Advanced Aerospace Systems Technology Research (AASTR)

The Air Force awarded a Master IDIQ for Advanced Aerospace Systems Technology Research on April 4, 2023, with ordering authority extending through April 4, 2028—approximately 20 months of remaining opportunity. The vehicle carries a $400 million shared ceiling and funds research toward development, demonstration, integration, and transition of aerospace vehicle technologies, designs, and integrated systems applicable across Air Force mission areas, including aerospace vehicles, control sciences, high-speed systems, turbine engines, and systems integration and flight test.

Ten task orders totaling $42.3 million in combined potential value have been awarded since vehicle inception, with $24.4 million obligated to date (58% of potential value). Recent ordering momentum has slowed: seven orders were placed in 2023, but only three in 2025, with the most recent award on March 21, 2025. Task order values range from $95 thousand to $39.1 million ceiling, with durations spanning nine months to approximately four years. Recent awarded work includes fatigue analysis of composite structures, physics-based active flow control models for early design, and demonstration of advanced capability performance and effectiveness (DEMON APE Phase II), all structured as cost-plus-fixed-fee arrangements.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems dominates competitive concentration, holding two orders with $39.2 million combined potential value—92.7% of all task-order value under the vehicle. Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation holds two orders worth $2.1 million combined; Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation holds two worth $610 thousand; and three firms (RTX Corporation, The Boeing Company, and Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems) hold one order each under $102 thousand. All 10 task orders fund Department of the Air Force programs exclusively. The vehicle carries no set-aside designations; all awards are unrestricted competitive.

Work is performed primarily by major aerospace primes, with task orders reflecting advanced technology development and systems integration focused on Air Force research laboratory requirements. Performance extends across the contractor base rather than concentrating geographically.

The AASTR program will conduct research toward the development, demonstration, integration, and transition of new aerospace vehicle technologies, designs, and integrated systems that will provide advanced capabilities to the Air Force. These technology capability advancements will be applicable across current and emerging Air Force aerospace systems in all Air Force mission areas. The program will support the Aerospace Systems Directorate's core competency areas of Aerospace Vehicles; Control Sciences; High Speed Systems; Turbine Engines; and Systems Integration and Flight Test as well as the strategic capability areas of Complexity, Unpredictability, and Mass; Speed and Reach; Global Persistent Awareness; and Enduring Technologies.