Dynamic Open Systems Enclave

The U.S. Air Force is seeking a solution to address severe delays in modernizing legacy fighter jets, particularly the F-16, due to outdated, manual sensor-to-shooter workflows that are unable to keep pace with evolving threats. Current systems suffer from inefficient data links, poor edge computing, and an overload of battlefield information that degrades pilot situational awareness. To resolve this, the Department of the Air Force is soliciting a Dynamic Open Systems Enclave—an open-architecture hardware and software toolkit designed to rapidly insert next-generation sensors and processing capabilities into legacy platforms without violating airworthiness constraints. This enclave will enable real-time data fusion from national intelligence and battlefield sensors, delivering actionable information directly to the right platform at the right moment using resilient beyond line-of-sight communications, dramatically increasing operational effectiveness and return on investment. This solicitation, designated DAF26BZ05-DV033, is a total small business set-aside under the SBIR/STTR program, restricted exclusively to businesses with fewer than 500 employees. The opportunity was posted on August 5, 2026, with proposals due by August 26, 2026. The solution must operate in a secure, edge-computing environment compatible with existing F-16 systems while leveraging high-speed, survivable data links to bypass legacy bottlenecks. The goal is to transform how data flows on the battlefield—not by replacing aircraft, but by intelligently augmenting them with agile, modular capabilities that meet urgent FY26 modernization deadlines and ensure the United States maintains air superiority against near-peer adversaries.