
Richmond, CA – Feb 3rd, 2025 — Traverse Aero Corporation announces it has been selected by AFWERX for a Phase I contract in the amount of $75k focused on the company’s flagship Orca cargo drone to address the most pressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force (DAF). 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, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business and eliminating bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution. The DAF began offering the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018 which expanded the range of innovations the DAF funded and now on Jan 10th, 2025, Traverse Aero Corporation will start its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America.
The Orca hybrid eVTOL cargo drone is designed to meet the growing demand for point-to-point delivery, offering unmatched flexibility for national security, humanitarian relief and commercial applications. Its hybrid propulsion system enables extended range and higher payload capacity, making it a scalable and efficient solution for modern aerial logistics.
Orcas drones have the potential to be a critical asset in national security and Department of Defense (DoD) logistics, supporting forward-deployed operations, medical evacuations, and real-time supply chain reinforcement. Their autonomous cargo delivery and rapid deployment capabilities will also enhance Agile Combat Employment (ACE) forward-basing strategies.
“Traverse Aero is honored to receive this contract from the United States Air Force,” said Scott Parker, CEO of Traverse Aero. “This award recognizes the viability of the Orca’s hybrid propulsion system over fully-electric eVTOLs and its unique ability to transport palletized cargo safely, efficiently and rapidly. We look forward to collaborating with airmen to accelerate the development, flight testing and adoption of the Orca platform across the Department of Defense.”
“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 Traverse Aero Corporation
Traverse Aero is developing Orca, the world’s first eVTOL cargo drone designed specifically for palletized cargo – far and away the most ubiquitous form factor for commercial, first-responder and national security freight. It is estimated that there are more than five billion pallets in use worldwide. To learn more about Traverse Aero and its Orca drone, visit their website at: traverseaero.com.
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 five hubs and sites executing an annual $1.4 billion budget. Since 2019, AFWERX has executed over 6,200 new contracts worth more than $4.7 billion to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit afwerx.com.Company Press Contact:
media@traverseaero.com