Commercially-Based Supersonic Aerial Target Solutions

THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) IS ISSUED SOLELY FOR INFORMATION AND PLANNING PURPOSES AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION. THE GOVERNMENT MAY USE THE INFORMATION RECEIVED TO INFORM A POTENTIAL PROTOTYPE PROJECT UNDER OTHER TRANSACTION AUTHORITY (OTA), PURSUANT TO 10 U.S.C. § 4022. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT. ALL INFORMATION SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO THIS RFI IS VOLUNTARY AND THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT COMPENSATE ANY RESPONDENT FOR ANY COST INCURRED IN DEVELOPMENT OF INFORMATION PROVIDED TO THE GOVERNMENT. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL; YET IS A MARKET RESEARCH TOOL TO DETERMINE POTENTIAL FIRMS CAPABLE OF PROVIDING THE SUPPLIES DESCRIBED HEREIN PRIOR TO AN ISSUANCE OF A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT OBLIGATED TO PAY FOR ANY INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM POTENTIAL SOURCES AS A RESULT OF THIS RFI. THIS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT OF ANY KIND. RESPONSES IN ANY FORM ARE NOT OFFERS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT OR NON-FAR BASED AGREEMENT (E.G. OTHER TRANSACTION) 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 TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY. FAILURE TO SUBMIT A RESPONSE WILL NOT PREVENT A COMPANY FROM PARTICIPATION IN ANY FUTURE COMPETETION RELATED TO PMA208’s COMMERCIALLY BASED SUPRSONIC TARGETS. INFORMATION PROVIDED SHOULD BE UNCLASSIFIED. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED MAY BE REVIEWED AND USED ACROSS THE GOVERNMENT.

The Naval Air Systems Command, Program Management Office, Aerial Targets (PMA-208), is exploring alternatives to the traditional acquisition of supersonic aerial targets. The objective of this RFI is to solicit technical feedback from industry while identifying and assessing mature, commercially-developed and/or non-developmental solutions that can meet Navy threat simulation requirements which improve both affordability and industrial base resilience.

The Government is seeking information on supersonic aerial target capabilities that can be demonstrated in the near term (October 2028 – September 2029) and can be scaled to provide the recurring operational target presentations to support the Fleet starting in the 2030-2034 timeframe. The Government is open to various acquisition and business models, including contractor-owned/contractor-operated, pay-per-outcome, or other innovative structure.

NAVAIR is considering awarding one or more Other Transaction Agreements (OTA), pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 4022 “Authority of the Department of Defense to carry out certain prototype projects,” for Commercially-Based Supersonic Aerial Target Solutions.

The Government reserves the right to pursue production of a successful prototype(s).

Update (15 May 2026) - Please see Attachment 1 Frequently Asked Questions