1st international CRADAs between AFRL and two Indian startups inked

The purpose of these Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) is to facilitate cooperation in cutting-edge technologies without the exchange of federal funds to industry partners. The two Indian startups, 114AI and 3rd ITECH, will work in partnership with AFRL’s Space Vehicles Directorate. 

Image Source: AFI

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and the United States Space Force have signed their first-ever Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) with non-US firms- the two space startups from India. The two Indian space startups are 114AI and 3rd ITECH. This agreement is the first non-domestic CRADA that the US Space Force has signed with any industry partner.

The Indian startup, 114AI is an artificial intelligence firm that builds dual-use software for domain awareness, while 3rd ITECH is India’s first and only image sensor company. They will work in partnership with AFRL’s Space Vehicles Directorate. The CRADAs intend to encourage cooperative efforts in cutting-edge technologies, marking an important step forward in the development of Earth observation sensors and space domain awareness. They include the exchange of expertise, access to laboratory space, and provision of equipment, but no transfer of any federal funds to industry partners.

The two agreements come following the landmark June meeting between US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during which the two sides launched the India-U.S. Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X), to promote cooperation in the defense industry and technology sharing.

Even while this may be the first CRADAs between the two Indian space startups and the Space Force, neither of the companies is unfamiliar with the US space market ecosystem. Before this, both companies established partnerships with San Diego-based General Atomics-Aeronautical Systems (GA-AS).

3rd ITECH and GA-AS joined forces to co-design and co-develop cutting-edge semiconductor technology. Concurrently, GA-AS and 114ai signed a separate agreement to utilize AI technologies/tools for multi-domain awareness.