Request for Information (RFI) for NASA ARMD Aeronautics Flight Accelerator

Quick Summary

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for its Aeronautics Flight Accelerator (AFA) initiative. This RFI seeks input from U.S. industry, academia, and government organizations regarding potential partnerships for research, development, and flight testing of revolutionary aeronautics technologies. Responses are due May 7, 2026, at 1:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time (PDT).

Purpose & Scope

NASA ARMD's AFA initiative aims to accelerate U.S. competitiveness by promoting rapid, cost-effective flight experimentation, strengthening the aerospace industrial base, and enabling domestic manufacturing. The RFI is for planning purposes only and does not constitute a commitment by the Government. NASA intends to use responses to help shape a potential competitive solicitation for cost-shared projects to fly between FY26 and FY28.

The initiative focuses on rapid, flight-focused maturation of technologies across subsonic (including vertical lift), supersonic, and hypersonic flight regimes. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, propulsion, airframe concepts, integrated systems, power systems, GNC, avionics, sensors, advanced instrumentation, materials, autonomy, airspace operations, and communication technologies.

Partnership Details

NASA is considering funded Space Act Agreements, SBIR/STTR Phase III, and similar partnership mechanisms. Respondents should anticipate some level of cost share, with NASA's contribution potentially including in-kind resources like expertise and flight assets. Projects should incorporate adequate ground testing and integration, with flight testing beginning no later than the third year of effort. Participation is limited to U.S.-based respondents.

Information Requested

NASA requests input on the following key topics:

• Technology/Concept Overview: Revolutionary technologies and how NASA involvement supports maturation.
• Market: Target market, differentiators, and product introduction timeline.
• Mission and Operational Objectives: System-level performance parameters and requirements.
• Technical Objectives: Key objectives, system diagrams, performance parameters, TRLs, challenges, and FAA certification barriers.
• U.S. Economic Benefits: Headquarters, research, manufacturing locations, and support for U.S. competitiveness.
• NASA Collaboration Requirements: Desired NASA support (e.g., indemnification, technical collaboration, facility access, airworthiness approvals).
• Airworthiness, Flight, and Safety Oversight: Proposed organizations for approval and safety oversight.
• Applications and Transition: Anticipated benefits and how a NASA flight demo supports transition.
• Experience and Capabilities: Relevant past performance and current capabilities.
• Procurement Mechanism Preferences: Advantages/disadvantages of FSAA or other mechanisms.
• Data Rights and Intellectual Property: Required protections and willingness for data sharing.
• Level of Interest, Partnership and Investment: Expected investment, cost share, prospective partners, and deterrents.

Submission Requirements

Responses must be single-spaced, 12-point font, with 1-inch margins, and a maximum length of 8 pages. Submissions should be in PDF format and emailed to Jenni Schnarr (jennifer.schnarr@nasa.gov) by the deadline. The subject line must be "AFA RFI Response – [Organization Name]". Do not submit confidential, proprietary, or export-controlled information unless clearly marked.

Important Note

This is an RFI for planning purposes only and is not a request for proposal. NASA will not pay for information provided.