Bloomfield-based engine manufacturer LiquidPiston received a $150,000 contract with the U.S. Air Force to adapt the company’s X-Engine technology for use in unmanned aerial systems.
LiquidPiston’s X-Engine is a next-generation rotary diesel engine. Funding for the contract will be paid through a Phase I Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) contract. The Air Force grants STTR contracts to small businesses it believes could provide solutions in a fast and efficient manner.
“Our work with the Air Force demonstrates the versatility and utility of our X-Engine across the Department of Defense including our ongoing work with the US Army,” said Alec Shkolnik, LiquidPiston’s CEO and co-founder.
In September LiquidPiston received a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the U.S. Army for research and development of an engine for unmanned aircraft. Under the terms of that grant, LiquidPiston received just under $100,000 to establish the technical merit, feasibility, and commercial potential of the X-Engine.
