DARPA-SN-26-120_Industry Day Question and Answers_FINAL_10-08-2026.pdf

Industry Day September 22, 2026

Special Notice DARPA-SN-26-120 Next Generation Hypersonic Cruise Missile (NGHCM)

Questions and Answers # Topic Question Answer

1 Acquisition

Given the acquisition timeline extends through Fiscal Year 2032, can the Government please clarify how a company's size/growth during the program phases impacts eligibility for OTA-prototype awards?

Must the offeror be a small business at the time of submission, at the time of award, or for the duration of the period of performance?

The Proposer (prime) must qualify at time of propsoal submission. If the Proposer qualifies at the time of proposal submission, its elgiiblity is preserved for the duration of the Other Transaction (OT).

2 Acquisition

As a non-traditional with limited history with DoW contracting but a mature battery science, how is the NGHCM program thinking of leveraging non-traditional performers? Are there opportunities to participate directly or through prime/subcontract or a TA where our science could fill a critical subsystem capability?

Both. The Government anticipates teaming opportunities with traditional prime contractors and funding Focus Area (FA) 3 and FA4 independently will be considered.

3 Acquisition How should we securely submit unclassified responses to the program DARPA email? E.g. DoD SAFE, password protected profile.

Follow the Request or Inforrmation (RFI), DARPA-SN-26-120. However, the Government recommends using DoD SAFE for the transmission of CUI information. Use the RFI email address when using DoD SAFE or use the RFI email address to request the appropriate DoD SAFE submission link.

4 Acquisition If a large business wants to provide an RFI response but hasn't yet finalized teaming do they need to specify how they will meet OTA requirements?

No.

5 FA3

What emphasis is being placed on alternate Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) technologies? Will this be a specific line item or will it fall under the umbrella of a broader category?

Yes, those technologies are identified under FA3 and the Government encourages responses to the RFI that address alternate PNT.

6 FA3

The RFI describes FA3 technologies in terms of enabling a hypersonic cruise missile system, not a boost glide vehicle. Given that distinction, is DARPA's evaluation framework for thermal management solutions designed to account for the full flight duration of a continuously powered, air-breathing system, or are current evaulation criteria primarily derived from boost-glide thermal profiles?

Yes, the Government's FA3 evaluation framework is fully designed to model the sustained, steady-state thermal profiles. All innovative thermal management solutions capable of enduring long-duration flight environmnets are highly encouraged.

Special Notice DARPA-SN-26-120 Next Generation Hypersonic Cruise Missile (NGHCM)

Questions and Answers # Topic Question Answer

7 FA3

Lots of core performance depends on materials & manufacturing processes, which are often the limiting factor. Would there be an opportunity to develop breakthrough cross-cutting materials & manufacturing processes that can increase the performance envelope? The processes will improve propulsion, aeroshell, leading edge/control surfaces, nose cones, etc. across variety of system level concepts.

Yes, this falls under FA3 and the Government encourages responses to the RFI that address these technologies to validate programmatic assumptions for future system architectures.

8 FA3

Will there by any tech push verticals like Thermal Protection Systems (TPS), independent of system proposals?

Yes, TPS would fall under FA3 and the Government encourages responses to the RFI that address these technologies.

9 FA4

For FA4 T&E, would DARPA be funding improvements to existing T&E facilities if they improved the outcome for the NGHCM program?

The Government encourages respondents to address this concept under FA4, including how proposed improvements to existing T&E facilities would enable innovative T&E capabilities and improve NGHCM-relevant outcomes.

The RFI is for information and program-planning purposes only and does not constitute a commitment by DARPA to fund facility improvements or any other effort. Any potential funding approach, scope, ownership, access, sustainment, and acquisition strategy would be determined only through a subsequent Government decision and, if applicable, a formal Program Solicitation (PS).

10 Acquisition How many awards are planned for Phase 1, Phase 2?

The Government has not made any determination regarding a future acquisition, including whether any phased effort will be pursued or the number of potential awards under any such effort. The RFI and associated industry-day engagement are for market research and planning purposes only and do not constitute a solicitation or commitment to award.

11 Budget Can you provide a funding breakout by Phase 1 and Phase 2?

The Government has not made any determination regarding a future acquisition strategy, including whether a phased effort will be pursued or the funding level or allocation for any potential phase. The RFI and associated industry-day engagement are for market-research and planning purposes only and do not constitute a solicitation or commitment to provide funding.

Special Notice DARPA-SN-26-120 Next Generation Hypersonic Cruise Missile (NGHCM)

Questions and Answers # Topic Question Answer

12 General Is DARPA imposing a limitation on the number of submissions to this

RFI?

No.

13 General The presentation stated that stand alone responses to FA3 or FA4 would be accepted. This is an RFI only at this stage. Is "stand alone responses" comment in anticipation of solicitation phase?

No. The Government encourages stand-alone responses addressing FA3 and/or FA4 for this RFI. This does not indicate a decision regarding any future solicitation or acquisition approach.

14 General Will Phase 0 results be shared with industry (understanding that IP data will need to be redacted) before the PS release?

The Government does not plan to broadly release Phase 0 results before release of any potential PS. The Government may conduct individual discussions with respondents as necessary to gain a full understanding of the technical concepts or partnership models submitted. This does not constitute a commitment to contact any respondent or to provide feedback on an RFI response.

15 General

Industry is being asked to help architect the NGHCM. In order to do that we need to understand todays baseline capability, why the DoD believes it will be insufficient in 2035, which aspects are the weakness (not cost). What is the starting line? Where does the DoW believe the capability needs to be in 2035 and where does it sees the technology gaps are to achieve that capability? What's the finish line?

The Government does not intend to prescribe detailed performance thresholds, a specific system architecture, or a complete end-state solution during this RFI. The Government’s high-level objectives and areas of interest are provided in the RFI and industry-day materials.

No additional Government baseline assessment of current capabilities, projected 2035 capability needs, or technology-gap analysis will be released at this time. Respondents are encouraged to use their expertise to identify and substantiate revolutionary concepts, relevant technical gaps, assumptions, tradeoffs, and proposed paths to achieve significant improvements in NGHCM-relevant operational performance and affordability.

RFI responses will inform Government market research and Phase 0 planning.

The Government may contact respondents individually if additional clarification is needed; however, such contact is not guaranteed and does not constitute a commitment regarding any future solicitation, selection, or award.

16 General Can the Government provide clarification on the discussed submission deadline date changes?

The RFI submission deadline has been extended to Friday, November 6, 2026.

Please refer to the posted RFI amendment for the revised submission instructions and deadline.

Special Notice DARPA-SN-26-120 Next Generation Hypersonic Cruise Missile (NGHCM)

Questions and Answers # Topic Question Answer

Program

Definition Please define what the program means by "cruise missile." You mentioned no "boost glide," please define that too.

For purposes of this RFI, a cruise missile is an air vehicle that employs sustained propulsion during its atmospheric cruise phase.

A boost-glide vehicle is propelled by a rocket booster during its initial boost phase and then continues flight following booster burnout in an unpowered hypersonic glide trajectory.

18 Security

Will DARPA or AFRL sponsor FCLs/DD254s for non-traditional performers? Will there be an opportunity to begin an OT without the appropriate FCL and move into that space after award, if the scope requires?

This is a DARPA RFI; no determination has been made regarding whether a future effort will require access to classified information, include a DD Form 254, or require an entity eligibility determination/facility clearance.

If a future DARPA solicitation or agreement requires access to classified information, the applicable security requirements and any clearance-related procedures will be identified at that time. Any Government sponsorship for an entity eligibility determination would be considered only when there is a legitimate Government need and in accordance with applicable security procedures.

The Government cannot commit at this RFI stage that an agreement may be awarded to, or performed by, an entity before it obtains the clearances required for any classified portion of the work. An entity without the appropriate eligibility determination may not receive access to classified information.

Special Notice DARPA-SN-26-120 Next Generation Hypersonic Cruise Missile (NGHCM)

Questions and Answers # Topic Question Answer

Tactical

Relevance Is DARPA interested in sensitive and/or communications critical technology? If so, can higher than collateral SECRET be received?

The Government is interested in technologies relevant to the RFI’s stated objectives. Respondents should not transmit classified information, including information above collateral SECRET or information requiring special access or handling, through the RFI email address or other unapproved submission channels.

If a respondent believes that relevant information cannot be provided at an unclassified level, it may submit an unclassified request to the RFI email address for DARPA security coordination and submission instructions. The Government will evaluate, on a case-by-case basis, whether it can receive such information and what approved procedures, access requirements, and handling restrictions would apply.

This does not constitute a commitment that DARPA will accept, review, or retain classified material at any particular level.

20 Teaming Will DARPA assist in matchmaking for small businesses and tech specialists?

The Government will not direct, require, or broker teaming arrangements among respondents. Respondents are responsible for identifying and establishing any desired teaming relationships. The Government does not plan to provide company-specific matchmaking or recommendations.

The Government may, as appropriate, share publicly available information or broadly available resources with all interested parties; it will not disclose proprietary or nonpublic information submitted by respondents for matchmaking purposes.

21 Teaming Are we expecting teaming agreements to be finalized prior to RFI submission?

No.

22 Teaming For the teaming list, is it possible to list the specific expertise that we provide? Such as T&E services?

No.

23 Trade Space Which element trajectories are preferred? Endo-atmospheric, exo-atmospheric, or both dependent on mission set?

The Government has no preference on element trajectories.

24 Trade Space Does the Government team have any bounds on operational flight regime? i.e. keep out altitudes…?

No.

Special Notice DARPA-SN-26-120 Next Generation Hypersonic Cruise Missile (NGHCM)

Questions and Answers # Topic Question Answer

25 Trade Space Does DARPA have a priority of launch platforms to help inform sizing constraints?

No.

26 Trade Space Will solutions that target specific platforms such as ground-only be considered? Do launch platforms need to be common across the domains?

Yes. The Government will consider concepts focused on a specific launch platform, including ground-only solutions. A common launch platform or common solution across multiple domains is not required.

Q&A Session