FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Eric Schmidt, President
760-530-7922
eric.schmidt@exquadrum.com
VICTORVILLE, CA, February 25, 2022 – Moving into a new corporate headquarters, successfully completing several critical R&D programs, expanding its FORGE test facility, working towards AS9100 certification, supporting higher education, growing its technical support services division, and making substantial progress on its new igniter product line were among the highlights for Exquadrum in 2021.
In the first quarter of 2021, Exquadrum moved into the company’s new corporate headquarters at Southern California Logistics Airport (SCLA) and held a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by hundreds of friends, family, and dignitaries. The 66,000 square foot building now houses all of the engineering staff, business operations, fabrication/manufacturing, as well as R&D laboratories. This facility has been pivotal to Exquadrum’s completion of the AS9100 audit process for its new quality management system certification, which it expects to receive in early 2022.
Exquadrum’s technical services division continued to successfully provide excellent support to the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) on both the LAREDO and RAPTR contracts. In addition to the extension of the LAREDO contract, the AFRL, through ARCTOS, awarded Exquadrum a contract to explore “outside the box” concepts for a potential future hypersonic structures test facility. Despite the difficult times associated with the COVID pandemic in 2021, Exquadrum advanced its 8(a) Business Development Program status by initiating a Mentor-Protégé Agreement (MPA) with KIHOMAC of Reston, VA. During that same timeframe, KIHOMAC and Exquadrum entered into a joint venture (JV) agreement to pursue opportunities within the Federal Government in 2022, when it anticipates to formalize the MPA and the JV with KIHOMAC through the SBA.
Exquadrum continued its tradition of intensive rocket testing in 2021 with a range of R&D programs making “smoke and fire” on a weekly basis. Great advances were seen in Exquadrum’s TopFuel propulsion technology in which a solid rocket motor is augmented, controlled, and steered with the injection of its advanced monopropellant. Exquadrum conducted successful static tests on the NASA Bantam Rocket Affordable SLV Stage (BRASS) and the TopFuel Integrated Lunar Transfer Stage (TILTS) programs. On the TILTS program, the company’s team demonstrated transitioning to pure monopropellant combustion, which enables precise satellite placement with thrust termination. Exquadrum also tested an improved energy-density monopropellant, as well as a green, bipropellant liquid engine for the Missile Defense Agency. Finally, the company demonstrated a static test of an air-breathing tactical missile for the US Air Force on the AMSAM program.
Exquadrum has expanded its testing capabilities with an additional two acres at its FORGE (Facility for Operations of Game-Changing Experiments) test site at SCLA, which represents the only facility of its type in the region. Exquadrum is able to support its R&D testing and the needs of other companies through this expansion. Two additional test pads have been installed, as well as a secondary control room to support the growth of Exquadrum and these testing capabilities. As part of the expansion, Exquadrum entered into a test services agreement with Frontier Aerospace Corporation to design, build, and operate a new bipropellant test stand. This new capability takes advantage of the FORGE test site’s location, security, and Exquadrum’s experienced test team. The test stand will be home to Frontier’s development and production engine testing with a future vacuum capability to validate space operations for Frontier’s ever-expanding line of bipropellant thrusters and rocket engines.
Demonstrating its commitment to higher education, Exquadrum donated a 26,000 square foot facility to Victor Valley College’s High Desert Training Center for the next ten years, highlighting the need for vocational training as a necessity for technology advancement. This investment in education is valued at over $2.52M. Exquadrum also continues to support both the engineering programs at University of Southern California and Cal Poly Pomona through hands-on mentoring of students in rocket technologies. In 2021, more than 100 students visited Exquadrum and worked side-by-side with our engineers to gain real world experience.
Exquadrum’s new line of pyrotechnic flare igniters were demonstrated in a prototype turbojet engine for application in advanced autonomous vehicles and weapon systems. With its innovative energetics technologies, Exquadrum has been able to provide optimized ignition solutions that are well-suited for turbojet applications. The pyrotechnic flares are also undergoing testing for ignition of rocket engines with commercial rocket engine manufacturers. Evolving its established low-temperature technologies for igniter applications demonstrates Exquadrum’s determination to develop this new product line.
2021 was a great year, characterized by expansion and growth. 2022 is shaping up to be even better!
Exquadrum, Inc.
Exquadrum means “outside the box” (both literally & figuratively) and indicates a dedication to creative research through an open and unconstrained approach to development and unparallel customer support. Exquadrum is an SBA-certified 8(a) small business with two divisions, which specialize in research and development, and technical services. The AS9100 certified company has extensive experience in both the commercial and defense aerospace communities. Government customers include the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), United States Air Force (USAF), the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). For more information visit www.exquadrum.com.
