Boom Supersonic and the US Air Force (US AF) partnered to promote Boom’s aviation arm, AFWERX and AFVentures, which is designed to accelerate commercial technologies. The contract awarded to boom, known as Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI), was one of the program’s largest investments. It signified their commitment to the future of supersonic aviation.

STRATFI helped to accelerate Overture, Boom’s commercial airliner, which carries 65-88 passengers twice as fast as airliners of the past. Overture was designed to operate on 100% sustainable aviation fuels, making it the first large commercial aircraft to be net zero carbon from day one. Set to enter manufacturing in 2023 and begin to roll out in 2025, the aircraft began flying passengers by the end of the decade.

The new contract with the US AF solidified the government’s persistence of keeping the U.S. at the forefront of commercial development, especially supersonic. Additionally, a derivative of Overture could offer the US AF strategic capabilities in the future in rapid global transport and logistics. Potential users include executive transport; Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance; Special Operations Forces; and the Pacific Air Forces (PACAF).