SEMPRE earns SBIR III funding with AFGSC
SEMPRE has entered a Phase III Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) agreement with the Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) to provide secure 5G cellular networks, on-site edge compute and private local cloud. This agreement, effective Nov. 1, funds SEMPRE’s continued development and deployment of hardened communication infrastructure to strengthen AFGSC’s operational capabilities.
SEMPRE’s family of hardened communication devices provides secure, encrypted communication in simple, easy-to-deploy infrastructure that is resilient against EMP (electromagnetic pulse) attacks, physical tamper and natural disasters.
“This funding will address the infrastructure issues that happen when you deploy to areas where connectivity is a problem,” said Rob Spalding, SEMPRE CEO. “Our technology is easy to set up and provides applications and interoperability across devices, legacy networks and data clouds that aren’t normally available to the Air Force. Especially in a multi domain, joint force operation.”
The SBIR III funding supports a three-year agreement for SEMPRE to deliver a range of fixed and portable infrastructure nodes designed for use in austere and contested environments.
Among the projects funded under this agreement is the manufacturing of more SEMPRE Ts—a compact, 36”-cube-on-wheels infrastructure node that can be deployed by a single person, transported via cargo plane and operational in under 15 minutes. Designed for grid-independent operation, the SEMPRE T can run on a small generator. Like all SEMPRE products, it includes the SEMPRE Node Manager (SNM), which manages nodes across cloud, bare-metal, and hyper-converged infrastructures via a patented narrowband SATCOM control plane. Originally developed for high-frequency trading systems, this architecture has been adapted for scale across tens of thousands of nodes.
Boeing Global Services has recently used the SEMPRE T to provide communication and computing during a series of recent demonstrations of its artificial intelligence software at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. The SEMPRE T provided off-grid communication and edge computing for B-52 Stratofortress maintainers to gain secure real-time feedback as the software scanned the jet’s surface for skin anomalies.
“The SEMPRE T was the backbone of our communications at Barksdale,” said Scott Belanger, leader of Boeing’s Contested Logistics Integration Team. “This technology proved that our maintainers could access critical data in real-time, enhancing mission effectiveness even under adverse conditions.”
The SBIR funding also provides for the manufacturing of additional SEMPRE Fs, a fixed, secure 5G network for use in garrison. Like the SEMPRE T, the SEMPRE F combines encrypted communication and compute capabilities with the ability to withstand EMP.
The SEMPRE F can withstand hurricane-force winds while providing end users with a resilient enterprise-level data center and hybrid cloud that can be installed on a small 8x8 footprint in one day.
Initial deployment plans include Barksdale Air Force Base, Whiteman AFB and Minot AFB, with the possibility of further expansion to other bases.
“The multi-year agreement allows Air Force Global Strike Command to install SEMPRE products at any installation or in locations designated by the DoD,” said Spalding.
SEMPRE currently has units at seven installations across the continental United States.
For more information about working with SEMPRE through the SBIR Phase III, email us at info@sempre.ai or visit our Contract Vehicle page.
