N00019-27-RFI-PMA208SST.pdf

Request for Information (RFI)

N00019-27-RFI-PMA208SST

Title: Commercially-Based Supersonic Aerial Target Solutions

Issued By: Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), on behalf of Program Management OƯice, Aerial Targets (PMA-208)

Date of Issuance: 01 May 2026

Response Due Date: 01 June 2026, 5:00 PM ET

1.0 GENERAL INFORMATION & DISCLAIMER

THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) IS ISSUED SOLELY FOR INFORMATION AND

PLANNING PURPOSES AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION. THE GOVERNMENT

MAY USE THE INFORMATION RECEIVED TO INFORM A POTENTIAL PROTOTYPE PROJECT

UNDER OTHER TRANSACTION AUTHORITY (OTA), PURSUANT TO 10 U.S.C. § 4022. THIS

ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT. ALL

INFORMATION SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO THIS RFI IS VOLUNTARY AND THE

GOVERNMENT WILL NOT COMPENSATE ANY RESPONDENT FOR ANY COST INCURRED IN

DEVELOPMENT OF INFORMATION PROVIDED TO THE GOVERNMENT. THIS IS NOT A

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL; YET IS A MARKET RESEARCH TOOL TO DETERMINE POTENTIAL

FIRMS CAPABLE OF PROVIDING THE SUPPLIES DESCRIBED HEREIN PRIOR TO AN

ISSUANCE OF A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT OBLIGATED TO

PAY FOR ANY INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM POTENTIAL SOURCES AS A RESULT OF

THIS RFI. THIS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED

AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT OF ANY KIND. RESPONSES IN ANY FORM ARE

NOT OFFERS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A

CONTRACT OR NON-FAR BASED AGREEMENT (E.G. OTHER TRANSACTION) AS A RESULT

OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. NO FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR PREPARATION OF

RESPONSES TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY

RESPONDENTS TO THIS TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY. FAILURE TO

SUBMIT A RESPONSE WILL NOT PREVENT A COMPANY FROM PARTICIPATION IN ANY

FUTURE COMPETETION RELATED TO PMA208’s COMMERCIALLY BASED SUPRSONIC

TARGETS. INFORMATION PROVIDED SHOULD BE UNCLASSIFIED. ANY INFORMATION

SUBMITTED MAY BE REVIEWED AND USED ACROSS THE GOVERNMENT.

2.0 BACKGROUND & CAPABILITY REQUIREMENT

The Naval Air Systems Command, Program Management OƯice, Aerial Targets (PMA-208), is exploring alternatives to the traditional acquisition of supersonic aerial targets. The objective of this RFI is to solicit technical feedback from industry while identifying and assessing mature, commercially-developed and/or non-developmental solutions that can meet Navy threat simulation requirements which improve both aƯordability and industrial base resilience.

The Government is seeking information on supersonic aerial target capabilities that can be demonstrated in the near term (October 2028 – September 2029) and can be scaled to provide the recurring operational target presentations to support the Fleet starting in the 2030-2034 timeframe. The Government is open to various acquisition and business models, including contractor-owned/contractor-operated, pay-per-outcome, or other innovative structure.

NAVAIR is considering awarding one or more Other Transaction Agreements (OTA), pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 4022 “Authority of the Department of Defense to carry out certain prototype projects,” for Commercially-Based Supersonic Aerial Target Solutions.

The Government reserves the right to pursue production of a successful prototype(s).

3.0 REQUIRED CAPABILITIES

The Government seeks an innovative solution capable of presenting target profiles that meet one or both of the following threat scenarios:

3.1 Profile 1: Supersonic Sea-Skimmer

Performance: Achieve and sustain speeds of Mach 2.5 or greater at altitudes of less than 100 feet above sea level.

Maneuverability: Capable of performing terminal maneuvers up to 10 Gs.

3.2 Profile 2: High-Altitude Supersonic Diver

Performance: Achieve altitudes exceeding 30,000 feet, followed by a terminal dive on a designated target point at supersonic speeds (Mach 2.0 or greater).

3.3 Common System Requirements for Both Profiles:

End-to-End Solution: The performer provides all hardware (air vehicles, propulsion, launch systems), software, logistics, and personnel required to execute flight events from Government-specified test ranges.

Range Integration: All Command, Control, and Telemetry systems used with your materiel solution must be fully compatible with U.S. Navy range infrastructure and will require oƯerors to interface. with that infrastructure

Expansion Beyond Existing Navy Ranges: An expansion beyond typical Navy ranges with open ocean presentation capability.

Safety Certification: The performer is responsible for obtaining all necessary system safety certifications, including Flight Termination System (FTS) approval from Navy safety authorities.

4.0 INFORMATION REQUESTED FROM INDUSTRY

Interested parties may submit a Capability Statement package identifying their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit proposals. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract action based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Capability Statements received will be considered for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Capability Statements submitted should be pertinent and specific in the technical/management/business area under consideration. Interested parties are requested to provide a capabilities statement (no more than 20 pages) addressing the following:

4.1 Corporate Capability & Proposed Business Model

Describe your organization's experience delivering end-to-end flight systems, supplies or comprehensive support solutions to the Department of War.

Describe your proposed business and contracting structure (e.g., firm-fixed-price per flight event, long-term lease, block-hour purchase). Provide a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost estimate based on your proposed structure.

Provide evidence that your proposed solution is at a high level of technical maturity and is not a long-term development eƯort.

If your solution includes a teaming arrangement, please cite previous examples of such contract(s) and teaming arrangement(s).

4.2 Technical & Operational Approach

Please provide pertinent Technology Readiness Level (TRL) for the relevant bullets below utilizing the following definition table for TRL:

Level Definition TRL 9 Actual system proven through successful mission operation.

TRL 8 Actual system completed and qualified through test and demonstration.

TRL 7 System prototype demonstration in an operational environment.

TRL 6 System/subsystem model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment.

TRL 5 Component and/or breadboard validation in a relevant environment.

TRL 4 Component and/or breadboard validation in a laboratory environment.

TRL 3 Analytical and experimental critical function and/or characteristic proof of concept.

TRL 2 Technology concept and/or application formulated.

TRL 1 Basic principles observed and reported.

Table 1: Technology Readiness Level (TRL) Definitions Table

Provide an overview of the air vehicle and propulsion system you would use to meet the performance requirements in Section 3.0.

Describe your plan and timeline for securing all necessary Navy safety and range certifications.

Provide a high-level Concept of Operations (CONOPS) for deploying your team and equipment to execute a flight mission from a government test range.

Does your company require Government furnished information, equipment, or material (GFI/E/M) in order for your solution to meet the attributes and thresholds addressed in this notice? If so, please clarify the degree to which GFI/E/M will be requested or required.

4.3 Schedule & Scalability

Provide a ROM estimate of your solution and possible schedule detailing the timeline from a hypothetical contract/agreement award (October-December 2027 timeframe) to your first demonstration flight event.

Describe your plan to scale from a demonstration phase to an operational cadence of up to 50 flight events per year. What are the key long-lead items or investments required to achieve this rate?

4.4 Risk

Identify the top 3-5 technical, operational, and industrial base risks to successfully delivering this capability and your proposed mitigation strategies.

5.0 DISCLAIMER

Any information received in response to this request will be properly protected and handled accordingly; In order to complete its review, NAVAIR must be able to share information within the Government and with contractor support staƯ.

5.0 RESPONSE SUBMISSION

5.1 All responses shall be submitted via email in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format to the points of contact below no later than the close of business on 01 June 2026. Interested parties are advised against submitting Capability Statements that merely mimic information in this RFI, provides brochure-like information, or provides general information. Responses to this RFI are not to exceed 20 pages in length on 8.5X11 inch paper with one-inch margines and font no smaller than 10 points Times New Roman.

Primary: Joseph Perriello, Contract Specialist, joseph.c.perriello.civ@us.navy.mil

Secondary: Raymond Cannon, Contracting OƯicer, raymond.c.cannon2.civ@us.navy.mil

5.2 Questions regarding this RFI shall be submitted via email to the primary point of contact. The Government is not obligated to respond to questions submitted by industry as part of this RFI. The Government is not accepting phone calls or meetings regarding this RFI at this time.

Classified material SHALL NOT be submitted. All submissions shall include this RFI Reference Number, company name, company address, CAGE code, Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number, and a point of contact information (including name, position, phone number, and email address) who is able to discuss the Capability Statement submitted.

All information submitted will be adequately safeguarded from unauthorized disclosure.

All submissions shall utilize the markings below:

Controlled by: Department of the Navy Controlled by: NAVAIRSYSCOM PEO (U&W) PMA-208 CUI Category[ies]: Controlled Technical Information / Export Controlled Distribution/Dissemination Control: Distribution D: Department of War and U.S. DoW Contractors Only POC: Pete Jensen, peter.a.jensen6.civ@us.navy.mil

Responses that fail to comply with the above instructions or present ideas not pertinent to subject, may not be reviewed. All information received in response to this Notice that is marked proprietary will be handled accordingly. Information submitted in response to this RFI is submitted at no cost to the Government and will not be returned. The Government is under no obligation to provide responses or comments to information received from interested parties.

Note: If an interested person is a foreign concern or if a U.S. interested person has a team member or partner who is a foreign entity, adherence to all International TraƯic and Arms Regulations (ITAR) is required.