US Air Force Awards Battelle $111.4M Deal to Strengthen Airbase Operations — The US Air Force has awarded Battelle a four-year contract worth up to $111.4 million to research and test solutions designed to improve airbase resilience and recovery following operational disruptions. The contract’s initial period is valued at $51.6 million and backs the Air Force Civil Engineer Center’s Capability Requirements Branch. Under the agreement, Battelle will evaluate existing capability shortfalls, develop and test potential remedies, and consider both new equipment and improvements to operational procedures. The resulting evidence will guide decisions on technologies ready for further development or military use. Battelle, a nonprofit research organization headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, has also pursued defense technologies aimed at biological threats. In August, it demonstrated a spray-on liquid that changes color when it detects specific hazardous agents on surfaces, potentially allowing contamination to be identified without specialized equipment. Another contract awarded under the Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s Scientific and Technical Engagement Partnership 2.0 program includes $52.9 million initially and could rise to $93.3 million, supporting scientific work to counter biological risks and strengthen US military readiness.
