US Air Force seeks information on sUAS supply chain investment roadmap

The US Air Force (USAF) seeks information from industry to help formulate an investment roadmap to create commercial solutions for small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) and their components that support the development and integration of a common system architecture. The domestic sUAS industrial base and innovation ecosystem have not been able to successfully compete with dominant foreign competition, according to a 9 August request for information (RFI) posted on the Federal Business Opportunities website. There are security concerns with products originating from covered foreign countries, specifically China.

This quad-rotor UAS, developed by Daedalus Flight Systems LLC in collaboration with the University of Maryland, is an example of the US micro vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) sUAS industrial base of which USAF is looking to improve. (US Army Research Laboratory)

The Pentagon believes there is a significant capability and capacity gap within the operating forces in sUAS. sUASs have been deemed essential to national defence due to their applications on the battlefield as well as their contributions to humanitarian aid, disaster relief, security, facilities, and public works maintenance and inspections.

“The domestic industrial capability to produce sUAS for use in [the Department of Defense] and essential civilian applications is vital for national security,” the RFI said.

The USAF particularly seeks commercial solutions for the micro-vertical takeoff and landing (micro-VTOL) and VTOL categories, but responses are not limited to these capabilities and components. Micro VTOL aircraft range from 0.5 kg to 2.3 kg while VTOL aircraft weigh in the range of 2.3–25 kg. The information received will inform ongoing efforts to field sUASs, based upon an open architecture (OA) and modular design, by providing best-in-breed software and/or hardware technologies.