Air Dominance Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)

The Air Dominance Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), issued by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Munitions Directorate, represents a long-term federal research funding opportunity focused on advancing technologies critical to national defense and air superiority. AFRL, as a core research arm of the Department of the Air Force, is responsible for developing, integrating, and transitioning warfighting technologies across air, space, and cyberspace domains. This BAA is designed to support applied research, advanced technology development, and prototype systems that enhance conventional munitions capabilities. The program is aligned with federal acquisition regulations governing competitive research solicitations and is structured to maintain open competition while encouraging innovation from a broad range of performers. The primary objective of this BAA is to solicit scientific and engineering solutions across a wide spectrum of air dominance challenges. These include modeling and simulation, aircraft integration, targeting and tracking technologies, missile systems, propulsion, artificial intelligence, and advanced warhead development. The scope is intentionally broad to capture emerging technologies that can be translated into operational capabilities. Research efforts are expected to demonstrate substantive results, contribute to scientific understanding, and address long-term national security needs. The program supports multiple divisions within the Munitions Directorate, including technology integration, strategy, and science and technology divisions, each contributing to the development and transition of advanced munitions systems. Funding under this BAA is flexible and may be awarded through various mechanisms, including contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or other transaction agreements, depending on the nature of the proposed work. While the cumulative funding across all awards is anticipated not to exceed 750,000,000 dollars, individual awards vary and are determined based on proposal merit and available funding. There is no guaranteed funding allocation for the open BAA itself, and funding is distributed through specific calls or proposals invited after initial white paper evaluation. Cost sharing is not required but may be proposed voluntarily. Deliverables typically include technical reports, progress updates, and potentially hardware or prototype systems, depending on the project scope. Eligibility for this opportunity is unrestricted, meaning that educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, private industry, small businesses, and other entities may apply. However, participation may be subject to additional requirements such as security clearances, export control regulations, and U.S. citizenship restrictions for personnel accessing certain facilities or data. Foreign-owned entities may participate but are subject to additional review processes. Applicants must also comply with data rights requirements and disclose any restrictions on technical data or software developed under the award. The submission process follows a two-step approach. Initially, applicants submit a white paper, which is a concise summary of the proposed research, limited to five pages. White papers can be submitted at any time during the open period of the BAA, which spans five years from the original posting date. If a white paper is favorably evaluated, the applicant may be invited to submit a full technical and cost proposal. Additionally, the government may issue specific calls for proposals targeting particular research areas, each with its own submission requirements and deadlines. Applicants are encouraged to consult with technical points of contact prior to submission to ensure alignment with program priorities. Evaluation of submissions is based primarily on technical merit, innovation, feasibility, and potential contribution to the advancement of air dominance technologies. Secondary considerations include cost realism and alignment with available funding. Proposals are assessed for risk across technical, cost, and schedule dimensions, and selections are made based on overall value to the government. Awards may be issued without discussions, though clarifications may be requested. Notification of selection or non-selection is provided following evaluation, and award decisions are contingent on funding availability and successful negotiations. The timeline for this BAA is continuous and flexible. The opportunity was posted in April 2025 and remains open through October 31, 2029. White papers may be submitted on a rolling basis throughout this period, while specific proposal deadlines are tied to individual calls issued during the lifecycle of the BAA. This structure allows for ongoing engagement with the research community and continuous intake of innovative ideas. Applicants should monitor official government platforms for updates, amendments, and new calls associated with this announcement.

Ensure strong technical merit and innovation; align proposal with one of the 13 research areas; consult technical POC before submission; clearly define feasibility and risks