MCLEAN, VIRGINIA (AUGUST 31, 2020) – AFWERX, the catalyst for fostering innovation within the U.S. Air Force, announced Chartis Federal as one of the top 92 participating teams selected from across the globe competing to build the Base of the Future Challenge.
The AFWERX Challenge is centered around six topics - Base Security, Installation Resilience, Leveraging Technology for Operational Effectiveness, Reverse Engineering, Culture of Innovation, and Airman and Family Wellbeing. The proposals selected to advance represent innovative solutions ranging from new base security technology and VR training modules to virtual assistants and apps designed for wellness and leadership development.
Located in McLean, VA, Chartis Federal is competing in the Base Security & Defense Challenge alongside a diverse group of teams - originating from the vast regions of North America, Europe, Australia and other allied countries – that represent entrepreneurial startups, small businesses, large enterprises, academic institutions and research labs all vying to build the Base of the Future and modernize the Department of Defense.
“The AFWERX Base of the Future Challenge is critical to our mission of increasing collaboration between large businesses and entrepreneurs to accelerate solutions for the Air Force,” stated Mark Rowland of AFWERX. “On behalf of AFWERX and the Department of Defense, we congratulate the teams advancing to the next phase. Their contributions are invaluable and have the potential to create game-changing results across the Air Force enterprise.”
The Base Security & Defense Challenge focuses on ways the U.S. Air Force utilizes the building and restoration of new installations to examine and improve the existing security and defense systems that protect the people and critical resources on them. Air Force bases have large perimeters that require safeguarding from active shooters, explosives, cyber risks, and many other potential threats. To improve and modernize installation security and defense, this Challenge called for solutions to help the Department of Defense construct an agile, swift and responsive Base of the Future.
Chartis Federal offers high-performance, unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAV) and systems (UAS) through its Periscope Aviation venture that are purpose built for tactical operations. Our airframes have fully autonomous GPS-based flight and are ruggedized for repeated or continuous deployments. Our solutions can integrate with base security and access operations to enhance security and provide more real-time data while driving efficiencies through automation. In the tethered configuration, these solutions enable continuous surveillance of the base perimeter, while the untethered variants enable rapid response to beyond the fence.
“Periscope’s high-performance UAVs deliver persistent surveillance and comms support at bases and in the field. This is an extension of our effort to design solutions that help keep America’s heroes safe and connected,” says Nick McCarter, CEO of Chartis and Periscope.
The AFWERX Fusion 2020 Showcase recently featured 370 of the participating teams selected from a record breaking 1,500+ submissions received for the Base of the Future Challenge. Throughout the event teams pitched their solutions to a panel of subject matter experts from the relevant sectors of the Air Force. The top 92 selections were identified and invited to further engage with the Air Force during the week of August 31 with the hope of obtaining contracts. For a complete list of participating teams visit fusion.afwerxshowcase.com/.
The Base of the Future theme was inspired by Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida, which was decimated by Hurricane Michael, a Category 5 storm that occurred in 2018. For decades, Tyndall had been home to many generations of Airmen and their families. In the storm's aftermath, nearly 500 buildings were destroyed or damaged beyond repair. Fortunately, Congress approved a $3 billion military construction rebuild program, sparking hope that Tyndall would re-emerge stronger than ever before. The aspirational initiative seeks to create a robust installation that will become a universal symbol of innovation and excellence that can scale across the U.S. Air Force. To learn more about the Base of the Future Challenges, click here.
ABOUT CHARTIS FEDERAL
Chartis Federal is a systems engineering and integration firm that provides mission-critical solutions for public safety, law enforcement, homeland security and defense. We have over 100 staff in 18 states and have served as a small business prime contractor on over $100M of government contracts. Our mission is to keep America’s heroes safe and connected – on the battlefield, on the border, and in our backyards. Through internal investment, we established Periscope Aviation to provide high-performance, unmanned aircraft vehicles and systems that are optimized for specific mission requirements including tactical resupply, remote communications, and C4ISR. Our multi-rotor platforms are more reliable and safer than hobby-grade drones and more affordable than high-altitude, custom fixed-wing aircraft. All Periscope solutions are built in America with components that can be purchased by U.S. federal agencies.
ABOUT AFWERX
Established in 2017, AFWERX is a product of the U.S. Air Force, directly envisioned by former Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson. Her vision of AFWERX — to solve some of the toughest challenges that the Air Force faces through innovation and collaboration amongst our nation’s top subject matter experts. AFWERX serves as a catalyst to unleash new approaches for the warfighter through a growing ecosystem of innovators. AFWERX and the U.S. Air Force are committed to exploring viable solutions and partnerships to further strengthen the Air Force, which could lead to additional prototyping, R&D, and follow-on production contracts.
Media Contacts:
Christi Ask, Director of Operations for Periscope Aviation, cask@chartisfed.com
Nick McCarter, Chief Executive Officer, nmccarter@chartisfed.com
Brian P. Creswick, Chief Operating Officer, bcreswick@chartisfed.com
AFWERX:
Marketing@afwerx.af.mil