Q&A Responses for Software - Small Uncrewed Aerial System (sUAS) Capabilities

This Special Notice, issued by the Department of the Air Force Materiel Command Lifecycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base on November 12, 2025, documents a Questions and Answers session related to software capabilities for Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS). The notice provides recorded responses to industry inquiries submitted during an open feedback period associated with the RPRD_sUAS notice. This Q&A forum represents an early-stage market exploration and industry engagement effort by the Air Force to gather technical input and establish baseline understanding of available solutions. The notice itself serves as an informational resource rather than a formal solicitation, offering transparency into government priorities and technical considerations for future sUAS software development initiatives. Access to the recorded Q&A session is provided via the linked Teams meeting recording, enabling interested contractors to review the government's technical requirements, preferences, and strategic direction.

The primary objective of this Special Notice is to communicate the Air Force's emerging autonomy software development initiative for future sUAS platforms, emphasizing domestically developed solutions aligned with "Buy American" priorities. Key technical focus areas identified include simulation capabilities, autopilot integration, MAVLink interface compatibility, model-based systems engineering, and communication protocols. While no specific solicitation timeline is provided, the government indicates this is a research and planning phase during which reference architectures, interface control documents, and statements of objectives will be developed for future formal competitions. The Air Force is particularly interested in solutions supporting Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, with considerations for anti-tamper measures and battlefield recovery capabilities. Interested contractors should note that participation in this market exploration phase does not constitute formal eligibility criteria; rather, the notice invites ongoing industry engagement as the government refines requirements for eventual procurement solicitations.