Silent Arrow
Silent Arrow has been selected by AFWERX for a SBIR Phase II contract in the amount of $1.25M focused on the Silent Arrow CLS-300 ("Contested Logistics System, 300nm Range") powered cargo drone to address the most pressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force (DAF). The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX, have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the small business experience through faster proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business and eliminating bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution. The DAF began offering the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018 which expanded the range of innovations the DAF funded and now Silent Arrow will start its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America.

Conceptual view of the Silent Arrow CLS-300, designed to
carry 1,000 pounds of cargo between 300-500 nautical miles.
“We'd like to thank the U.S. Air Force, AFWERX, AFRL and our Air Force Customer and End-User organizations for expanding our successful partnership by awarding this follow-on Phase II,” says Chip Yates, Silent Arrow's Founder and CEO. “We look forward to building on our Phase I propulsion test success as we prepare a number of full-scale aircraft for flight tests in Q3 and Q4 of 2025.”
Latest from Defense and Munitions
- SMW Autoblok Corporation appoints Brandon Mathis as National Sales Manager
- Bodycote expands U.S. aerospace and defense footprint with acquisition of Spectrum Thermal Processing
- AM Solutions’ automated surface finishing of 3D-printed parts
- Joint Interagency Task Force 401 expands counter-drone training
- Davie Defense awarded U.S. Coast Guard contract to build five Arctic Security Cutters
- Dillon Manufacturing’s Jaw Force Gauges
- Georgia Southern University partners with METAL to advance workforce training in metalworking and manufacturing
- AM General sells first HUMVEE Hawkeye 105mm mobile howitzer systems as part of three-year contract