The Air and Space Forces Association’s Warfare Symposium in Aurora featured Booth 703 as the center of attention, where Airmen, Guardians, and industry leaders gathered to learn about the latest AFWERX innovations. Representatives from various AFWERX divisions were present to discuss how small businesses and start-ups can collaborate with Airman and Guardian talent to address key challenges faced by the U.S. Department of the Air Force. Finalists in the Spark Tank competition, a collaboration between AFWERX and the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, showcased their ideas for improving DAF’s operational capabilities.
Some of the proposals presented at Booth 703 included an autonomous flightline resupply vehicle to save man hours for maintainers, a cloud-based workflow application to expedite authorization processes and enhance cybersecurity, and an artificial intelligence platform to speed up homeland defense measures. Other innovations included an F-16 cockpit collapsible ACE ladder for pilot safety and efficiency, an automated digital load plan app to accelerate medical evacuations, and training medics to perform whole blood transfusions in the field. The Spark Tank competition allows for public involvement through voting for the favorite finalist, with the winner set to be announced later in the spring at the Pentagon.
Col. Martin Salinas, the Spark Division chief, highlighted the integration of the Refinery program into this year’s Spark Tank competition, along with the capabilities of SAF/MG and AFWERX. This approach aims to support grassroots efforts of Airmen and Guardians by connecting them with experts and stakeholders relevant to problem areas and prototypes. Salinas emphasized the importance of fostering innovation and ingenuity among personnel, as these qualities are vital in deterring and winning future conflicts with adversaries.
