FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Annapolis, MD – EVERYWHERE Communications announces it has been selected by AFWERX for a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I contract to further develop Mission Connect, a secure communications platform designed to support tactical operations in disconnected, degraded, intermittent, and limited (D-DIL) environments.
The effort focuses on enabling resilient, bi-directional communications across multiple transport pathways — including Iridium Short Burst Data (SBD), Iridium Message Transport (IMT), LTE, Wi-Fi, and emerging Direct-to-Device (D2D) satellite networks — without requiring persistent connectivity or fixed infrastructure.
The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX partnered to streamline the SBIR/STTR process by accelerating proposal-to-award timelines and expanding opportunities for small businesses developing mission-critical technologies.
Supporting Tactical Operations in D-DIL Environments
Mission Connect is designed to bridge communications gaps faced by warfighters and distributed operational teams operating in contested environments. The platform enables:
- Secure message routing across multiple transport pathways
- TAK-native data integration and interoperability
- Real-time operational coordination in low-bandwidth environments
- Policy-based communications controls for mission flexibility
- Beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) operational communications
The proposed technology supports a wide range of mission-critical use cases, including:
- Distributed command and control
- Personnel recovery operations
- Aeromedical Evacuation (AE)
- Agile Combat Employment (ACE)
- Tactical data exfiltration
- Beyond-line-of-sight operational coordination
“Modern tactical missions require communications systems that continue functioning even when traditional networks fail. Mission Connect is designed to ensure teams can securely exchange critical operational data across contested and infrastructure-limited environments without being tied to a single transport or centralized architecture.”
Jake Bailey, President of EVERYWHERE Communications
Under the Phase I effort, EVERYWHERE Communications will conduct technical feasibility assessments, stakeholder engagement, and operational alignment with Department of War and joint mission partners. The initiative is intended to support future Phase II prototyping and operational testing efforts.
The company is currently collaborating with stakeholders across the Department of War ecosystem, including Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL/RIGC), Air Mobility Command (AMC), and operational units supporting tactical communications and distributed mission operations.
Learn more about EVERYWHERE Communications and Mission Connect at: everywherecomms.com
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of War, or the U.S. government.
Led by a team of pioneers that helped create the category of two-way handheld satellite communications, EVERYWHERE Communications delivers a purpose-built software platform that ensures enterprise and government teams remain Always Connected® in any environment. By integrating satellite and wireless networks, the EVERYWHERE Platform™ provides secure, resilient connectivity alongside tools for messaging, location monitoring, dynamic data visualization, and geospatial intelligence. Learn more at: everywherecomms.com.
The Air Force Research Laboratory is the Department of the Air Force’s primary scientific research and development center and one of six centers within Air Force Materiel Command. AFRL leads the discovery, development and delivery of technologies for air, space and the multidomain. With a workforce spanning seven mission areas at more than 40 locations worldwide, AFRL conducts research ranging from basic science to advanced technology development. For more information, visit afresearchlab.com.
As the innovation arm of the Department of the Air Force and a division within the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFWERX brings American ingenuity from small businesses and startups to solve the most pressing challenges facing Airmen and Guardians. Headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, AFWERX strengthens the defense industrial base by expanding access to nontraditional vendors, building new defense partnerships and accelerating the transition of critical technologies to operational capability. In fiscal year 2025, AFWERX awarded more than 1,000 contracts totaling $1.37 billion and achieved 438 Phase III transitions valued at $8.1 billion, supercharging the industrial base that supports U.S. military readiness and battlefield advantage. For more information, visit afwerx.com.
EVERYWHERE Press Contact:
Katy Swihart
Marketing
katy.swihart@everywherecomms.com