DIGITAL STABILITY AUGMENTATION SYSTEM AND AUTOMATIC FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM FOR F-5 AIRCRAFT

Background

The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), PMA-226 Adversary and Specialized Aircraft, Integrated Product Team (IPT), is considering procurement of American Systems Model Number AS2100 Digital Stability Augmentation System (DSAS) flight computer adapted for the F-5N/F platform and Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS) capability.

The F-5 is a highly maneuverable tactical fighter critical supporting adversary training missions. To sustain its operational effectiveness and ensure the safety of its aircrews, continuous modernization of its avionics and flight control systems is required. Currently, the F-5 exhibits inherent aerodynamic characteristics that necessitate continuous active pilot engagement to maintain stable flight; specifically, without constant pilot input, the aircraft tends to depart controlled flight and enter an inverted dive. This characteristic significantly increases pilot workload and presents a critical safety risk, detracting from the pilot's ability to focus on complex mission tasks.

To mitigate these risks, reduce pilot workload, and enhance overall mission effectiveness, the Government is seeking industry sources capable of developing, testing, and integrating an adaptation to the American Systems AS2100 DSAS flight computer with AFCS capability. This upgrade will consist of new DSAS flight computer software and an AFCS specific to the F-5N/F aircraft.

The proposed adaptation to the AS2100 DSAS must be capable of processing primary flight control inputs and communicating directly with the aircraft's actuators to enhance the platform's aerodynamic stability. Working in conjunction with the AS2100 DSAS, the AFCS will provide automated flight control capabilities. This integration will alleviate the burden of continuous manual attitude correction, thereby allowing pilots to safely and effectively complete mission tasks without the risk of uncontrolled attitude deviations.

The purpose of this Sources Sought is to identify qualified industry partners with the engineering expertise, test facility, and production capability to deliver these digital flight control solutions for the F-5 platform.

Size Status

The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 334511, size standard 1,350 Employees. The Product Service Code (PSC) is 1680, Miscellaneous Aircraft Accessories and Components. Companies must identify their size status, the results of which will be utilized as guidance to determine any potential set-aside basis.

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT ONLY. This Sources Sought does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever.  Furthermore, this Sources Sought does not seek to solicit proposals and NAVAIR will not accept, review, or reply to any formal or informal unsolicited proposals regarding this future requirement. Interested parties shall be advised that any resources or costs attributed to the response of this Sources Sought will not be reimbursed by the United States Government (USG) and that these costs relating to any Sources Sought responses will be the sole responsibility of the interested Party.  Not responding to this Sources Sought does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued.  If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on http://www.SAM.gov.  It is the responsibility of the potential Offerors to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this foreseen, future requirement.

Requirement Statement

An interested party shall provide a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) and notional schedule for the proposed solution, which should meet the following requirements:

• To reduce NRE cost the system must utilize part number AS2100 Flight Computer built by American Systems and interface with the F-5's existing mechanical flight control linkages and hydraulic actuators. The solution should minimize the need for extensive physical modifications to the airframe or baseline flight control hardware.
• For legacy F-5N/F aircraft the vendor must provide a newly designed, dedicated control/indication panel. This panel must fit within current console space constraints and provide full capability for system engagement and status monitoring.
• The AFCS must provide reliable automated flight profiles (e.g., Heading Hold and Altitude Hold) to reduce pilot task saturation, enabling safe management of in-cockpit mission tasks during all phases of flight.
• The architecture must prioritize flight safety. In the event of a DSAS/AFCS software or hardware failure, the system must fail gracefully, immediately reverting primary unaugmented flight control back to the pilot without causing violent aircraft transients.
• The processing units, wiring, and associated hardware (including the legacy control panel) must conform to the strict spatial, weight, and electrical power generation limitations inherent to the F-5N/F airframe.
• The system software must comply with current DoD cybersecurity requirements for airborne systems. Vendors should identify the level of data rights and open systems architecture (MOSA) compliance inherent in their design.

The ROM and technical solution should detail the pedigree of the proposed solution and anticipated NRE should be detailed and include any required adaptation of COTS equipment, development of airworthiness qualification/test data, other technical data, and proposed level of effort for installation as applicable. Schedule information for integration efforts shall define component lead-time After Receipt of Order (ARO) and production throughput (lot size per unit of time).

Anticipated Period of Performance (PoP)

NRE is anticipated to complete no more than eighteen (18) months from the date of receipt of award. Airworthiness approval is anticipated to require no more than six (6) months from Government receipt of technical data and completion of a prototype/validation installation. The aircraft retrofit schedule is To Be Determined (TBD) based on proposed solutions from industry.

Estimated Quantities

The Government estimates requiring twenty (20) units under the resulting contract.

Capability Statement Requested

Capability statements in response to this Sources Sought must be electronically submitted in either Microsoft Word or Portable Document Format (PDF) via email to Ms. Taylor Wade at contact@example.gov and Mrs. Catrina Farrell, contact@example.gov. The deadline for capability statement submission is 28 November 2026 at 2:00 PM EDT. It is requested that interested, capable, and qualified vendors submit a capability statement (no more than ten (10) pages in length, single spaced, and twelve (12)-point font minimum). Proprietary information, if any, should be minimized and should be clearly marked.  To aid the Government, please segregate proprietary information.  Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. The statement must address, at a minimum, the stated requirements as described above, and:

1. Provide a brief company introduction and details on the company/organization, to include; Company Name, mailing address, and Points of Contact (POC) including name, telephone number, fax number, and email address; 
2. Briefly identify your company’s experience in performing work of similar size and scope.
3. Respondents to this notice must also indicate whether they are a large business or qualify as a Small Business concern, Veteran-owned Small Business Economically Disadvantaged Woman Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), 8(a), Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) small business concerns or Service- Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Concern.
4. Company Business Size, CAGE code, DUNS Number, Office location(s), annual revenue history, include number of employees, statement indicating business size and, if company is small, small disadvantaged business (SDB), Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB), Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB), Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), HUBZone Small Business (HUBZone), or 8 (a) business;
5. All data received in response to this sources sought, marked or designated as corporate or proprietary, will be protected from release outside the Government. Information and materials submitted in response to this request will not be returned. Classified material shall not be submitted.
6. If your company intends to team with a qualified subcontractor, please provide an explanation of your company’s ability to perform at least 50% of the cost of the contract performance. Please note that under a Small-Business Set-Aside, in accordance with FAR 52.219-14 of the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO), the Offeror/Contractor agrees in performance of the Delivery Order in the case of a contract for Services (except construction), it will not pay more than 50 percent of the amount paid by the Government for contract performance to subcontractors that are not similarly situated entities.
7. What specific technical skills does your company possess which ensures capability to perform the tasks?
8. Provide a top-level schedule outlining specific events/milestones and durations necessary for development/modification, test, integration, and delivery of hardware to include, but not limited to, follow-on production phase delivery. 
9. Detail any assumptions, such as necessary Government Furnished Material, required to support the presented technical solution/approach.

Summary

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT ONLY to identify sources that are currently capable or interested in providing a solution for integrating a new F-5 Digital Stability Augmentation System flight computer and addition of Automated Flight Control System capability. The information contained within this Sources Sought is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. At this time, the USG has not made a commitment to procure goods and/or services; therefore, this Sources Sought shall not be misconstrued as a Government commitment or authorization for the USG to incur costs or distribute imbursements.  All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.

DISCLAIMER. This sources sought announcement is published for informational purposes only and utilized as a Market Research tool. This is not a solicitation. It does not constitute a solicitation and shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government. Responses in any form are not offers and the Government is under no obligation to award a contract 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 notice is strictly voluntary. Firms responding to this announcement will not be individually notified if the requirement is solicited. Solicitations will occur through the Contract Opportunities section of SAM.gov. The Government will use the responses to this announcement to make an informed decision concerning the strategy it will pursue to meet its objective, including determining set-aside opportunities.