USAF seeks information on ‘Mayhem' expendable hypersonic air-breathing demonstrator

The US Air Force (USAF) is seeking information from industry on a possible expendable hypersonic multimission air-breathing demonstrator called ‘Mayhem’, according to a 12 August request for information (RFI) posted on the federal contracting website beta.sam.gov.

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is interested in the design, fabrication, integration, and necessary research needed to enable a larger-scale, air-breathing hypersonic multimission flight demonstrator. The Mayhem System Demonstrator (MSD) will need to be capable of carrying larger payloads over distances farther than current hypersonic capabilities allow.

Contract structure for the USAF’s ‘Mayhem’ expendable hypersonic multimission air-breathing demonstrator (US Air Force Research Laboratory)

The payload bay will be modular and capable of carrying or delivering at least three distinct payloads in order to execute multiple Pentagon-defined mission sets. The AFRL has previously accomplished similar research under multiple efforts, including the Enhanced Operational Scramjet Technology effort, the Enabling Technologies for High-Speed Operable Systems concept, the High-Speed Strike Weapon Program, and the Hypersonic Air-Breathing Weapon Concept Program.

To increase industry involvement and benefit from focused tasking, the AFRL is considering using two multiple-award indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contracts to accomplish the Mayhem demonstrator effort. The two ID/IQ contracts would be split into groups, each encompassing one propulsion system development and vehicle development and integration.

Each ID/IQ contract group would share a single-cost ceiling with a multiple-award ID/IQ contract scoped to each of the two focus areas: large-scale propulsion development and flight-weight ground test; and air vehicle design and scramjet integration.

Follow-on awards would include fabrication, flight test, and vehicle modification for integration of various payloads. Multiple-award ID/IQ contracts would be planned under one solicitation.