Dagger Unmanned Awarded U.S. Air Force Phase II STTR Contract for Second-Generation UAV Platform
(New York, NY) – Dagger Unmanned, a subsidiary of Viele Exploratory Sustainable Solutions (VESS), announces it has been selected by AFWERX for a Phase II Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) contract in the amount of $1.8M focused on the second-generation Dagger UAV platform. Building on the success of its first-generation design, Dagger Gen-2 advances operational flexibility and resilience to meet the Department of the Air Force’s (DAF) most pressing challenges.
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, expanding opportunities to new entrants, and reducing bureaucratic overhead through continual process improvements. The DAF began offering the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018, which significantly broadened the range of innovations funded. With this Phase II award, Dagger Unmanned will further evolve the Dagger UAV platform, strengthening the national defense of the United States.
Quote from Company
“Securing this Phase II award for our second-generation Dagger platform underscores the confidence the Air Force has in our vision and execution. Gen-2 builds on the proven performance of our first-generation system, bringing even greater agility and mission flexibility. We’re proud to advance UAV design that directly supports the mission of the Air Force and the broader defense community.” – Kody Viele, CEO, Dagger Unmanned
“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.”
About Dagger Unmanned
Dagger Unmanned, a subsidiary of Viele Exploratory Sustainable Solutions (VESS), develops advanced unmanned aerial systems engineered for austere and contested environments. The first-generation Dagger platform proved the viability of a fully attributable tilt-rotor UAV concept, and the company is now advancing its second-generation design under Air Force sponsorship. Dagger will also be showcased at VESS’s upcoming industry day in Virginia, highlighting its role as a core element of next-generation defense innovation.
About AFRL
The Air Force Research Laboratory is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space and cyberspace force. With a workforce of more than 12,500 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit afresearchlab.com.
About AFWERX
As the innovation arm of the DAF and a directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFWERX brings cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF. AFWERX employs approximately 370 military, civilian and contractor personnel at four hubs and sites executing an annual $1.4 billion budget. Since 2019, AFWERX has awarded over 10,400 contracts worth more than $7.24 billion to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit afwerx.com.