AFWERX, the Department of the Air Force (DAF)’s innovation arm and a directorate of the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, will have a booth at EAA Airventure Oshkosh 2024.

During Airventure, AFWERX leaders will speak about ongoing efforts to help drive the development and fielding of electric aircraft. They also will detail the organization’s ongoing efforts to help provide a pipeline of disruptive military and dual-use technologies to the DAF.

The U.S. is in a global competition for leadership in critical technologies. This includes electric and hybrid aircraft – a category of low-emission, runway-independent aircraft – and the industries supporting them. This aircraft category encompasses electric and hybrid propulsion systems, autonomy and advanced manufacturing.    

Launched in 2020, AFWERX Agility Prime has focused on accelerating emerging commercial markets by leveraging government resources for rapid and affordable fielding, benefiting both the commercial industrial base and U.S. military capabilities.

During the last year, the advanced air mobility (AAM) sector hit several major milestones. AFWERX Agility Prime partner companies have reached flight goals, inked testing agreements with the DAF, and announced plans for major capital projects. In 2025, these partner companies plan on scaling up production of their aircraft to sell.

Hank Griffiths, AFWERX chief of test and airworthiness, will discuss “Innovating AAM With AFWERX” on 23 July at Forum Stage 1. He will focus on the current state of AAM and the role AFWERX Agility Prime and the DAF will play in this emerging industry going forward.

Karen Roth, deputy director of AFWERX, will talk about “AFWERX & Empowering Small Business” on   25 July 25. During her talk, she will share success stories of the organization’s industry engagement through its Prime, Spark and Ventures divisions.

“Small businesses are the backbone of the U.S. economy,” Roth said. “The private sector accounts for 80 percent of disruptive technologies. As the DAF’s innovation arm, our mission is to rapidly acquire new innovations for the DOD. I look forward to sharing how AFWERX can help empower small businesses, whether they’re refining their initial concept or developing a prototype of their military specific or dual-use technology.”