How AIRCO’s CO₂-Based Fuel Is Powering The Future Of The U.S. Military

A startup once known for turning carbon dioxide into vodka has just pulled off something truly revolutionary. | AIRCO™

A startup once known for turning carbon dioxide into vodka has just pulled off something truly revolutionary.

In partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense, AIR COMPANY — now rebranded as AIRCO™ — has successfully tested its proprietary synthetic fuel across land, sea, and air military platforms. This milestone is more than a technological breakthrough. It’s a bold reimagining of how we power national defense, tackle climate change, and bring energy security into the 21st century.

“The goal has always been: how can we push humanity forward?” says Gregory Constantine, Co-Founder and CEO of AIRCO™, as he reflects on the journey. “And to do that, we have to work with partners who are willing to go there with us.”

Thanks to the support of the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), that willingness is becoming action. For the past several years, AIRCO has been working closely with the U.S. military to test its AIRMADE® Fuel — a clean, drop-in replacement derived from carbon dioxide, renewable electricity, and water — in real-world, high-stakes environments.

And the results are nothing short of extraordinary.

In one of its most high-profile demonstrations, AIRCO powered a Polaris MRZR tactical vehicle at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. The event, hosted by the Army’s Office of the Chief of Engineers and supported by DIU, showcased the vehicle performing just as well as it would on traditional diesel — but with far less visible exhaust smoke. The fuel’s clean burn wasn’t just a pleasant aesthetic detail; it also supported a larger vision of integrating this technology into forward-operating Army energy hubs, including those powered by small nuclear reactors. For an institution revisiting nuclear power for the first time in 50 years, this partnership signaled the return of visionary ambition.

But the ground was just the beginning.

At California’s Lake San Antonio, AIRCO’s fuel powered a 5.1-meter SeaFox II vessel for over six hours during a naval field test — matching the performance of conventional marine fuel and once again emitting less smoke. A second marine demo followed at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek in Virginia, where a 7.0-meter Zodiac RHIB boat underwent rigorous speed and acceleration trials using AIRMADE® Fuel. Both vessels passed with flying colors.

Then came the moment that made history. In partnership with the U.S. Air Force’s Project FIERCE, AIRCO achieved the first-ever unmanned flight powered entirely by synthetic jet fuel derived from carbon dioxide. Not only did the aircraft fly, it flew using fuel that started as pollution — now transformed into a functional, reliable energy source. It was a powerful metaphor for what’s possible when science, purpose, and policy align.

“Fuel derived from CO₂ is not only feasible,” Constantine says. “It’s on track to become essential for providing reliable and accessible operational energy anywhere in the world to support U.S. national security objectives.”

This is more than science fiction. It’s science fact.

The ability to generate fuel from CO₂ on-site — whether at a forward base, a naval vessel, or in remote humanitarian operations — redefines energy logistics. Instead of long, vulnerable fuel supply chains, this new model offers the possibility of closed-loop systems that pull carbon from the air, transform it into energy, and emit oxygen in return. The result isn’t just reduced emissions — it’s energy independence in its most literal and strategic sense.

AIRCO’s innovation mimics photosynthesis, converting carbon dioxide into usable fuel while releasing oxygen. The result is not only a potential pathway to carbon neutrality but also a cleaner-burning fuel that has already demonstrated superior visible emissions in tests. Though the combustion still releases CO₂, the net impact is far better than fossil-based or biofuels, many of which generate significant emissions during their production.

But perhaps most impressive is how AIRCO has managed to scale not recklessly, but responsibly. In a world where many clean tech startups rush to commercialize at any cost, AIRCO has chosen a different path — one of discipline, collaboration, and strategic patience.

“Working with the military allows us to focus on performance — not just price,” Constantine explains. “That gives us the breathing room to perfect this for larger applications like aviation and national energy infrastructure.”

AIRMADE® Fuel Demo

This approach has already earned them partnerships with JetBlue and Virgin Atlantic on the commercial aviation front. At the same time, AIRCO has garnered attention and support from NASA, where its modular technology could one day play a role in sustainable space exploration.

The implications are massive.

At a time when geopolitical instability and climate anxiety are growing, AIRCO is offering a third path — one that doesn’t trade one crisis for another. The company is building a future where carbon is not a liability, but an asset; where innovation isn’t just technical, but ethical; and where national security is powered not by extraction, but by regeneration.

“Our whole journey has been about showing what’s possible — and then making it real,” Constantine says. “We’re just getting started.”

From battlefield readiness to climate resilience, AIRCO is redefining what fuel can be — and what leadership looks like in the face of global challenge. It’s not just a cleaner alternative. It’s a complete reimagining of the fuel paradigm.