The Work Behind Capability: How SBCC Helped Advance AFGSC Mission Priorities
Published November 2, 2026
How the SBCC-hosted 2026 AFGSC Capability Showcase connected operational requirements with commercial solutions, resulting in five contract awards across four technology challenge areas.
The Challenge: Finding Solutions for Mission-Critical Requirements
Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) faces operational challenges that demand more than promising technology. Addressing those challenges requires identifying solutions aligned with specific mission needs, evaluating their potential, and creating opportunities to move viable capabilities forward.
For the 2026 AFGSC Capability Showcase, five technology challenge areas were identified: quantum sensing beyond traditional positioning, navigation and timing; deployable charging systems; advanced manufacturing for sustained weapons and expendable countermeasure production; rapid certification of advanced manufacturing; and defensive systems for large aircraft operating.
Each represented a distinct operational requirement. The challenge was connecting those needs with commercial technologies capable of addressing them.
The Approach: Connecting Mission Requirements with Commercial Innovation
In support of AFGSC, SBCC hosted the 2026 Capability Showcase creating opportunities for commercial innovators to engage directly with military leaders, acquisition professionals, and mission stakeholders.
The Showcase was designed to move beyond general technology demonstrations. By organizing industry engagement around defined operational challenges, the program helped focus attention on solutions relevant to AFGSC's mission priorities.
SBCC's role in supporting technology identification and mobilizing the industry engagement helped connect government requirements with companies offering potentially relevant capabilities.
Operators and decision makers from AFGSC were key players on the judges panels during each company presentation. SBCC provided ongoing support and continuity as the operators at A5N made final decisions regarding which companies progressed beyond Showcase.
XOS Fleet Presents their deployable charging capabilities intended to support electrified equipment and vehicles across varied operating environments.
SBCC teammates Phil Jones and Kristen Nemish work alongside A5N Rapid Capabilities Division members such as Capt.Sung Suh, all three pictured here during the industry table sessions at the 2026 Showcase.
The Execution: From Industry Participation to Focused Evaluation
The 2026 Showcase drew an initial field of 114 companies. From that group, 18 finalists were selected to present their technologies to AFGSC stakeholders.
The finalists represented a range of industry approaches to the five challenge areas, providing opportunities for mission stakeholders to examine technologies against identified operational needs.
The process brought industry innovators and government decision-makers together around specific requirements, helping create a pathway from initial technology identification toward potential acquisition and development.
The Outcome: Five Contracts Across Four Mission Challenges
Following the Showcase, AFGSC awarded five contracts to five companies addressing four technology challenge areas.
Quantum Sensing Beyond Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT)
Infleqtion Quantum, LLC received a contract under the quantum sensing challenge, supporting the exploration of capabilities with potential applications in environments where traditional positioning and navigation systems may be degraded or unavailable.
Deployable Charging Systems for Electrified Support Equipment and Vehicles
Xos Fleet received a contract to advance deployable charging capabilities intended to support electrified equipment and vehicles across varied operating environments.
Rapid Certification and Utilization Framework for Advanced Manufacturing
Addiguru and MatterWave received separate contracts under the advanced manufacturing challenge, supporting efforts to address barriers to evaluating, certifying, and utilizing advanced manufactured components.
Large Aircraft Defensive Systems in Contested Environments
Bright Silicon Technologies received a contract to advance technologies intended to strengthen defensive capabilities for large aircraft operating in contested environments.
Together, the five awards represent a measurable outcome of the Showcase: commercial technologies selected for funded development in response to defined Air Force operational requirements.
Infleqtion Quantum, LLC received a contract under the quantum sensing challenge, supporting the exploration of capabilities with potential applications in environments where traditional positioning and navigation systems may be degraded or unavailable.
MatterWave received a contract under the advanced manufacturing challenge, supporting efforts to address barriers to evaluating, certifying, and utilizing advanced manufactured components.
Addiguru received a contract under the advanced manufacturing challenge, supporting efforts to address barriers to evaluating, certifying, and utilizing advanced manufactured components.
Bright Silicon Technologies received a contract to advance technologies intended to strengthen defensive capabilities for large aircraft operating in contested environments.
What This Demonstrates: Progress from Requirement Toward Capability
The value of the Capability Showcase extends beyond bringing innovators and government stakeholders together. Its purpose is to help connect operational requirements with commercial technologies and create opportunities for promising solutions to advance.
The 2026 results demonstrate that progression: from an initial field of 114 companies to 18 finalists and ultimately five contract awards across four mission challenge areas.
For SBCC, the Showcase reflects the work behind capability advancement, understanding government requirements, identifying relevant commercial technologies, supporting evaluation, and facilitating engagement between innovators and mission stakeholders.[BM3]
"The innovation we saw [that] week is truly inspiring," said Brig. Gen. Peter Bonetti, director of Air Force Global Strike Command’s Strategic Plans, Programs, and Requirements Directorate (AFGSC/A5/8) after the Showcase in May. "To maintain our edge, we must equip our Airmen with reliable, cutting-edge technology at the speed of relevance, and that is only possible through strong partnerships with our nation's brightest commercial innovators."
The awarded technologies have not yet reached operational fielding through these contracts. But the awards mark an important step toward that objective, moving selected solutions from evaluation into funded development aligned with AFGSC mission priorities.
SBCC: Focused on the work. Committed to the outcome.
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