Safe Pro completes Air Force AI dataset contract

Safe Pro Group says it finished a Phase I SBIR project for AFWERX that focused on building new AI datasets to detect foreign object debris on U.S. Air Force and civilian airfields. The work could broaden the company’s computer vision tools beyond battlefield use and toward airfield operations and recovery missions.

Why it matters: - Safe Pro’s work targets a real airfield safety problem: spotting foreign object debris and damage that can threaten aircraft operations. - The project could expand the use of the company’s AI and computer vision tools from battlefield detection into U.S. Air Force and civilian airfield operations. - The contract completion may position Safe Pro for more SBIR-funded development if AFWERX approves follow-on work.

What happened: - Safe Pro Group said it completed all research milestones under a previously announced Phase I Small Business Innovation Research contract from AFWERX. - The award came in July and focused on developing a new AI dataset using images of foreign object debris and damage commonly found on U.S. Air Force and civilian airfields. - The company said it demonstrated its SpotlightAI computer vision technology, collected and analyzed high-resolution imagery of foreign object debris, and prepared technical project reports.

The details: - AFWERX awarded the Phase I SBIR to support work tied to Department of the Air Force priorities. - Safe Pro said the project used its SpotlightAI AI-powered computer vision system for small object detection. - The company said the dataset work was intended to support airfield operations and recovery applications. - Safe Pro said the effort could help extend its proprietary technology beyond landmine, cluster munition, unexploded ordnance and ambush drone detection. - The company said its SPAI Ground Truth software is trained on one of the world’s largest real-world drone-based imagery datasets. - Safe Pro said the platform is designed to identify explosive threats and objects of interest across large-scale, high-risk environments. - Dan Erdberg, Safe Pro’s chairman and CEO, said the company thanked AFWERX for collaborating on the project and for helping demonstrate the value of the company’s patented AI computer vision software in defense and civilian uses. - Safe Pro said subject to AFWERX review and determination, it intends to pursue additional SBIR-funded development contracts.

Between the lines: - The Air Force research and innovation pipeline is looking for faster ways to bring in small-business technology, and Safe Pro is trying to fit into that channel. - The contract also signals that the company is trying to position its defense tech for broader noncombat applications, which could widen its addressable market. - Safe Pro said the recent Air Force work follows interest from the U.S. Army, which invited the company to provide operational support during an upcoming airfield exercise.

What’s next: - AFWERX will review the completed work and decide whether Safe Pro advances to additional funded development. - Safe Pro said it intends to pursue more SBIR-backed contracts if the agency moves forward. - The company said it will continue pursuing uses for its AI tools in airfield damage assessment, recovery operations and other defense and civilian applications.

The bottom line: - Safe Pro has finished the first phase of an Air Force AI dataset project, and the result could open the door to broader military use for its object-detection software.