AV’s UES Awarded $75 Million Task Order Extending Contract to Advance Biotechnology and Smart Materials for the U.S. Air Force

Key Terms

biomanufacturing medical

Making medicines, vaccines and other products using living cells or biological systems instead of purely chemical processes; it is the industrial-scale “cooking” of biological ingredients into finished medical products. Investors care because biomanufacturing determines how quickly and cheaply a company can deliver therapies, meet demand, pass regulatory checks and protect earnings—like a bakery’s ovens and recipes deciding how much bread it can sell and at what cost.

synthetic biology medical

Synthetic biology is the design and construction of new or modified living systems—like reprogramming cells or microbes—to perform useful tasks such as making materials, medicines, or fuels. For investors it signals a platform technology with potential for high growth and disruption, similar to how software transformed industries: early breakthroughs can create new markets, long-term revenue streams, and also carry technical, regulatory, and ethical risks that affect valuation and timing.

biomimetic design technical

Biomimetic design is the practice of creating products, materials, or processes that copy strategies found in nature — for example, mimicking a gecko’s feet for better grip or a lotus leaf for waterproof surfaces. For investors, it signals potential for breakthrough, patentable advantages, lower long‑term costs, and stronger sustainability credentials that can drive market differentiation, but it also carries technical and scale-up risks that affect commercial viability.

human–machine teaming technical

Human–machine teaming is the coordinated collaboration between people and computerized systems so each handles what it does best—humans provide judgment, creativity and context while machines handle large-scale data processing, repetitive tasks and real-time calculations. For investors it matters because companies that integrate this pairing effectively often gain higher productivity, lower costs and faster innovation, which can improve competitiveness and future earnings; imagine a skilled pilot working with an autopilot to fly more efficiently.

artificial intelligence technical

Artificial intelligence is the ability of computers and machines to perform tasks that typically require human thinking, such as understanding language, recognizing patterns, or making decisions. For investors, it matters because AI can enhance efficiency, uncover new insights, and enable smarter strategies, potentially impacting the value and performance of companies that develop or utilize this technology.

Task order advances biotechnology and AI-enabled materials research to enhance Air Force readiness and extend the life of critical assets.

ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The United States Air Force has awarded UES, a division of advanced research and development leader AeroVironment, Inc. (“AV”) (NASDAQ: AVAV), a $75 million task order to modernize defense systems through the development of next-generation biotechnology and materials science under the Functional Responsive Experimentation for Systems and Humans (FRESH) program at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.

Under Task Order 0003 (TO-03), titled “Biotechnology and Biomaterials and Polymers and Responsive Materials, Research, Development, and Exploration,” AV will develop and evaluate new materials, processing methods, and modeling techniques to create advanced polymers and responsive materials that enhance the performance and resilience of Air Force assets across air, space, and weapons systems, expanding the company’s ongoing work with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).

Under Task Order 0003 (TO-03), titled “Biotechnology and Biomaterials and Polymers and Responsive Materials, Research, Development, and Exploration,” AV will develop and evaluate new materials, processing methods, and modeling techniques to create advanced polymers and responsive materials that enhance the performance and resilience of Air Force assets across air, space, and weapons systems, expanding the company’s ongoing work with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).

“We’re entering an era where biology and materials science are converging,” said Dr. John Hogan, Vice President of Defense and Interagency Services at AV. “Our work under this program explores that frontier—creating responsive systems that enhance human performance, reduce maintenance burdens, and ensure operational dominance for the Air Force.”

Over the 60-month period of performance, AV will advance discovery and innovation in biomanufacturing, polymers, and responsive materials—integrating biologically driven methods for material degradation, rare earth extraction, and human–machine teaming with advances in flexible electronics, additive “smart” materials, biomimetic design, and synthetic biology. This work will accelerate the development of adaptive, high-performance materials and biologically inspired systems that reduce lifecycle costs, increase resilience, and maintain the Air Force’s technological edge over adversaries.

Research and development will also leverage artificial intelligence to speed discovery, testing, and environmental evaluation, in order to sustain and optimize mission-critical assets, enhance human performance through cognitive and physiological monitoring, and ensure breakthroughs transition seamlessly from the laboratory to the field to strengthen America’s operational advantage.

“This award reaffirms the trust the U.S. Air Force has placed in AV to push the frontiers of science in service of national defense,” said Johnathan Jones, Senior Vice President of Cyber and Mission Solutions at AV. “Our collaboration continues to demonstrate how applied innovation in biotechnology and materials science can directly enhance operational capability, extend system lifecycles, and safeguard those who serve.”

About AV

AeroVironment (“AV”) (NASDAQ: AVAV) is a defense technology leader delivering integrated capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. The Company develops and deploys autonomous systems, loitering munitions, counter-UAS technologies, space-based platforms, directed energy systems, and cyber and electronic warfare capabilities—built to meet the mission needs of today’s warfighter and tomorrow’s conflicts. At the core of these technologies lies AV_Halo™, a modular, mission-ready suite of AI-powered software tools that empowers warfighters and enables full-battlefield dominance: detect, decide, deliver. With a national manufacturing footprint and a deep innovation pipeline, AV delivers proven systems and future-defining capabilities at speed, scale, and operational relevance. For more information, visit www.avinc.com.

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Source: AeroVironment, Inc.