Robust Air Inlet and Flowpath Design for Multi-Mach Operation

The contract seeks the development of simplified and robust air inlet and internal flowpath geometries capable of maintaining stable aerodynamic performance across subsonic, supersonic, and hypersonic flight regimes. The focus is on creating designs that are inherently resilient to variability in operating conditions, reducing complexity and dependency on active control systems while ensuring efficiency and structural integrity under extreme thermal and pressure loads. This effort targets foundational advancements in inlet design that enable seamless transition between Mach regimes without performance degradation or risk of unstart. The opportunity is issued as a subcontract under the NAICS code 541330 for scientific research and development services, with the Department of Defense serving as the overseeing agency through its FA9300 AFTC PZR office. Proposals must be submitted by August 10, 2026, and the work is to be performed at Edwards, California, 93524, a key location for high-speed flight testing and aerospace innovation. While no set-aside provisions or point of contact details are specified, the emphasis on multi-mach operability suggests a strong need for collaboration between aerodynamics, materials science, and propulsion engineering teams to deliver a solution that is both scalable and operationally viable for next-generation aerospace systems.