HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — CFD Research has been awarded a $1.2 million contract from the Defense Health Agency Small Business Innovation Research Program (DHA SBIR) to advance a mobile technology designed to help monitor and estimate blast overpressure exposure during military training.
Blast overpressure exposure, particularly in confined training environments such as shoot houses and breaching operations, has become an increasing focus across the Department of War as part of ongoing efforts to better understand and protect warfighter brain health. While training remains essential to military readiness, there is a growing need for practical tools that help instructors, range personnel, and unit leaders assess and document blast exposure in real time.
To address this challenge, CFD Research developed a Blast Overpressure (BOP) Mobile App that provides users with a fast, accessible way to estimate blast exposure during training activities. Building on successful proof-of-concept work, the next phase of development will transform the application into a field-testable platform capable of supporting a wide range of training scenarios involving weapon systems and explosives in both open and confined environments.
The mobile platform will leverage advanced modeling, mobile device sensors, and user-friendly interfaces to simplify blast exposure estimation while reducing the need for manual data collection. The system will also support after-action review, exposure tracking, and reporting capabilities, providing military leaders with improved visibility into training-related blast exposures.
“Protecting warfighter brain health begins with understanding and measuring the exposures our service members experience during training,” said Carly Norris, Senior Engineer in CFD Research’s Biotechnology & Life Sciences Division. “This effort will provide instructors and leaders with practical tools to better characterize blast exposure, support informed decision-making, and contribute to safer, more effective training operations.”
In addition to the mobile application, CFD Research will develop enhanced analytics and reporting capabilities to support long-term trend analysis and integration with broader Department of War systems. The resulting platform will help provide a more comprehensive understanding of blast exposure across training environments while supporting the objectives of the Department of War’s Warfighter Brain Health Initiative.
This award reflects CFD Research’s continued commitment to developing innovative technologies that enhance military readiness, improve health outcomes, and support the safety and performance of service members.
*This material is based upon work supported by the Defense Health Agency (DHA) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs/Blast Injury Research Coordinating Office (BIRCO) under DHA Contracting Activity (DHACA) under Contract No. HT942726CE022. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of War, DHA, SBIR/STTR Programs, BIRCO, or DHACA.
About CFD Research:
Founded in 1987, CFD Research is a 100% employee-owned (ESOP) engineering and technology firm specializing in advanced capabilities across hypersonics, artificial intelligence & machine learning (AI/ML), sensing, power & energy, electronics, health & human performance, and space. The company develops and commercializes cutting-edge multi-physics simulation software, component and system technology prototypes, multidisciplinary analyses, and expert support services. This work has earned multiple national awards, along with recognition on the Inc. 5000 list six times in the past seven years. Headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama, with facilities in Dayton, OH, Hollywood, AL, and Fort Walton Beach, FL, CFD Research is CMMC Level 2 Enterprise Certified, ISO 9001:AS9100D registered, and CMMI Level II appraised for Services. Learn more at www.cfd-research.com.
