Under the AFMC’s We Need funding, security forces defenders at Hill AFB acquire InstantEye small uncrewed aerial systems to support base defence efforts. Credit: Sgt John Yountz/US Air Force.

The US Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) has released $8m to support various innovation initiatives across the enterprise, under its ongoing ‘We Need’ efforts.

Launched in 2019, AFMC’s We Need is a command-wide initiative to identify challenges and opportunities related to mission requirements, as well as suggest ways to address the challenges for future.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Go deeper with GlobalData

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

The allocated fund and initiative are managed by the Commander’s Accelerated Initiatives Office (CDX).

AFMC CDX team Lindsay McNeely said: “All of the projects that were funded have a direct impact on our airmen.

“For projects that were submitted but not funded this round, our CDX teams are continuing to work with the innovators and intrapreneurs to help them further develop ideas and find resources to support.”

In 2020, AFMC released around $20m to support some of the We Need projects.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

It was followed by a $10m allocation last year to expedite change across the mission.

The projects under the latest round include Project FoX, which involves establishing a government-owned open software enclave on fielded weapon systems to provide advanced combat capabilities to warfighters.

Furthermore, the command allocated $2m for wearable sensors and to provide heat injury prevention, continuous fitness and fatigue risk assessment to the airmen.

Another $400,000 was allocated for the Air Force Life Cycle Management Centre (AFLCMC) Contracting Directorate Remote Desktop Protocol to replace out-of-warranty computers with a virtual machine environment.

AFMC earmarked $75,000 for the Spark Cells project, $106,000 for upgrading CCTVs in dormitories at Tinker Air Force Base (AFB) and $4.8m for purchasing around 4,100 laptops to replace old computers used by AFMC’s airmen.

The CDX team is tracking additional projects that may receive funding later this year.

Airforce Technology Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Airforce Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.


Excellence in Action
Discover how Virtualitics is transforming mission readiness with explainable AI, predictive maintenance, and data-driven decision intelligence across the U.S. Department of Defense through its AI-powered Integrated Readiness Optimization suite, for which it has won the Innovation and Business Expansion awards.

Discover the Impact