Amended Request for Information (RFI) – Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) for Ground/Maritime Search and Rescue

The Department of the Air Force Materiel Command Lifecycle Management Center (AFLCMC) at Wright Patterson Air Force Base is conducting an amended Request for Information (RFI) to identify small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) capable of providing Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) for ground and maritime search and rescue operations. The primary objective is to locate isolated personnel in contested environments where traditional Combat Air Forces aircraft are denied access, with systems intended for use by Air Force Rescue Forces conducting personnel recovery missions. Key technical requirements include a maximum system weight of 50 lbs (threshold) or 40 lbs (objective), minimum flight time of 40–59 minutes with a 2 kg payload, full autonomous operation without GPS dependence, and electro-optical and thermal imaging capabilities capable of detecting humans at 0.5–1 nautical mile range. The system must be transportable in a single backpack and integrate specific communication equipment including the PRC-163 radio and M-Code GPS. Responses to this RFI were due by January 8, 2026, and this is a market research effort only, with the government reserving the right to use submitted information to develop future acquisition strategies without any commitment to procurement.

This Pre-Solicitation Notice involves no set-aside designations and does not name any potential incumbents or current contractors. No specific award values or budget ranges are disclosed in the RFI documentation. The amended RFI removed the tethered requirement from the previous version (FA8629-25-R-6002), broadening the scope of eligible systems and encouraging participation from both U.S. and non-U.S. firms registered in the System for Award Management (SAM). Respondents were required to submit detailed technical capabilities, company information, warranty terms, small business certifications, and compliance documentation in responses not exceeding 10 pages. The RFI represents the Air Force's efforts to conduct comprehensive market research on commercially available sUAS technologies that could support personnel recovery missions in challenging maritime and contested environments.