Seaflight Technologies Inc. announced it has been selected by AFWERX (a program of the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) for an SBIR contract focused on using aerodynamic flow control to increase range and efficiency for electrified aircraft - a pressing challenge in the Department of the Air Force (DAF) and other sectors within the Department of Defense (DoD). Electrified flight reduces reliance on liquid fuel in remote or austere locations and allows for quieter, low emissions flight, yet the energy density of batteries remains poor compared to traditional fuel. As the US Department of Defense increasingly focuses attention on the Pacific as well as emerging threats in the Arctic, the challenge exists in providing persistent presence and logistics capability over long distances - something that electric flight is not able to provide with today's capabilities.

Seaflight Technologies aims to change this paradigm by demonstrating clever, affordable use of aerodynamic innovation, enabled by new electric aircraft architectures. By increasing airflow temporarily over the wings at takeoff, without adding the extra mass, cost and complexity of Distributed Electric Propulsion, Seaflight has shown it's possible to preserve invaluable short takeoff and landing (STOL) capability from improvised or unprepared strips, while reducing the overall wing area needed for cruise by up to 40%. That reduction in wing area means a reduction in drag, which in turn significantly improves the range that can be obtained using existing, widely available batteries. The goal is a simple and effective system that can eventually apply to any fixed wing aircraft.

Seaflight's founder and CEO, Dr. Graham C. Doig, stated "Seaflight has been focused since the start on figuring out the most effective aerodynamic technologies to accelerate an electrified future for aviation. Our aerodynamic flow control technology, which we first started working on with the National Science Foundation, has shown strong potential for short takeoff and landing while also enhancing range and payload. Those benefits are essential for transporting cargo using today's batteries. Working with the Air Force is a logical nest step for taking this to a flying prototype, and we're excited to help address "tyranny of distance" problems that are pervasive in the Pacific."