Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Request for Information for High Hypersonic Reentry Flight Experiment Program
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for its High Hypersonic Reentry Flight Experiment Program. This RFI seeks information from industry and government agencies on high-cadence, recoverable, reliable, and cost-effective orbital and hypersonic reentry experiment platforms and payloads. The goal is to advance novel research areas addressing capability, technology, or scientific gaps for hypersonic reentry vehicles and environments. This is an ongoing market research effort with no specified end date.
Purpose & Scope
AFRL aims to develop and utilize platforms that offer exposure to extreme reentry environments with payload recovery for Technology Readiness Level (TRL) maturation and Science & Technology (S&T) advancement. Key experimentation priorities include:
- Cutting-edge Research: Enhancing the Department of War's (DOW) ability to address S&T requirements for hypersonic reentry, focusing on recoverable flight payloads designed for conditions above 7.5 km/s and over 50 g's. Specific areas of interest include:
- Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) Technologies (radiation hardened/survivable)
- Avionics Components (radiation hardened/survivable)
- Flight-Environment Sensors (heat flux, temperature, pressure, shock, vibration, acceleration, attitude, altitude, material recession, plasma)
- Novel Thermal Protection System (TPS) materials and manufacturing
- Integrated Systems (e.g., flight computer with IMU)
- Vehicle Diagnostic Sensors and Algorithms
- Communication Capabilities (telemetry)
- Autonomous precision landing
- Ejectables on orbit or reentry
- Reentry Testbed Capabilities: Identifying recoverable test platforms operating in relevant hypersonic environments with characteristics such as:
- Minimum speed 7.5 km/s, acceleration loads of at least 50 g's
- Minimum 2000°C thermal load, minimum heat flux of 350 W/cm2
- Support for at least a 40x40x40 cm payload volume and 5+kg mass, host-provided power
- Data Collection: Addressing knowledge gaps in existing and new computational models.
AFRL is interested in technologies at TRL 4-5 ready for prototype reentry experimentation, or already-developed reentry vehicles available for flight opportunities within 12 months.
Submission Requirements
Respondents should submit a White Paper (limited to 4 pages, 11-point Times New Roman, plus 1 page for references) and optional Experiment and Materials Data Sheets. The White Paper must address:
- Mission Relevance
- Payload/Experiment Overview (if applicable)
- Test Platform Overview (if applicable)
- Technical Approach and Objectives
- Programmatic Approach and Objectives
- Research Path Opportunity
- Path to Strategic-Grade Radiation Hardness/Survivability (if applicable)
Templates are provided for the optional data sheets, which do not count against the page limit and may contain CUI.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Sources Sought / Request for Information (RFI)
- Set-Aside: None specified
- Published: April 22, 2026
- Response Due: This RFI has no end date and is in effect until closed or rescinded.
- Potential Follow-on: Could lead to Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs), Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) contracts, FAR-based contracts, or Other Transaction Authority (OTA) contracts.
Submission Process
White Papers, Data Sheets, and questions should be submitted to the Prometheus Team via email at afrl.rvkb.afrlneutronstardms@us.af.mil. For CUI documents, request a DoD SAFE drop-off link. No feedback will be provided to industry. This RFI is for market research only and does not constitute a commitment to award a contract.