Air Force Research Laboratory
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersOhio, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Air Force Research Laboratory firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Air Force Research Laboratory
- Legal name
- Air Force Research Laboratory
- Website
- https://afresearchlab.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Air Force Research Laboratory industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Defense Research and Development
- NAICS
- Space Research and Technology (92711), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Propulsion Unit and Propulsion Unit Parts Manufacturing (336415)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Aircraft (3721), Aircraft & Parts (3720), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Defense R&D, Test, Evaluation & Innovation (BPAIAHAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Military Aircraft Platforms (Fixed-Wing) (IMABAMAA), Integrated Air & Missile Defense (IAMD) Systems (IMABAOAD), Electronic Warfare (EW) & Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) Systems (IMABAOAB), Electronic Warfare (EW) & SIGINT/ELINT Systems (IMABAGAB), Precision Strike & Fire Control Systems (IMABAOAE), Air Defense Missiles & Interceptors (IMABAHAD), Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) Electronics for Weapons (IMABAGAH)
Keywords
Where Air Force Research Laboratory is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ohio
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Air Force Research Laboratory business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Government Research and Development Contracts: AFRL operates as the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force, funded through defense appropriations and direct program funding from DoD and partner agencies
- SBIR/STTR Programs: Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs providing funding to eligible small businesses for R&D with potential for commercialization
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Government contract-based services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Air Force Research Laboratory product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is the primary scientific research and development arm of the U.S. Department of the Air Force, conducting discovery, development, and integration of warfighting technologies across air, space, and cyberspace domains. AFRL executes fundamental research, advanced technology development, and prototyping across 13 technology areas (including aerospace systems, directed energy, materials, munitions, sensors, space vehicles, and information technology), ultimately delivering technology transitions to acquisition program offices, warfighters, and industry partners.
Product overview
AFRL operates as a multi-faceted research and development organization with a diverse portfolio spanning aerospace vehicles, space systems, propulsion technology, medical technologies, AI/ML platforms, and quantum computing. The portfolio includes attritable unmanned systems like the XQ-58A Valkyrie and GRASSHOPPER glider; spacecraft programs such as NTS-3, Oracle, and STARS for navigation and autonomy; propulsion technologies including RE-ARM, ModProp, and HMTE; medical solutions like BATDOK and TAW; high-performance computing through Flyer supercomputer; quantum initiatives via FALQON and photonic interconnects; and AI platforms including ASCE and CAAMO. The organization also maintains UAS traffic management (CLUE), cockpit sensing systems (ICS), and software factories (SPACE CAMP). The recent Flyer supercomputer launch represents a major computing capability addition, while the TITAN-AM additive manufacturing program and various quantum networking milestones demonstrate continued technology advancement across the portfolio.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- AFWERX: Innovation arm of the Department of the Air Force, a directorate within AFRL focused on accelerating technology transfer and fostering innovation partnerships.
- SpaceWERX
Products and services
- XQ-58A Valkyrie Unmanned combat air vehicle developed jointly with Kratos and the U.S. Marine Corps as a low-cost, runway-independent tactical UAS designed to support manned-unmanned teaming and contested environment operations.
Quantifiable outcome
- Flyer supercomputer achieves 14 petaflops, completing in one day what would take standard laptops 500 years to process
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Air Force Research Laboratory
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Air Force Research Laboratory technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability30 records
Feature6 records
Air Force Research Laboratory partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
32 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- PiLogiccoreCooperative Research and Development Agreement to adapt Exact AI system for analyzing spacecraft electrical subsystems and predicting satellite failures using probabilistic reasoning and causal analysis
- SEEQCcoreCollaboration in NORDTECH program funded by U.S. CHIPS Act to scale quantum chip fabrication using 300mm silicon wafers for industrial-scale production, focusing on materials science with tantalum and tantalum nitride
- GE AviationmajorPacer Edge program for sourcing obsolete engine components through 3D printing, complementing C-17 and C-5 Super Galaxy aircraft 3D-printed parts initiatives
- Cornell UniversitymajorAcademic partner in NORDTECH quantum research program alongside Princeton University, NY CREATES, and AFRL
- Princeton UniversitymajorAcademic partner in NORDTECH quantum research program for qubit coherence and cryogenic qubit evaluation platform development
- PiLogiccoreCooperative Research and Development Agreement for AI anomaly detection technology using probabilistic reasoning and causal analysis to detect satellite failures
- GKN Aerospacecore$8.4 million TITAN-AM program to advance Laser Metal Deposition with Wire (LMD-w) technology for next-generation titanium aerospace structures, executed from Fort Worth, Texas facility
- Pacific DefensemajorMoonraker payload development under AFRL/Space Vehicles Directorate contract for reprogrammable RF payload for space situational awareness
- AeroVironmentcore$20 million CAMP program contract for developing next-generation ceramic and ceramic matrix composite materials for aerospace and defense applications over 39 months
- University of New MexicomajorRAISE program focused on ethical AI and autonomous systems, partnering with Sandia National Laboratories and AFRL with nearly $3 million NSF grant
- Wright-Patterson Air Force BasecoreResearch conducted at Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio involving collaboration between AeroVironment materials specialists and AFRL scientists
- Parsons Corporationcore$99 million task order for C2-SpISR technologies under GARDEM 2 program, expanding work on C2Core Air, C2Core NetOps, and National Tactical Data Manager. Part of $218 million in GARDEM contracts in 2026.
- AeroVironmentcoreCeramics Advanced Materials and Processes program for developing lightweight, thermally resilient structures for hypersonic vehicles and turbine engines
- Kirtland Air Force BasecoreLocation of AFRL Rocket Propulsion Division and collaborative rocket facility for testing and refining propulsion systems for lunar lander technologies
- Varda Space IndustriesmajorPrometheus program partnership funding hypersonic technology testing including autonomous navigation during reentry and thermal protection system validation
- RTX (BBN Technologies)corePACE4ACE communications system development funded by AFRL for autonomous network traffic shifting in contested environments
- Florida Atlantic Universitymajor$2.25 million grant for networked autonomous systems research focusing on edge AI implementations for collaborative autonomous agents
- StratommajoreXpeditionary Cargo Loader demonstration for tactical airlift operations, enabling aircraft to carry two to five additional pallet positions of cargo
- ARCTOS Technology Solutionsmajor$9 million contract for aerothermoelastic structures research supporting hypersonic airbreathing vehicles operating at Mach 5 and above
- DARPAcoreGreat Horned Owl program partnership for XRQ-73 hybrid-electric stealth drone development, evaluating propulsion systems for fuel efficiency and operational flexibility
- Ursa MajorcoreAffordable Rapid Missile Demonstrator program using Draper liquid rocket engine, achieving eight-month development-to-flight timeline
- NASAcoreArtemis II mission support including astronaut centrifuge training, spacecraft hardware safety testing, thermal protection system analysis, and space tracking through Maui Space Surveillance Site
- Concurrent Technologies Corporationcore$18 million contract for designing and demonstrating large capacity energy storage systems for military operations capable of operating in extreme environments
- Johnstown CTCcore$18 million energy storage contract with 12-15 employees based in Johnstown, Pennsylvania designing large-capacity systems for extreme environments
- BlackSky Technologycore$99 million multi-year contract for next-generation space capabilities including large-aperture optical payloads for Earth observation and space domain awareness
- IonQcoreJoint project demonstrating photonic interconnect of two independent trapped-ion quantum systems, marking first networked commercial quantum computers using entanglement. Validates quantum networking capabilities for future quantum internet.
- ATC Manufacturingmajor$6.7 million contract for thermoplastic composite research in partnership with Anduril Industries and Toray Advanced Composites
- UES (AeroVironment Division)core$25 million contract for maturing human health and performance technologies from research to field deployment for 711th Human Performance Wing
- RaytheoncoreContract to develop domestic production capability for thin film lithium niobate (TFLN) wafers, reducing reliance on foreign suppliers for high-speed communications and advanced sensing systems
- G&HcoreU.S.-based company partnered with Raytheon for developing thin film lithium niobate (TFLN) wafer manufacturing processes to establish domestic production capability
- AalyriamajorSpace Data Network Experimentation program to analyze how Spacetime network orchestration software could support hybrid, federated space data network for joint force communications
- PsiQuantummajor$10.8M contract for Barium Titanate Electro-Optic phase shifters for integration into AFRL-designed optical circuits using GlobalFoundries Fab 8 facility
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Air Force Research Laboratory competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- DARPA: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is the other major DoD-wide research agency that funds high-risk, high-reward technology development for national security. Directly comparable as a federally funded R&D entity targeting leap-ahead capabilities (AI, hypersonics, quantum, space).
- Naval Research Laboratory (NRL): U.S. Navy's primary corporate research laboratory, with comparable workforce scale, broad multi-disciplinary portfolio (materials, sensors, space, AI, directed energy), and similar direct funding and customer model to AFRL.
- U.S. Army DEVCOM (Combat Capabilities Development Command): U.S. Army's primary R&D enterprise performing basic and applied research across C5ISR, ground vehicles, weapons, and soldier systems. Direct peer as the Army counterpart to AFRL with analogous structure and mission.
- Sandia National Laboratories: Federally funded R&D center operated by NTLS for the DOE/NNSA with deep work in nuclear weapons, hypersonics, sensors, and high-performance computing. Comparable as a national-security R&D lab with large-scale technical workforce and government-only mission model.
- MIT Lincoln Laboratory: Federally funded R&D center (FFRDC) sponsored by DoD, focused on advanced sensors, communications, space surveillance, and autonomous systems. Directly comparable to AFRL's Information Directorate and space domain awareness mission (e.g., Maui Space Surveillance Site).
- Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL): University-affiliated FFRDC sponsoring research for DoD across air defense, missiles, space, and AI. Peer on hypersonic and missile defense work (similar to AFRL Munitions Directorate) and large multi-disciplinary research portfolio.
- Los Alamos National Laboratory: DOE national lab with deep capabilities in computational science, hypersonics, quantum, and directed energy relevant to national security. Comparable scale and mission overlap on high-performance computing and weapons-relevant research.
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory: DOE national lab with strengths in high-performance computing (Sierra-class systems), advanced materials, and inertial confinement fusion research. Comparable to AFRL's Flyer supercomputing program and munitions/materials research portfolio.
- Space Development Agency (SDA): DoD organization under the Space Force responsible for fielding the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (satellite comms, tracking, missile warning). Peer in DoD-funded space technology development and a key transition path for AFRL-developed space technologies.
Broad incumbents
- NASA: Civilian space agency that overlaps with AFRL's Space Vehicles Directorate and Cislunar Coordination Office on launch, propulsion, and cislunar research. AFRL already partners with NASA on Artemis II. Comparable as a federal R&D entity but with a civilian rather than defense charter.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Air Force Research Laboratory social profiles
Digital presenceAir Force Research Laboratory financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Air Force Research Laboratory leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Air Force Research Laboratory funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Air Force Research Laboratory M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments34 records
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Frequently asked questions about Air Force Research Laboratory
What does Air Force Research Laboratory do?
Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is the primary scientific research and development arm of the U.S. Department of the Air Force, conducting discovery, development, and integration of warfighting technologies across air, space, and cyberspace domains. AFRL executes fundamental research, advanced technology development, and prototyping across 13 technology areas (including aerospace systems, directed energy, materials, munitions, sensors, space vehicles, and information technology), ultimately delivering technology transitions to acquisition program offices, warfighters, and industry partners.
Is Air Force Research Laboratory a public or private company?
Air Force Research Laboratory is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Air Force Research Laboratory founded?
Air Force Research Laboratory was founded in 1997. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Air Force Research Laboratory based?
Air Force Research Laboratory is headquartered in Ohio, United States, in the North America region.
How does Air Force Research Laboratory make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Government Research and Development Contracts are the primary driver. The others are SBIR/STTR Programs.
Who are Air Force Research Laboratory's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are DARPA, Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), U.S. Army DEVCOM (Combat Capabilities Development Command), Sandia National Laboratories, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Space Development Agency (SDA). NASA is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Air Force Research Laboratory have an API?
No public API is recorded for Air Force Research Laboratory.
What industry is Air Force Research Laboratory in?
Air Force Research Laboratory's product category is Defense Research and Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAHAC, Defense R&D, Test, Evaluation & Innovation, with a secondary code of IMABAMAA, Military Aircraft Platforms (Fixed-Wing). Its NAICS code is 92711 and its SIC code is 3812.