Inertial scaling for derisking stability and control of tightly coupled aeropropulsive aircraft configurations

This Other Transaction Multiple Award Indefinite Delivery Vehicle, awarded to Whisper Aero Inc. on October 22, 2025, by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), carries a ceiling value of $1.8 million and focuses on inertial scaling for derisking stability and control of tightly coupled aeropropulsive aircraft configurations. The contract represents a non-traditional procurement vehicle that enables DARPA to conduct advanced research and development activities outside standard Federal Acquisition Regulation requirements. Whisper Aero Inc., a small business headquartered in Crossville, Tennessee, brings specialized expertise in advanced propulsion solutions, particularly ultra-low noise, high-efficiency electric propulsion systems for aerospace applications. This IDV structure allows DARPA to issue task orders under a single indefinite delivery framework without requiring additional formal competitions, facilitating rapid prototyping and iterative development cycles typical of high-risk, high-reward defense research initiatives.

The technical scope addresses critical challenges in aeropropulsive integration—the coupling of airframe and propulsion system dynamics—through scaling methodologies designed to reduce technical risk in stability and control analysis for next-generation aircraft architectures. Drawing from Whisper Aero's extensive background in electric propulsion development through prior Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs, the contractor will likely leverage advanced modeling, optimization techniques, and propulsion system innovations previously demonstrated in collaborative efforts with academic institutions. DARPA's investment in this research area reflects strategic interest in unconventional aircraft configurations that may benefit from integrated propulsion-airframe designs, a critical capability for emerging autonomous systems and advanced aerial vehicles. As a non-set-aside award, this contract competed based on capability and technical merit rather than small business status preferences, indicating DARPA's assessment that Whisper Aero's existing technical expertise directly addresses the agency's research objectives in this specialized domain.