Air Combat Evolution (ACE)

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency seeks proposals through July 22, 2019 for its Air Combat Evolution program to develop autonomous dogfighting capabilities through four technical areas: developing autonomous dogfighting algorithms using modeling and simulation initially followed by demonstrations using small unmanned aerial vehicles and operational aircraft; assessing pilot trust in autonomous systems; scaling algorithms to broader air combat missions; and implementing algorithms onto operational aircraft. Proposals will be evaluated based on progressing the state of autonomy from current physics-based automation to more complex human-machine collaboration necessary to realize manned-unmanned teaming.

There is no set-aside designation. The anticipated multiple awards totaling approximately $63.6 million will be made under NAICS code 541715 with a period of performance of approximately 50 months to develop and demonstrate the technologies through three phases concluding in 2023. Evaluation of proposals submitted by the July 22, 2019 deadline will be conducted over a one year period with management of any resulting contracts by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and Air Force Research Laboratory.