# AFWERX Awards AI Supply Chain Contract

The U.S. Air Force, through AFWERX, awarded Finch AI a Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I contract on June 30, 2026, to develop an AI-enabled capability aimed at detecting foreign influence and hidden relationships within the intellectual property supply chain of the U.S. industrial base. This initiative supports the Department of the Air Force's strategic objective to enhance national defense by leveraging advanced artificial intelligence technologies to identify and mitigate supply chain risks. The contract reflects a focused effort to strengthen supply chain security through innovative technology solutions.

- **Key agencies involved:** Department of the Air Force, AFWERX, Air Force Research Laboratory, and Air Force Materiel Command
- **Why this matters:** Procurement professionals should note the growing emphasis on AI-driven supply chain risk management within defense acquisitions, highlighting opportunities for technology providers specializing in AI and cybersecurity
- **Actionable insights:** Companies with expertise in AI-enabled risk detection and supply chain analytics may find emerging opportunities in defense contracts aimed at securing critical industrial base intellectual property
- **Strategic impact:** This contract signals increased investment in advanced technologies to safeguard defense supply chains, underscoring the importance of innovation in government procurement strategies

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military
**Topics:** Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity
**Published:** September 23, 2026

### Government Entities
- Department of the Air Force (DAF)
- Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)
- AFWERX
- Air Force Materiel Command

### Vendors
- Finch AI (awardee)

### Key Quotes
> Finch AI combines a powerful platform, domain expertise and flexibility to empower customers to decisively and confidently identify risk and take decisive action. We are thrilled to have been selected for this work and to have the opportunity to do precisely that for the U.S. Air Force.
> — Steve Baldwin, CEO

### Sources
- [Finch AI Selected to Deliver Critical Supply Chain Risk Insights to the U.S. Air Force | Morningstar](https://www.morningstar.com/news/pr-newswire/20260923ph55023/finch-ai-selected-to-deliver-critical-supply-chain-risk-insights-to-the-us-air-force) - Morningstar