Big update from the Aedes team.
SBIR Proposal — In Final Review
We have drafted our Phase I SBIR proposal to AFWERX — the Air Force's innovation arm — under the Small Business Innovation Research program.
If you're not familiar: the SBIR program is a federal funding mechanism that allows small businesses to do R&D work directly for the U.S. military, with no equity given up. It's the government's primary tool for bringing non-traditional, innovative companies into the defense industrial base. We're pursuing it to fund the coordination infrastructure, vetting systems, and quality architecture the Aedes network needs to operate at scale.
The proposal is currently in final review. We are targeting submission by May 20th, with a hard federal deadline of June 3, 2026.
Read the full AFWERX SBIR 26.BZ Technical Volume →
What Happens After We Submit
AFWERX typically takes 60–90 days to review and issue award decisions. If selected, we expect to hear back by late summer/early fall 2026. A Phase I award funds the first stage of network buildout — which means activation of builder contracts.
To be direct: we don't have contracts yet. We are pursuing opportunities. What we're building right now is the network — identifying and vetting participants who can be called upon when we secure contracts. The earlier you're in, the more established your standing when work comes.
Tuskegee University — Active Conversation
This week we hold our second meeting with a Professor of Logistics at Tuskegee University regarding their potential role as a Quality Assurance Hub — the entity that would certify components and open the door to DoD contracts. This is an active conversation, not a done deal. We're building the infrastructure piece by piece.
Who We Still Need
We have registered builders across Florida, Maryland, California, Texas, Wyoming, and more. But we're short on two skill sets in particular:
Small Engine Electrical Specialists — If you're into RC cars, RC aircraft, or FPV drones, that's the profile. Wiring compact electrical systems, brushless motors, ESCs, and 12–48V power setups maps directly to what we produce.
Other high-need skills: PCB assembly & soldering, carbon fiber/composite fabrication, CNC machining, 3D printing/additive manufacturing, and wiring harness assembly.
Know someone? Send them to aedesmfg.com/builders — a network, not a job posting. Register, get vetted, get positioned when contracts come in.