40. Community Need In order to meet Department of Defense operational goals for increased mission effectiveness, the U.S. Air Force has developed a concept for affordable mass using a fleet of low-cost air-, land-, and sea-based drones that can be deployed by the thousands. The affordable mass concept has received considerable attention at the highest levels of the DoD as stated publicly by Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks as well as Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall.

In addition to these critical defense needs, the emerging commercial Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) market is highly motivated to reduce costs through improved manufacturing approaches. Locally, recent initiatives such as AFWERX Agility Prime and the National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence (NAAMCE) in Springfield have positioned the Dayton region to be a leader in the development of AAM technologies and manufacturing. CRG’s affordable, high-rate composite aircraft manufacturing approach (supported by AFRL, Navy, and other government and commercial entities) is a key enabler to address the needs of both defense and commercial aircraft as well as composite structures used in conventional and airborne wind turbines being studied by the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI). CRG estimates cost reductions of 50% or more in the manufacture of primary aerospace structures and assembly using this approach.

This project will support the development of innovative manufacturing methods to ensure the next generation of military and commercial aircraft are designed, built, and assembled right here in Ohio, complementing major recent commitments in the state by Intel, Honda, Joby, and others.