Firehawk Aerospace Awarded $1.25 Million AFWERX Phase II SBIR Contract to Advance Next-Generation Rocket Propellant Technology
21 April 2025
DALLAS, Texas—April 21, 2025—Firehawk Aerospace (“Firehawk”), a leading developer and manufacturer of advanced energetics systems for defense applications, announced it has been selected by AFWERX, the innovation arm of the Department of the Air Force and powered by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), for a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award. The contract, valued at $1.25 million, is accelerating the company’s development of next-generation, shelf-stable propellant solutions, and enhancing its capabilities for critical national defense applications.
“Our team is excited to further demonstrate the superior performance, scalability and affordability of our propellant solutions for air-to-air weapon systems,” said Mike Stark, President of Firehawk Aerospace.
Under this Phase II SBIR, Firehawk is conducting a comprehensive study of its additive manufacturing approach to solid propellants, encompassing propellant formulation testing, subscale motor validation, full-scale static-fire demonstrations, lifecycle cost assessments and performance evaluations.
Firehawk is developing and delivering advanced energetic systems that deliver safer, more reliable, and scalable propellant solutions for the U.S. government. When paired with additive manufacturing and innovative production techniques, Firehawk is reshaping how solid rocket motors are designed, built, and fielded. Put simply, these technologies directly support force sustainment by reducing the logistical footprint of propulsion systems, enabling long-term storage and containerization, and quick activation in contested or remote environments, ensuring a resilient, domestically controlled supply of critical energetics.
AFWERX plays a pivotal role in identifying and supporting cutting-edge technologies that can address the most urgent challenges faced by the U.S. military. Through its SBIR program, AFWERX bridges the gap between small businesses and defense needs, ensuring a robust and diverse industrial base.
About Firehawk Aerospace
Firehawk Aerospace develops and manufactures advanced energetics systems that are safer, more affordable, and rapidly scalable for defense and national security applications. Firehawk designs and manufactures its products at its Dallas headquarters and performs static fire and flight tests at two facilities in West Texas, including a 30-square-mile launch range. For more information, visit www.firehawkaerospace.com.
About AFRL
The Air Force Research Laboratory 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 12,500 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
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. AFWERX employs approximately 370 military, civilian and contractor personnel at five hubs and sites executing an annual $1.4 billion budget. Since 2019, AFWERX has executed over 6,200 new contracts worth more than $4.7 billion to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit: www.afwerx.com
