Automated counter-UAS expeditionary solutions (aces)_RFI

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Center for Rapid Innovation, has issued a Request for Information (RFI) titled "Automated Counter-UAS Expeditionary Solutions (ACES)" seeking industry and academic input on counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) solutions. This Special Notice is informational in nature and does not constitute a formal solicitation or commitment to award a contract. The RFI was posted on March 24, 2026, and addresses the growing threat posed by small, low-cost unmanned aerial systems to military and civilian assets, including airbases, forward operating bases, and critical infrastructure. AFRL is seeking to identify mature or rapidly maturing technologies that can be deployed as point-defense capabilities. The opportunity falls under the Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences category and is classified under National Defense R&D Services for experimental development.

Responses to this RFI must be submitted by 4:00 PM Eastern Time on April 7, 2026, to the designated AFRL points of contact and are limited to six pages. The government seeks integrated, low-cost, rapidly deployable, and fully automated counter-UAS systems capable of detecting, tracking, identifying, and defeating Group 1 and 2 unmanned aerial systems with minimal human intervention, incorporating multi-modal sensing, AI/ML-enabled command and control, both kinetic and non-kinetic defeat mechanisms, and open system architecture. Responses must include specific company information, capability overviews, technical approaches, system performance estimates, technology readiness levels, testing history, cost estimates for prototypes and production units, and fielding logistics details. Both U.S. and foreign firms are eligible to respond, though respondents must be registered in the System for Award Management database to be eligible for future Department of Defense contracts. Respondents will not be compensated for their submissions, receive no competitive advantage in future awards, and proprietary information will be protected if clearly marked as such.