# AFRL Tests AI for Spacecraft Integration

The Air Force Research Laboratory’s SpaceWERX division signed a five-year Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with Lyra Systems to develop and test an AI platform that evaluates whether commercial components meet military spacecraft integration constraints. The CRADA provides access to government facilities, data, and personnel, not stated cash funding. Lyra says it expects to begin vendor outreach in the coming months for a first in-space demonstration; the platform has not yet been proven in production, and the signal identifies no contract value or solicitation number.

- The agreement creates a research and testing pathway for applying commercial AI to spacecraft component assessment, but it is not itself a funded contract award.
- Companies supplying commercial space components or related AI tools may find the planned vendor outreach relevant to potential participation in the demonstration.
- Procurement teams should distinguish this CRADA’s shared-resource arrangement from a competed acquisition; no solicitation, procurement contact, or production deployment is identified in the signal.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military, Information Technology
**Topics:** Artificial Intelligence
**Published:** November 12, 2026

### Government Entities
- Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)
- SpaceWERX (SpaceWERX)

### Vendors
- Lyra Systems (CRADA research participant)

### Key Quotes
> What that tells us is we aren't preparing our Phase II companies well enough to compete for program of record activities.
> — Jareth Lamb, SpaceWERX Ventures chief

### Sources
- [AI Startup Lyra Systems Signs Pentagon Space Deal to Slash Demo Timelines From a Decade to 1 Year](https://www.techtimes.com/articles/330493/20261111/ai-startup-lyra-systems-signs-pentagon-space-deal-slash-demo-timelines-decade-1-year.htm) - Tech Times