Awarded December 22, 2025 

ARCS Aviation is proud to announce we have been awarded a Phase III Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract with the United States Air Force to continue development and deployment of our Paint ScannAR technology for the 309th Aircraft Maintenance Group (AMXG) at Hill Air Force Base. This award supports the advancement and acquisition of an augmented reality (AR)–enabled system designed to measure, record, and manage aircraft coating thickness while projecting masking and work guidelines directly onto aircraft surfaces. 

Paint ScannAR leverages augmented reality, advanced scanning devices, and centralized 3D visualization to modernize aircraft painting and inspection processes. The system enables real-time coating thickness measurement, precise defect tracking, and digital workflow management across multiple devices and aircraft tail numbers. Designed for secure, operational environments, the upgraded system will include cyber-hardened infrastructure, new integrations for scanning devices, expanded power controls, and advanced filtering and visualization tools to improve quality control and process analysis. 

Under this Phase III effort, ARCS Aviation will refresh and harden the system infrastructure to meet Authority to Operate (ATO) requirements, integrate additional coating-measurement and borescope devices, expand centralized 3D-model filtering capabilities, and deliver on-site training for Air Force engineers and inspectors. These enhancements will allow maintainers and engineers to analyze coating data across time, layers, and aircraft configurations, improving process control, documentation, and long-term aircraft health monitoring. 

This award reflects the continued collaboration between ARCS Aviation and the United States Air Force to transition proven SBIR technologies into operational use. The successful selection highlights the dedication of the ARCS technical team, program leadership, and Air Force partners in advancing digital transformation for depot-level aircraft maintenance. 

Cookeville, TN – December 18, 2025 – Aviation Resources and Consulting Services, LLC (ARCS Aviation) is pleased to announce it was awarded a contract/s for the Missile Defense Agency Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense (SHIELD) indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract with a ceiling of $151B. This contract encompasses a broad range of work areas that allows for the rapid delivery of innovative capabilities to the warfighter with increased speed and agility.

ARCS Aviation has been selected as a recipient of the FY26 Launch Tennessee SBIR/STTR Matching Fund following the award of a competitive federal SBIR grant from the Department of Defense 

This state matching investment will help accelerate the development and commercialization of the Tinker (OC-ALC) XR Training Simulation and support the company’s continued growth in Tennessee.  

The XR Training Simulation is an immersive training solution designed to improve accuracy, efficiency, and confidence in equipment maintenance procedures. Developed as part of the ARCS XR System initiative, the simulation supports preventive and corrective maintenance training through realistic, interactive virtual experiences. 

Using detailed 3D models and clear visual guidance, users can safely explore systems, practice procedures step by step, and better understand how components work together. This hands-on approach enhances knowledge retention, reduces errors, and prepares trainees for real-world maintenance tasks. 

The XR Training Simulation represents a modern, scalable approach to technical training, combining innovation with a strong focus on usability and operational readiness. 

The Launch Tennessee SBIR/STTR Matching Fund supports high growth companies across the state that are securing federal research and development funding through America’s Seed Fund. Since 2017, the program has contributed more than $1 billion in economic impact statewide. 

Awarded April 21, 2025

ARCS Aviation is pleased to announce we have been awarded a Direct-to-Phase II SBIR contract by the U.S. Army to address the ongoing shortage of qualified Army Parachute Riggers. 

Under this award, ARCS will leverage its past performance with other Department of Defense (DoD) agencies, as well as expertise in Extended Reality (XR) and Computer Vision (CV), to develop a scalable training solution with remote assistance for unqualified Parachute Riggers. The solution enables unqualified, rusty, or in-training Riggers across the Army to receive rigging guidance quickly and safely, with cross-branch applications throughout the DoD.

This technology will not only benefit the Army, but all branches of the DoD who face similar issues. This ARCS solution builds on our prior successes with defense agencies, continuing our mission to improve operational readiness through immersive solutions. This solution will accelerate Rigger operations, reducing both time and costs, while utilizing the latest technology.

Awarded Jan 2, 2025  

ARCS Aviation is pleased to announce we have been awarded a prime contract under the SeaPort Next Generation (NxG) program, marking a pivotal moment in the company’s journey. This significant achievement positions ARCS to further strengthen its partnership with the U.S. Navy and support their pursuit of technological excellence and mission success.  

ARCS has a proven track record in the form of a previous IDIQ contract and over a dozen successful SBIR+ R&D contracts, several of which have delivered customer-ready solutions in Corrosion Control. This new contract was awarded on January 2, 2025, for a 5-year duration. Throughout the duration of this award, ARCS will provide technical support, including modeling and simulation assistance. 

This award was made possible by the efforts of the ARCS technical team, the ARCS business development team, and all support staff. The entire team is eager to apply its deep technical know-how to the Navy’s engineering challenges on SeaPort. 

ABOUT ARCS Aviation: ARCS Aviation is a HUBZone small business specializing in innovative technology ranging from AI and IMI to AR, VR, and XR systems tailored to meet diverse client needs. We’ve worked extensively with civilian and military entities, including prestigious institutions such as the Air Force NDI Schoolhouse, Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex, AFWERX, and more. 

The systems we design elevate competency while placing a concurrent emphasis on safety, efficiency, and operational excellence. We have a proven record of accomplishment of delivering results, commercializing our solutions, and providing innovation that transcends various sectors. 

ABOUT SeaPort NxG: The SeaPort Next Generation (NxG) program is the Department of the Navy’s strategic contract vehicle for purchasing engineering and professional support services, including engineering, technology, and research. The Seaport NxG MAC vehicle issues Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts to qualified bidders who then compete for Task Orders issued by the Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. SeaPort NxG streamlines the contracting process and helps ensure operational excellence across the fleet.

Awarded June 28, 2024 

ARCS Aviation is pleased to announce we have won a Direct to Phase II SBIR contract from the Department of the Air Force (DAF). This project is with a long-standing end-user and will take place over the next two years.  

ARCS’ solution is an application that easily identifies results from different scanning/recording systems; this proposed solution will make data and feedback accessible in one streamlined easy-to-use system. Our solution will not only integrate multiple systems, but ultimately it will make data easily accessible and tied to a single aircraft by tail number. The system will present results in the user’s field of view using Augmented Reality (AR), allowing users to put on an AR headset and see data from multiple systems. We will use end-user feedback to design the application, create a prototype, and conduct trials of the technology. 

The ARCS system infrastructure design will enable centralized computing and data storage with elements from the Approved Products List. ARCS’ primary focus will be the design and development of an end-user interface that allows for an easy-to-use system that integrates data from different maintenance systems. 

We are thrilled to be supporting the DoD in its efforts to enable future innovations for the warfighter. This award is a result of the hard work and dedication of our entire team, whose collaborative efforts and innovative thinking were crucial in conceiving the proposed solution over an extended period.

Awarded Jul 30, 2024 

ARCS Aviation is pleased to announce we have been awarded a new IDIQ (indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity) contract under the $975M Air Force Rapid Sustainment Office Multiple Award Contract program, more commonly referred to as the “RO MAC” program.

This RO MAC contract is designed to help move new technology from early testing to actual use in weapons systems and make this new technology available and maintainable. The contract will support the development and testing of new technologies, making it easier for program managers and military personnel to evaluate and use these innovations in real-world situations. 

We are thrilled to add another award to our resume, especially one that expands our existing steady relationship with the Rapid Sustainment Office.  

This award was made possible by the efforts of the ARCS technical team, the ARCS business development team, and all of ARCS’ support staff.

Awarded Mar 15, 2024

ARCS Aviation is pleased to announce the winning of a Direct to Phase II SBIR contract from the Department of the Air Force (DAF) at Tinker, AFB in Oklahoma. ARCS competed against dozens of companies for this contract, which was signed on March 15, 2024, and will take place over two years. ARCS’ solution will include Extended Reality support for the training and repair of critical machinery in support of depot operations. This is both R&D and operations development for critically needed equipment. ARCS will include special attention to Human-Machine interaction and the relationship of technology and end users in an operational setting.  Our highly experienced and specialized team includes psychologists, educators, developers, and other SMEs to develop a system that is effective and enthusiastically adopted by end users.

We are thrilled to be working with team members 3D Media and Quantum Improvements Consulting. ARCS and its partners are looking forward to working with a great end-user at Tinker Air Force Base. This award was made possible by the efforts of all team members, who were involved in conceiving the proposed solution for quite some time.

Awarded Jan 8, 2024

We are pleased to announce we have been selected for an SBIR with the United States Navy for Extended Reality (XR) and Machine Learning (ML) algorithms to solve issues the Navy faces in contested and remote environments such as INDOPACOM AOR. Our solutions will integrate ML predictions with AR-captured maintainer observations to inform and enable rapid decision-making for the repair of failures and damages. This includes structural and corrosion damage and the assessment of potential failure. This ARCS Aviation system will be designed to work in harsh and remote environments with limited or no access to communications systems. We are thrilled to be working with NAVAIR on such a challenging issue!

ARCS Aviation will conduct research in the development of extended reality (XR) and Machine Learning (ML) algorithms to aid in safely and informatively predicting future failures, structural defects, and/or malfunctions. This approach will solve many issues that Navy maintainers face daily.

This award was made possible by the efforts of the ARCS technical team, the ARCS business development team, and all of ARCS’ support staff.

ABOUT NAVAIR: The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) provides full life-cycle support for naval aviation aircraft, weapons, and systems operated by Sailors and Marines. They aim to deliver timely, effective and sustainable naval aviation capabilities to ensure the warfighter’s mission success and safe return home. NAVAIR was established in 1966 and currently has military and civilian personnel stationed at eight locations across the continental United States and one site overseas. Visit https://www.navair.navy.mil to learn more.