LIFT Airborne Technologies has been awarded an $83.4 million ceiling indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract by the U.S. Air Force for the development, qualification, production, and fielding of a next-generation fixed-wing helmet.
The contract will support helmet systems for personnel operating across various Air Force mission defense aircraft.
Under the agreement, LIFT Airborne Technologies will perform delta development work, complete required qualification activities, move the helmet into production, and support fielding across applicable Air Force platforms.
The work will be performed in Carson City, Nevada, and is expected to continue through October 30, 2036.
The contract was awarded as a Small Business Innovation Research Phase III follow-on acquisition, allowing the Air Force to transition technology developed through earlier research phases into a broader production and operational program.
At the time of the award, approximately $4.1 million in fiscal 2026 research, development, test, and evaluation funding was obligated.
Additional funding can be provided through individual task orders over the life of the IDIQ contract.
The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity under contract FA8606-27-D-B002.
The next-generation helmet effort is intended to provide updated protective and operational capabilities for fixed-wing aircrews while supporting compatibility with evolving mission systems and aircraft requirements.
Modern flight helmets increasingly serve as more than protective equipment, integrating communications, display, sensor, and other technologies that can contribute to pilot situational awareness and mission effectiveness.
The $83.4 million ceiling provides the Air Force with a long-term contracting vehicle extending approximately 10 years.
Because the contract is structured as an IDIQ agreement, the ceiling represents the maximum potential value available rather than guaranteed revenue at the outset.
The award gives LIFT Airborne Technologies an opportunity to move a technology developed through the Small Business Innovation Research program into broader Air Force use while supporting continued qualification, production, and fielding activities through 2036.
