The team at AFWERX would like to invite you to participate in our latest set of Air Force challenges. Please read on.
Our partners in Air Force Science and Technology have launched a new channel for Air Force Challenges called AF Explore, and AFWERX is supporting this effort by providing targeted outreach to potential solution providers. The United States Air Force needs your ideas. The AF Explore Opportunity Call is looking for companies to provide solutions in the following functional areas:
Inflight Rearming and Refueling: The Air Force envisions future scenarios in which runways on their forward main operating bases are destroyed shortly after aircraft have been sent on missions. One approach to keep operations flowing while the runways are being repaired may be to rearm and refuel aircraft in flight.
Personnel Recovery Kit Delivery: The Air Force is interested in transformational Capability Ideas for delivery of an on-demand package/medical kit, ranging from the size of a box of band-aids to a small refrigerator, from space to any location in under two hours.
Vehicle Tracking in Commercial Imagery: The Air Force is interested in transformational Capability Ideas for utilizing commercial imagery to track a vehicle in an urban environment for at least 6 hours.
ABOUT AF EXPLORE:
AF Explore is the corporate Air Force’s process for seeking, evaluating, selecting, and funding high-risk/high-pay-off ideas that show promise as technological leaps —priming the “big idea pipeline” for future demonstration or experimentation candidates. Under AF Explore, the Air Force will issue both open and functionally-focused opportunity calls for ideas that support the 5 strategic capabilities outlined in the Air Force Science and Technology 2030 Strategy. The most promising concepts will be funded for further development, with the goal of maturing the concept to the point where it may be considered for further investment as a technology candidate for demonstration or experimentation.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE:
The Air Force is seeking innovative capability concepts from Industry (large and small, DoD and non-DoD contractors), Academia, Government, and Federally Funded Research & Development Centers (FFRDCs). Submissions can also be provided by individuals, individual organizations, or any team of organizations.
THE OPPORTUNITY:
AF Explore is offering 4-7 $1-2M contracts for this phase. Concepts that prove their merit during the Explore phase could proceed to development phases in the $10-30M range.
HOW TO SUBMIT:
We are accepting submissions now through 11:59 PDT on November 11th. To submit an idea, visit www.afexplore.com.