Pioneering Aerospace Capabilities, Engineering and Research

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is seeking white papers and proposals for the Pioneering Aerospace Capabilities, Engineering and Research (PACER) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA). The BAA aims to enable study efforts on novel concepts, as well as research and development efforts to mature specific technologies to appropriate technology readiness levels (TRL) depending on end use. The PACER BAA focuses on various technology areas, including high-speed systems, power and controls, strategic planning and analysis, air-breathing engine technology, and air vehicle technologies. Some key areas of interest include: • High-speed systems technology development, such as power and thermal management, multi-mach operations, durability, mission systems, and vehicle integration and analysis. • Power and controls technology development, including autonomous control, electrical systems, flight systems integration, mechanical and thermal systems, and medium scale integrated propulsion, power, and thermal systems. • Strategic planning and analysis technology development, focusing on science of modeling, simulation, and analysis, aerospace systems modeling, simulation, and analysis, and digital materiel management. • Air-breathing engine technology development, including affordability, future enabling air breathing propulsion, exploration, optimization, and design tools, and high-speed turbine engine technologies. • Air vehicle technologies development, such as aerodynamic technologies, airframe structures, multidisciplinary design, analysis and optimization, and development and demonstration of advanced military air vehicle capabilities.