U.S. Air Force and Matroid announce new contract, valued up to $25 Million

September 3, 2025 – Palo Alto, CA

Matroid has been awarded a U.S. Air Force contract under Project FoX (Fast Open X-Platform) with a ceiling of $25 million. The contract performance will integrate advanced visual analytics into the government-owned secure, modular software environment, providing pilots, sensor operators, maintainers, and mission support teams with real-time operational insights. 

Project FOX utilizes cross-platform, fleet-wide interoperability, allowing technology designed for tactical airframes, such as the F-35, F-16, F-15EX, and F-22, to be equally compatible with mobility airframes, including the C-17, KC-46, and KC-135. While Project FOX is an NDAA-directed, F-35 Joint Project Office (JPO) test umbrella that integrates Open Systems Enclaves (OSE) and Open Mission Systems on the F-35, the concept has become ubiquitous as collaborative teams push the bounds of agile combat capability. 

The collaboration under Project Fox is essential to the Air Force’s core mission and the advancement of future combat aircraft. Government teams for each aircraft platform share their lessons learned, compatible software, and even the common 3U-VPX hardware architecture and compute environment. F-35 Project FOX, F-22 GRACE, and F-16 Open Viper have set the standard for cross-platform partnerships. The unprecedented collaboration is enabled through the enduring continuity of the USAF Reserve Command, Operational Test and Developmental Test teams, and the Air Force Reserve Command Open Systems consortium, bringing together test experts to advance the state-of-the-art.

About Project FoX

Project FOX advances the Air Force’s government reference architecture initiative, aiming to fundamentally transform how the service delivers software capabilities to its aircraft and aircrews, and enables operational applications through a secure, cyber-hardened connection between an aircraft and a commercial tablet. 

The FOX Box, or Open Systems Enclave, allows the transfer of approved data to and from a connected tablet without compromising the security or flightworthiness of aircraft systems. It is a compact, ruggedized 3U-VPX hardware-based agile test environment that connects to an aircraft’s existing data interfaces. This hardware is specifically designed to operate in military aviation environments, capable of withstanding vibration, electromagnetic interference, and extreme temperatures. It serves to derisk follow-on combat deployable hardware and software efforts.

By combining the FOX Box with an open-architecture software environment, FOX and the associated government reference architecture function as a modular app platform — often described as an “app store” for combat aviation. Instead of relying on multi-year development and certification processes for every new software tool, the Air Force can now field applications in weeks or months.

FOX enables:

Cross-Platform Interoperability – Applications developed for one aircraft type can be adapted for use on another with minimal changes.

Rapid Prototyping and Deployment – Small development teams can create, test, and release tools faster, incorporating feedback from pilots and maintainers almost immediately.

Reduced Cost and Risk – Leveraging commercial-off-the-shelf tablets and a single connection module lowers costs and avoids duplicate development efforts.

Broader Innovation Access – The program opens opportunities for smaller companies, academic institutions, and non-traditional defense partners to contribute mission-enhancing capabilities.

Secure Operations – Project FOX uses a Government Reference Architecture to ensure that data exchange is tightly controlled and does not compromise aircraft safety systems.

While the original FOX concept focused on prototype testing and early developmental evaluation, the broader Air Force Reserve Command Open Systems collaboration has taken the idea much further by formalizing a secure and sustainable framework for operational deployment across multiple Air Force platforms. This means that capabilities proven in one environment can be quickly scaled across the fleet, improving readiness and safety service-wide.

You can read more about the origins and goals of FOX from official and industry coverage here:

USAF News: Reserve Airman Makes History with Innovative Project FoX/F-35 Development

The War Zone: Project FoX Brings Tablet-Based Apps to F-35 Cockpits

Air Combat Command: Project FoX Innovation

Matroid’s Capabilities

Matroid will design and deliver computer vision applications within the Project FOX environment to enhance operational safety, efficiency, and readiness. In consultation with multiple partners, including the DAF-Stanford AI Studio, Matroid explored numerous potential use cases to identify and validate operational requirements and potential technical solutions. Matroid’s initial demonstration showed that machine learning-based tracking methodologies apply to both legacy and future combat sensors. With the future fight being a multi-spectral, multi-domain sensor fight, it is critical to explore the utility of machine learning to augment and enhance combat capabilities.

Capabilities include:

In-Flight Refueling Support – Computer Vision-based guidance for predictive alignment and ranging during aerial refueling operations, aiding both pilots and boom operators.

Mid-Air Following – Precise visual tracking to follow lead aircraft or drones during coordinated in-air movements.

Training and Procedural Guidance – Improving simulator sensor video through advanced photo-realistic upscaling to make scenarios more realistic and relevant to live training.

Enhanced Aerial Observation and Ground Object Detection – Real-time detections to assist pilots with identifying objects on the ground during flight.

Runway and Taxiway Safety – Identification of debris, surface defects, or environmental hazards that may affect aircraft operations.

Flight Readiness Verification – Automated visual confirmation that pre-flight safety checks and maintenance steps are completed.

All applications will be designed to meet the Government Reference Architecture requirements, with performance optimized for the conditions of military aviation.

Why It Matters

FOX represents a shift toward modular, adaptable, and rapidly deployable technology for Air Force operations. By using secure, standardized hardware and open-architecture software, the service can deliver mission-relevant tools directly to aircrews and maintainers without significant hardware changes.

The result is faster access to innovation, reduced program costs, and an ability to adapt quickly to operational feedback, all while maintaining the cybersecurity and safety standards required for military aviation.

“This engagement empowers the warfighter by enabling them to rapidly explore the art of the possible through emerging technology, including deterministic expert systems and non-deterministic machine learning. The future fight is nothing like we have previously experienced, and we need every tool available to increase lethality and survivability. Through our collaboration with partners, we have demonstrated strategic deterrence through technological superiority and agility. I’m excited to see DARPA Advanced Combat Enhancement Software (ACES), advanced automation, and machine learning capabilities from cutting-edge companies, revolutionize our combat capabilities.” – Lt Col Raven “Rost” LeClair

“The DAF-Stanford AI Studio’s mission is to shape research, requirements, and realization to scale AI and autonomy within the Department of the Air Force. When we say realization, we mean producing deployable capabilities. This effort is exciting because the deployment of these tools allows us to rapidly prototype, test, and field solutions that deliver measurable, strategic advantages.” – Col Jason Hansberger, Director, DAF-Stanford AI Studio

Looking Forward

Integrating computer vision into Project FOX will expand the range of tools available to aircrews and ground teams, supporting safer and more efficient operations, and extending the service life of critical systems. This contract positions Matroid as a key technology partner in the Air Force’s effort to modernize mission capabilities through rapid, secure software innovation.

About Matroid

Matroid is a computer vision company providing real-time AI detection solutions for mission-critical applications. Our platform enables organizations in aerospace, government, infrastructure, and manufacturing to detect, classify, and respond to visual events with accuracy and speed. Learn more at www.matroid.com.