Houston Startup HTX Labs Secures $5.8M Air Force Contract for AI-Powered Training
HTX Labs will deploy its Empact platform to train Maine Air National Guard on aircraft maintenance using AI and immersive tech.
SPACE 🚀 & DEFENSE 🇺🇸FEATUREDTECH & AI 📱
Houston, TX — HTX Labs, a Houston-based extended reality startup, has been awarded a $5.8 million U.S. Air Force contract to deliver AI-enabled immersive training for the Maine Air National Guard’s 101st Air Refueling Wing Maintenance Squadron, the company announced on April 17, 2025. The project focuses on maintaining the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker’s F-108 engines.
The Details:
Training Scope: HTX Labs will use its Empact platform to create a virtual classroom with AI-driven analytics for personalized training.
Partnership: The initiative builds on prior work with the KC-135, following a Small Business Innovation Research Phase 2 project.
Funding Type: The contract, a Strategic Funding Increase (STRATIFI), supports mission readiness for complex repairs.
DoD History: HTX Labs has secured 30 contracts since 2019, totaling $45 million.
Why It Matters:
Defense tech remains a stable sector amid government spending cuts, with Texas firms increasingly pivoting to this space. HTX Labs’ AI tools help optimize high-skill training, enhancing operational preparedness.
Bottom Line:
HTX Labs’ latest contract strengthens Houston’s role in defense tech, leveraging AI to modernize Air Force training.