RISE Robotics Wins EWAAC
Innovation just got a high-octane boost in the defense sectorand it’s powered by RISE Robotics. The Boston-based company, known for its breakthrough work in actuation systems, has been officially selected for the U.S. Air Force’s $46 billion Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) contract vehicle through the EWAAC program. That’s right: Engineering, Manufacturing, and Development meet high-level procurement via the Enterprise Wide Agile Acquisition Contractand RISE just landed one of the hottest seats at that table.
The Sky Is Literally the Limit
The EWAAC contract is the United States Air Force’s flexible engine for onboarding cutting-edge solutions in areas such as AI, edge computing, advanced sensors, comms systems, and mechanical magicthe category where RISE Robotics shines brightest. With more than 100 vendors pre-approved under the EWAAC umbrella, being selected isn’t just a big dealit’s stratospheric.
“Acceptance into this contract vehicle validates our work to create an energy-efficient alternative to hydraulic actuation for heavy-duty applications,” said Blake Sessions, CEO and co-founder of RISE Robotics. “We’re building the next generation of low-carbon mechanical motionand now, we get to show the Department of Defense just how powerful that can be.”
So… What Does RISE Actually Do?
RISE Robotics has taken a wrench to old-school hydraulics and re-engineered how force is produced in industrial and defense applications. Their flagship technology, called the RISE™ Cylinder, is a fluid-free, electric linear actuator that performs with hydraulic muscle but without the inefficienciesand environmental footprintof traditional hydraulic systems.
If that sounds esoteric, here’s the translation: It’s like giving a tank the joint flexibility of a gymnast, the strength of a bulldozer, and the conscience of a vegan diet. The operational potential for lower energy consumption, less maintenance, and reduced emissions is game-changing, especially as the Department of Defense looks to modernizewithout carbonizing.
Money, Power, Respect… and Mission Capability
Let’s talk numbers. The $46 billion ceiling of the EWAAC contract isn’t reserved for one vendorit’s a vast pool to be drawn from over a multi-year period. Nonetheless, inclusion gives RISE a backstage pass to pitch, pilot, and potentially deploy its actuation tech across multiple DOD initiatives. Think everything from unmanned ground vehicles to mobile weapons systems to next-gen supply chain logistics support.
For a company best known within construction, manufacturing, and waste management sectors, this defense leap is a major level-upand it didn’t come by accident. RISE Robotics has been engineering its seat at this table through a series of bold partnerships, strategic pilot projects, and good old-fashioned American hardware innovation.
Looking Forward: Mission Mechanics of the Future
As global militaries modernize under the twin pressures of climate readiness and force agility, lightweight, energy-efficient actuation solutions will go from nice-to-have to non-negotiable. RISE Robotics arriving at this moment with a bold new answer to an old problem is a win not just for the companybut for clean tech, mission adaptability, and American ingenuity.
So what’s next? Expect to hear RISE’s name in a lot more defense-related roomsfrom R&D labs to testing grounds to deployment platforms. Because when your reimagined actuator can lift like a Marine, consume energy like a Prius, and sing like a Tesla’s drivetrain, it’s not just another part. It’s a force multiplier.
About RISE Robotics
Founded by graduates from MIT and Rhode Island School of Design, RISE Robotics brings mechanical systems into the 21st century with hydraulic-free heavy-duty actuation. Their mission is to create cleaner, more efficient machines for industrial and defense applicationswith innovation that doesn’t compromise on power.
And nowan official solutions provider for the U.S. Air Force? They’re well on their RISE to the top.
