Opportunity Overview
Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Request for Information for High Hypersonic Reentry Flight Experiment Program
Introduction
Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is gathering information for future partnering with industry and other government agencies to develop high-cadence, recoverable, reliable, cost-effective orbital and hypersonic reentry experiment platforms. These platforms offer exposure to extreme reentry environments with payload recovery post-fight for Technology Readiness Level (TRL) maturation and Science & Technology (S&T) advancement. AFRL aims to advance novel, innovative research areas that address capability, technology, or scientific gaps for hypersonic reentry vehicles and environments. In addition to existing orbital and hypersonic platforms, AFRL aims to further develop hypersonic testing infrastructure and platforms. Near-future capabilities include non-ballistic trajectories and high-acceleration-load (50+ g’s) flight conditions.
AFRL has the following reentry experimentation priorities (not in priority order):
Promote cutting-edge research to enhance the Department of War's (DOW) ability to address future science and technology (S&T) requirements for hypersonic reentry. This involves developing recoverable flight payloads designed to withstand extreme hypersonic conditions above 7.5km/s and high-acceleration forces exceeding 50 g’s including, but not limited to:
Guidance, Navigation, and Control Technologies with the potential to be radiation hardened/survivable (operate through, circumvent and recover, etc.) – accelerometers, gyroscopes, navigation aids for operating in a GPS denied environment (stellar, radar, optical, etc.), and new SW algorithms for relevant hypersonic flight environments
Avionics Components with the potential to be radiation hardened/survivable (operate through, circumvent and recover, etc.) – flight computers, processors, actuators, etc.
Flight-Environment Sensors – heat flux, temperature, pressure, shock,...
Introduction
Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is gathering information for future partnering with industry and other government agencies to develop high-cadence, recoverable, reliable, cost-effective orbital and hypersonic reentry experiment platforms. These platforms offer exposure to extreme reentry environments with payload recovery post-fight for Technology Readiness Level (TRL) maturation and Science & Technology (S&T) advancement. AFRL aims to advance novel, innovative research areas that address capability, technology, or scientific gaps for hypersonic reentry vehicles and environments. In addition to existing orbital and hypersonic platforms, AFRL aims to further develop hypersonic testing infrastructure and platforms. Near-future capabilities include non-ballistic trajectories and high-acceleration-load (50+ g’s) flight conditions.
AFRL has the following reentry experimentation priorities (not in priority order):
Promote cutting-edge research to enhance the Department of War's (DOW) ability to address future science and technology (S&T) requirements for hypersonic reentry. This involves developing recoverable flight payloads designed to withstand extreme hypersonic conditions above 7.5km/s and high-acceleration forces exceeding 50 g’s including, but not limited to:
Guidance, Navigation, and Control Technologies with the potential to be radiation hardened/survivable (operate through, circumvent and recover, etc.) – accelerometers, gyroscopes, navigation aids for operating in a GPS denied environment (stellar, radar, optical, etc.), and new SW algorithms for relevant hypersonic flight environments
Avionics Components with the potential to be radiation hardened/survivable (operate through, circumvent and recover, etc.) – flight computers, processors, actuators, etc.
Flight-Environment Sensors – heat flux, temperature, pressure, shock,...
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Start FreeSolicitation Details
| Issuing agency | Air Force Research Laboratory |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Category | Research and Studies |
| NAICS | 541715 |
| PSC | AC33 |
| Published | April 27, 2026 |
| Procurement stage | Sources Sought |
| Response due | April 30, 2027 |
| Status | Open — accepting responses |
| Official source | View original notice |
| Last verified | August 09, 2026 |
Source: U.S. Government (SAM.gov) — public domain. GlobalGov is not affiliated with or endorsed by the United States Government.
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