THORNTON, Colo., September 11, 2026 - Expanding Commercial and Defense Industry Expertise with New Strategic Leadership Appointments
ASTI, the leading U.S. innovator in the design and manufacturing of featherweight, flexible thin-film photovoltaic (PV) solutions, has announced the additions of Tom Bawol as the Company’s new Director of Strategic Sales & Market Development, and LTG. Steve Smith to the Company’s Strategic Advisory Board in the role of Strategic Advisor.
Together, these appointments add decades of military leadership, strategic planning, operational management and business development experience to ASTI as it continues expanding the commercial reach of its thin-film PV technology within the space, defense, unmanned systems and other burgeoning markets.
Bawol joins ASTI with 20 years of service in the U.S. Army Special Forces. During that time, he developed extensive experience leading complex operations, building partnerships and government, defense and commercial stakeholders. Recently, he expanded his experience in the private sector with roles in energy infrastructure and federal technology sales. In his new role, Bawol will help identify and develop new commercial opportunities for the Company’s thin-film PV technology. He will cultivate strategic relationships with prospective customers and partners to support ASTI expansion into markets in need of power generation capabilities that thrive in punishing conditions and environments.
LTG. Smith joins ASTI following a distinguished career in the U.S. Army that included senior leadership positions that oversaw large-scale military operations, logistics, technology integration and multinational partnerships. More recently, LTG. Smith served as the Deputy Commanding General of Western Hemisphere Command, where he oversaw approximately 700,000 personnel with a $4.8 billion budget. His role will involve leveraging his experience with military operations, technology adoption and government partnerships to advise ASTI leadership on strategic opportunities and potential applications for the Company’s thin-film PV technology within its core markets.
Thin-Film Space PV Testing Program Broadens to Expand on NASA’s Results as Demand Grows for Multi-Orbit Solar Solutions
ASTI announced plans to expand testing of its CIGS PV technology beyond low Earth orbit (LEO) as Company leadership has received an increase in requests for solar solutions capable of supporting missions across multiple orbital environments. ASTI is preparing a series of in-house characterization campaigns designed to validate the survivability and performance of its thin-film solar technology in increasingly challenging space conditions, concluding in Q4 2026.
Previous NASA testing in LEO demonstrated CIGS PV’s potential to recover from radiation exposure through its self-annealing properties, a phenomenon described in scholarly journals as “RemarkableRecovery.” Now, ASTI is extending that research to determine whether that same recovery is possible in the more demanding radiation environments of medium Earth orbit (MEO), geostationary orbit (GEO) and other high-energy orbits, to bolster the qualifications of its thin-film solar products for an expanding range of space applications.
Ascent Solar Technologies Meets Growing Drone Market Demand; Reinforces Primary Space Industry Focus
ASTI has emphasized its continued commitment to providing durable, reliable solar solutions to the space market, and expanded on its entry into the unmanned systems market as global demand rapidly grows. This objective underscores the ASTI strategy of expanding the spectrum of commercial opportunities for its thin-film offerings while maintaining its paramount focus on space applications.
The ASTI commitment to the rapidly growing space economy is demonstrated by its participation in new orbital missions, such as the recent integration of its thin-film solar products into Reditus Space’s ENOS spacecraft, which is scheduled for launch this fall. In addition, ASTI received an order for 100 modules for a satellite which will manufacture components in space. Both of these could lead to annual recurring business of 10 to 25 KW.
With respect to the drone market, ASTI is currently experiencing accelerated demand from unmanned aerial and marine systems industries, as its technology’s uniquely high power-to-weight ratio offers major operational advantages. ASTI is also working with a European organization to supply its products for integration into a high-altitude platform station (HAPS) project, expecting to deliver an initial 250-watt sub-array by the end of the summer. These endeavors represent additional customer adoption milestones in the ASTI ongoing work to provide lightweight, resilient solar power solutions at high altitudes.
ASTI has received orders from two Eastern European drone manufacturers that will integrate ASTI products into aircraft wing designs. These initial orders have the potential to become recurring business, reaching between 200KW-300KW of product demand annually. ASTI leadership is also actively engaged in discussions with two US-based drone manufacturers around future opportunities to supply its solar products.
Additionally, ASTI has secured product orders from two unmanned marine vehicle (UMV) companies; one global manufacturer and the other US-based. This expansion into applying its solar products to UMVs illustrates the versatility of ASTI technology across many drone market verticals. These initial orders have the potential to become recurring business, reaching between 125KW-200KW of product demand annually.
H1 2026 Achievements and Milestones Plus Strategic Goals for Continued Corporate Development
ASTI recapped its commercial progress and solar material development in the first half of 2026, and outlined its objectives to spur growth and advancement throughout the second half of the year.
Key ASTI milestones and achievements include:
Entering the year by rapidly completing prepaid orders for customers looking to use Ascent’s thin-film PV in space, HAPS/HALE, and unique terrestrial applications;
Completing Atomic Oxygen exposure testing on ASTI space solar products, which did not incur any damage during the testing process with 1 mil FEP as the primary barrier and encapsulant.
Continuing development of ASTI PV modules’ space beaming capabilities to address the growing market demand for power beaming and receiving technologies in space.
ASTI CEO Paul Warley conducting business travel to Europe, in addition to attending 2026 SATShow and 2026 SOF Conference, where he liaised with strategic industry players to establish potential partnerships and secured several viable commercial leads.
Closing an up to $25 million private placement.
Increasing ASTI industry presence through features in relevant and prominent media outlets.
Provider of Innovative, High-Performance, Flexible Thin-Film Solar Panels for Environments Where Wass, Performance, Reliability and Resilience Matter.
Successful Applications in Space Missions, Aircraft, Agrivoltaic Installations, Industrial/Commercial Construction and Consumer Goods.
New Strategic Leadership Appointments to Expand Commercial and Defense Industry Expertise.
Participation in New Orbital Missions Including Integration of Thin-Film Solar Products Into Reditus Space’s ENOS Spacecraft.
Thin-Film Space PV Testing Program Broadens to Expand on NASA’s Results as Demand Grows for Multi-Orbit Solar Solutions.
Expanding Entry Into Rapidly Growing Unmanned Drone Systems Market.
H.C. WAINWRIGHT & CO. has issued a research report on ASTI with a $20 price target which can be accessed via the following link: https://hcwco.bluematrix.com/links2/secure/pdf/0999ade5-cfc3-4d13-9508-0f48b1ce8061
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Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTI)
Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. is a U.S.-based solar technology company specializing in lightweight, flexible and durable thin-film photovoltaic (PV) modules. Its proprietary CIGS (Copper-Indium-Gallium-Diselenide) technology is designed for specialized applications where conventional rigid solar panels are often impractical, including spacecraft and satellites, aerospace, drones/UAVs, defense, HAPS, aquatic systems and other weight-sensitive applications.
$ASTI Mission
At its core, Ascent Solar's mission is to deliver reliable, high-performance solar power where weight, flexibility, durability and resilience matter most. The company is particularly focused on providing advanced photovoltaic solutions for the rapidly expanding space and aerospace markets, while also applying its technology to defense, unmanned systems and other specialized markets.
Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. was incorporated on October 18, 2005, under Delaware law.
For more information on $ASTI visit: https://www.ascentsolar.com
Email: sales@ascentsolar.com
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Company Name: Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc
Contact Person: Paul Warley, CEO
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Address:12300 Grant Street
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State: Colorado 80241
Country: United States
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