NEW YORK, NY — Radical AI has been selected by AFWERX for a Direct-to-Phase II contract in the amount of $1,197,902 focused on the accelerated discovery of novel high entropy alloys (HEAs) with enhanced thermomechanical properties to address the most pressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force (DAF). Traditional alloys cannot endure the extreme conditions of hypersonic flight, creating an urgent need for new advanced alloys with enhanced thermomechanical properties. Radical AI will rapidly develop such HEAs utilizing its full-stack approach that integrates AI-driven predictions, high-throughput computational screening, and robotically operated labs.

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 Radical AI will continue its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America.

“Hypersonic flight is fundamentally a materials problem, and we are committed to delivering a solution,” said Joseph Krause, Co-Founder and CEO of Radical AI. “We view this Direct-to-Phase II not as a check, but as an obligation to execute: every dollar must translate into capabilities.”

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 Defense, or the U.S. government.