3D-Printed Solid Propulsion System for Supersonic Aerial Target

THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) IS ISSUED SOLELY FOR INFORMATION AND PLANNING PURPOSES AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION. THE GOVERNMENT MAY USE THE INFORMATION RECEIVED TO INFORM A POTENTIAL PROTOTYPE PROJECT UNDER OTHER TRANSACTION AUTHORITY (OTA), PURSUANT TO 10 U.S.C. § 4022. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT. ALL INFORMATION SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO THIS RFI IS VOLUNTARY AND THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT COMPENSATE ANY RESPONDENT FOR ANY COST INCURRED IN DEVELOPMENT OF INFORMATION PROVIDED TO THE GOVERNMENT. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL; YET IS A MARKET RESEARCH TOOL TO DETERMINE POTENTIAL FIRMS CAPABLE OF PROVIDING THE SUPPLIES DESCRIBED HEREIN PRIOR TO AN ISSUANCE OF A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT OBLIGATED TO PAY FOR ANY INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM POTENTIAL SOURCES AS A RESULT OF THIS RFI. THIS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT OF ANY KIND. RESPONSES IN ANY FORM ARE NOT OFFERS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT OR NON-FAR BASED AGREEMENT (E.G. OTHER TRANSACTION) AS A RESULT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. NO FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR PREPARATION OF RESPONSES TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS TO THIS TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY. FAILURE TO SUBMIT A RESPONSE WILL NOT PREVENT A COMPANY FROM PARTICIPATION IN ANY FUTURE COMPETITION RELATED TO PMA208’S ADDITIVELY MANUFACTURED SOLID PROPULSION SYSTEM FOR A SUPERSONIC AERIAL TARGET. INFORMATION PROVIDED SHOULD BE UNCLASSIFIED. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED MAY BE REVIEWED AND USED ACROSS THE GOVERNMENT. The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons (PEO (U&W)), Aerial Targets Program Management Office, (PMA-208) at Patuxent River, MD is conducting market research to determine the amount of responsible sources that have the capability, experience, facilities, and potential solutions for the capability gap described herein. PMA-208 is seeking information on industry's capability to design, develop, qualify, and manufacture a solid-propellant propulsion system for a supersonic aerial target. The Government's objective is to leverage advanced manufacturing techniques, including but not limited to Additive Manufacturing (AM), to enhance the propulsion industrial base, improve system affordability, and increase supply chain resilience. The Government is exploring a strategy wherein the propulsion system would be developed to a Government-owned Technical Data Package (TDP) and subsequently provided to a prime air vehicle integrator as Government Furnished Equipment (GFE). This RFI seeks to understand the feasibility, risks, and ROM cost/schedule associated with developing a form, fit, and function replacement for a legacy ducted rocket motor. NAVAIR is considering awarding one or more Other Transaction Agreements (OTA), pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 4022 “Authority of the Department of Defense to carry out certain prototype projects,” for solid-propellant propulsion system for a supersonic aerial target. The Government reserves the right to pursue production of a successful prototype(s). Update (29 May 2026):  The Government is considering utilizing the Naval Air Systems Consortium to potentially award one or more Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 4022 “Authority of the Department of Defense to carry out certain prototype projects”.  This effort will be briefed by the Government at the NASC Membership Meeting on 25 June 2026.  This forum is limited to the members of the NASC. For more information about membership as well as the Additively Manufactured Solid Propulsion System for a Supersonic Aerial Target briefing, please visit nascsolutions.org.