QuSecure selected for $3.9M AFWERX SBIR TACFI award

QuSecure was selected by AFWERX for a Small Business Innovation Research Tactical Funding Increase (SBIR TACFI) contract worth $3.9 million to develop quantum-resilient encryption for Special U.S. Air Force Missions, a program described as addressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force.

The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX had worked to streamline the SBIR and Small Business Technology Transfer process by shortening proposal-to-award timelines, expanding the pool of potential applicants, and reducing bureaucratic overhead; the Distributed Agent Framework (DAF) began offering the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018 and the award was recorded on Jan. 15, 2026.

QuProtect R3 was described as a modular, crypto-agile platform designed to integrate across cloud and air-gapped networks, provide centralized visibility into cryptographic assets, support cryptographic governance, and accelerate adoption of emerging NIST post-quantum standards without requiring system re-architecture.

The contract was focused on Quantum-Resilient Encryption for Special U.S. Air Force Missions and aimed to address priorities identified by the Department of the Air Force; the award’s stated purpose linked the funding to work with Air Force organizations on cryptographic resilience.

“This TACFI award advances QuSecure’s work with Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) to provide cryptographic resilience in support of the strategic deterrence mission,” said Patrick Shore, Director of Strategy, Government at QuSecure. “We are thankful to our AFGSC and AFWERX partners for their continued support and for their leadership in advancing quantum-resilient cybersecurity,” said Patrick Shore, Director of Strategy, Government at QuSecure.

QuSecure was on track to pursue Impact Level 6 (IL6) authorization and targeted QuProtect R3 for availability in classified cloud environments by Q3 2026, and the company stated that achieving IL6 would enable Department of War mission owners and other U.S. Government agencies to deploy quantum-resilient cryptographic infrastructure in support of mission operations.