Two Indian startups have formed a partnership with scientists from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), which is leading the way in establishing the initial international Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between the U.S. Space Force and foreign companies. Specifically, 114AI, which specializes in artificial intelligence software for domain awareness, and 3rd ITECH, a company in India known for its exclusive image sensor technology, are teaming up with AFRL’s Space Vehicles Directorate. This collaborative agreement aims to drive joint efforts in cutting-edge technologies, marking a significant progression in the development of Earth observation sensors and space domain awareness.
Merrick Garb, the branch chief of the Global Partnerships Directorate at Headquarters Space Force in the Pentagon, expressed his admiration for the talent and willingness to cooperate among India’s engineers and scientists. He emphasized the excitement surrounding agreements like this one with 114AI and 3rd iTECH, which contribute to advancing the state-of-the-art in space domain awareness and Earth observation sensor technologies.
The CRADA signed in this context represents a notable milestone in the quest to expand the boundaries of collaborative space technology. Wellesley Pereira, the mission area lead for Space Information Mobility at AFRL’s Space Vehicles Directorate, highlighted the potential for breakthroughs through the collaboration of the best minds and resources from different nations, resulting in mutually beneficial outcomes.
This agreement aligns with the establishment and launch of the India-U.S. Defense Acceleration Ecosystem, also known as INDUS-X, with the aim of fostering collaborative innovation in defense technology. This initiative involves universities, startups, industries, and think tanks from both India and the United States, contributing to the broader U.S.-India initiative on critical and emerging technology (iCET).
