition to operational capability.”
The Air Force Research Laboratory is the primary scientific research and development center of the Air Force.
