Propulsion and hypersonics: funding and government opportunities

Open and planning notices

• Long Range Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for NSWC Crane

  Grants.gov · Posted — date requires source check · Closing not reported · Observed 2026-10-13

  This announcement seeks revolutionary research ideas, and technology demonstrators that offer potential for advancement and improvement of NSWC Crane’s primary mission areas.NSWC Crane is a field activity of the Naval Sea Systems Command. NSWC Crane supports a wide range of government agencies in the interest of national security. NSWC Crane may publish BAAs and other solicitations in response to specific needs. This BAA is issued to seek innovative solutions and ideas for topics not covered via other means. It is strongly encouraged that potential proposers review existing NSWC Crane solicita

• Tactical Behaviors for Autonomous Maneuver

  Grants.gov · Posted — date requires source check · Closing not reported · Observed 2026-10-13

  **UPDATE 5 APRIL 2024: The proposal submission date has been updated to 24 April 2024. The FOA has been amended to reflect this submission date and include a Question and Answer document based on questions received from interested applicants. Other than the updated proposal submission date in the FOA, the actual FOA Amendment has not been changed. However, the answers provided in the Q&A; document are considered part of the FOA Amendment.** **CYCLE 2 UPDATE 20 MARCH 2024 - THE OPPORTUNITY WEBINAR FOR CYCLE 2 WILL BE HELD ONLINE VIA MS TEAMS AT 1500 EDT ON 22 MARCH 2024 AT THE FOLLOWING LINK:

• AI/ML for Next Generation of Missile Detection, Warning, Tracking, and Reporting

  DSIP · Open · Closing 2026-10-21 · Observed 2026-10-13

  DoW SBIR 2026 CSO SpaceWERX, Space Platforms, Space Sensing, Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR), Data Fusion, AI/ML, OODA, Mission Assurance SpaceWERX, in partnership with Space Systems Command's Space Sensing System Delta 84 and the OPIR Tap Lab, are seeking innovative solutions supporting the next generation of missile detection, warning, tracking, and reporting. The objective of this SBIR Phase I effort is to evaluate the feasibility of applying innovative data processing techniques including the use of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) methodologies to address the evolv

• Reusable Illumination System

  DSIP · Pre-Release · Closing 2026-11-25 · Observed 2026-10-13

  DoW SBIR 2027 BAA Illumination, photo-optic, hypersonic, sled test The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks i

• US Production of Ultra-High Temperature Ceramic-Yielding Preceramic Polymers

  DSIP · Pre-Release · Closing 2026-11-25 · Observed 2026-10-13

  DoW SBIR 2027 BAA Preceramic Polymer, Ultra-High Temperature Ceramics, UHTC, Precursors, Ceramic Matrix Composites, CMC, Scaled Production. The Department of the Air Force seeks to establish the domestic production of ultra-high temperature ceramic (UHTC)-yielding preceramic polymers. UHTCs are used for demanding aerospace applications, including propulsion and aeroshell components.

• Multiple Telemetry Site Signal Source Synchronization

  DSIP · Pre-Release · Closing 2026-11-25 · Observed 2026-10-13

  DoW SBIR 2027 BAA Signal Synchronization; Integrated Network Systems; Best Source Selection; Test and Training Ranges; Flight Test Missions; Data Quality Metrics; Hypersonic Vehicles; Real-Time Data; System Validation; Telemetry Infrastructure; DoW Test Scenarios The objective of this project is to study, develop, test, and field a system that addresses a critical gap in pre-mission verification and validation of receive systems supporting flight test missions that transition between multiple, geographically diverse Test and Training Ranges. The end goal is to achieve a fully operational syste

• Luminescence-Based Surface Measurement Technique for Simultaneous Pressure and Temperature Measurements within Non-Oxygen Based Hypersonic Ground Test Facilities

  DSIP · Pre-Release · Closing 2026-11-25 · Observed 2026-10-13

  DoW SBIR 2027 BAA hypersonic, instrumentation, non-intrusive, wind-tunnel Develop and validate a non-intrusive, luminescence-based surface measurement technique for simultaneous pressure and temperature measurements within non-oxygen-based hypersonic ground test facilities.

• Fuel-Flexible Spacecraft Electric Propulsion System

  DSIP · Open · Closing 2026-10-21 · Observed 2026-10-13

  DoW STTR 2026 BAA Spacecraft Propulsion, Hall Thruster, Fuel-Flexible, Air-Breathing, VLEO, In-Situ Resource Utilization, ISRU, Oxygenic Propellants, Multimode Propulsion Develop a fuel-flexible spacecraft electric propulsion system capable of operating efficiently on air, water, or mixtures of water/carbon dioxide or nitrogen/hydrogen at >30% electrical efficiency.ITAR: The technology within this topic may be restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including expor

• Localization, Characterization, and Modeling of Freestream Disturbances in Hypersonic Wind Tunnels

  DSIP · Open · Closing 2026-10-21 · Observed 2026-10-13

  DoW STTR 2026 BAA Hypersonics, Wind Tunnel Noise, Upstream Disturbances, Nozzle Throat, Driver-Gas Acoustics, Non-Optical Diagnostics, High-Frequency Sensors, Acoustic Mitigation, Fiber-Optic Probes, Reflected-Shock Tunnels, Expansion Tubes Develop and demonstrate a robust methodology to localize, characterize and model upstream noise and flow disturbances in hypersonic wind tunnels, specifically targeting high-risk, hard-to-access regions upstream of the test section (e.g., driver, reservoir, nozzle throat and walls) where traditional optical access is restricted or unavailable. Performers mu

• Bio-inspired Underwater Teams

  DSIP · Open · Closing 2026-10-21 · Observed 2026-10-13

  DoW STTR 2026 BAA Biological propulsion; unmanned underwater vehicle teams; biologically-inspired design Utilize the fundamental understanding of hydrodynamic benefits from underwater vehicles swimming in proximity to each other to develop and demonstrate a design for an underwater vehicle team optimized for range, endurance, speed and quietness. The design should be based on rigorous analysis and leverage results from recent computational and experimental fluid dynamics investigations that have shown signifcant gains in efficiency resulting from group swimming. The design should also leverage

• USSOCOM Open Call for Technical Experimentation 27-1: Special Operations Forces (SOF) Combat Diving (Diver Communications, Diver Propulsion, Underwater Interfaces) and Maritime Domain Situational Awareness Sensing Integration on USVs

  SAM.gov · Special Notice — active notice · Closing 2026-10-22 · Observed 2026-10-13

• HERMES BAA CALL: Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine-Combined Cycle (RDRE-CC) Flight Demonstration

  SAM.gov · Special Notice — active notice · Closing 2026-11-16 · Observed 2026-10-13

• RFI for Next Generation Hypersonic Cruise Missiles

  SAM.gov · Special Notice — active notice · Closing 2026-11-06 · Observed 2026-10-13

• Propulsion and Power of Naval Air Vehicles (FY27 BAA)

  SAM.gov · Combined Synopsis/Solicitation — active notice · Closing 2027-09-30 · Observed 2026-10-13