Air Force seeking ideas in $500M advanced manufacturing tech effort

The Air Force's latest call for white papers from industry seeks ideas on bolstering advanced manufacturing technologies and will award up to $500 million under this effort.

Mere days after one call for white papers, the Air Force has put out a second request for the same from industry on ideas to bolster advanced manufacturing technologies for new defense capabilities.

A broad agency announcement posted March 24 describes how the Air Force Research Laboratory wants to advance future factory technology, strengthen the overall digital manufacturing portfolio and further explore additive manufacturing.

The Manufacturing Research and Technology Development BAA will have a $500 million ceiling value over five years after the notice’s publication. Multiple awards will take the form of grants, cooperative agreements or other transactions as described in the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

Five technology domains called out as high priorities in the notice include advanced concepts; attritable and low-cost systems; networked command, control and communications systems; hypersonic strike; and emerging technologies.

White papers can be submitted at any time before the BAA’s expiration in March 2026.