Long-Range, Expendable Autonomous Air Vehicle for Distributed Effects in Contested Environments

Future contested operations may require the ability to generate large numbers of distributed airborne effects at ranges beyond those achievable by many existing Group 2/3 UAS.The desired system should combine sufficient aerodynamic efficiency, propulsion performance, autonomous mission execution, modular payload integration, resilient navigation, and low-cost manufacturing to enable operations at ranges between approximately 400 and 1,200 NM. Solutions should emphasize a modular vehicle architecture allowing Government or third-party payloads, autonomy, navigation, and communications components to be integrated without redesigning the entire aircraft. Range and Mission Performance ≥400 NM threshold to 1,200 NM with demonstrable varying ranges under a clearly defined mission profile.Document payload/range/endurance trade space.Characterize representative payload, launch conditions, altitude, speed, propulsion configuration, and mission profile.Demonstrate sufficient aerodynamic and propulsion efficiency to achieve long-range operation at acceptable recurring cost. Autonomous Mission ExecutionAutonomous launch and transition to mission flight.Autonomous navigation and mission execution.Autonomous terminal mission functions appropriate to the proposed concept.Continued mission execution during intermittent or extended loss of command-and-control connectivity.Deterministic and configurable lost-link behavior.Mission-planning interfaces that minimize operator workload.Architecture capable of incorporating Government-provided autonomy.Resilient NavigationMaintain useful navigation during representative GNSS degradation, denial, interference, or loss. Characterize navigation performance, accumulated error, availability, and recovery. Support integration of complementary navigation sources. Collaborative navigation approaches are of interest where sufficiently mature for Phase II integration and flight demonstration. Navigation technologies should be mature enough to support the overall D2P2 schedule; maturation of 5-6 TRL fundamental navigation concepts is not the primary intent of this effort..Modular Mission ArchitectureModular mechanical, electrical, power, data, and software interfaces.Integration of Government or third-party payloads without fundamental air-vehicle redesign.Architecture capable of accepting Government-provided autonomy, navigation, communications, and payload components.Document Government-accessible interfaces necessary for transition.PropulsionCharacterize propulsion performance.Quantify fuel/energy consumption across representative mission profiles.Identify propulsion reliability and remaining maturation risks.Characterize range, payload, and propulsion trade space.Environmental and Structural PerformanceDemonstrate environmental and structural suitability for representative operational employment.Characterize launch loads, flight loads, environmental limitations, and relevant storage/transport constraints.Affordability and Scalable ManufacturingTreat recurring unit cost as a primary system-level design consideration.Identify major unit-cost drivers.Demonstrate production-relevant manufacturing approaches.Reduce dependence on scarce materials, specialized tooling, and labor-intensive production where technically feasible.Quantify production scalability, lead time, labor content, and supply-chain risks.Consider rapid, distributed, or high-rate manufacturing approaches.The Government is interested in existing technologies requiring integration and maturation, not clean-sheet conceptual aircraft requiring extended basic research.