AIRIA (airia20.com) has been awarded a second $1.8 million STTR Phase II contract from AFWERX, a program of the U.S. Department of the Air Force, to further develop its operational AI software platform. The funding will support the advancement of signal fusion capabilities designed to tackle critical challenges in military operations, particularly in complex, high-stakes environments. The project, led by the Air Force Research Laboratory in collaboration with AFWERX, aims to accelerate innovation by streamlining the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) processes. This initiative is part of a broader effort to fast-track the development and deployment of cutting-edge technologies by small businesses, reducing time-to-market and increasing the speed of technological adoption within the Department of the Air Force. AIRIA’s platform leverages artificial intelligence to integrate and analyze data from multiple sources, enabling faster, more accurate decision-making in dynamic operational settings. The new contract will focus on enhancing the system’s ability to fuse diverse sensor signals—such as radar, electronic warfare, and communications data—into a unified, actionable intelligence picture. This capability is essential for improving situational awareness, detecting emerging threats, and supporting autonomous systems in contested environments. This marks the second major award AIRIA has received from AFWERX, underscoring the growing recognition of its technology’s potential to transform defense operations. The company continues to build on its proven track record in developing AI-driven solutions tailored for real-world military applications. The expanded partnership reflects the Air Force’s strategic emphasis on leveraging agile, commercially viable AI innovations to maintain technological superiority in an increasingly competitive global landscape.