Navy asking industry for new technologies in artificial intelligence (AI), hypersonics, and cyber security

Summary points:

• Navy wants white papers on artificial intelligence, cyber security, hypersonics, and quantum sensing to support future aviation capabilities.
• Focus areas span avionics, sensors, electronic warfare (EW), digital engineering, autonomy, and secure communications.
• Companies should submit white papers by June 2026; selected proposals may lead to full contract opportunities.

PATUXENT RIVER NAS, Md. – U.S. Navy aviation researchers are surveying industry for new enabling technologies in artificial intelligence (AI); machine learning; machine autonomy; cyber security; fast computing; secure communications and networking; avionics, sensors and electronic warfare (EW); and hypersonics.

Officials of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md., issued a broad agency announcement (N00421-25-S-0001) this week asking for white papers in a broad variety of aviation technologies.

Areas of interest also include advanced manufacturing; digital engineering; aeromechanics; data science and visualization; human systems; materials and aircraft structures; mechanical systems; power and propulsion; support equipment; test and evaluation; and warfare analysis.

AI and machine learning involves signal and analysis sensing, complex reasoning, multi-agent based operation and decision making, sense-and-avoid algorithms, deep reinforcement learning, neural networks, and demand forecasting.

Machine autonomy

Machine autonomy involves air to air refueling, verification and validation tools, airworthiness and risk management, and precision takeoff and landing.

Cyber security involves threat detection, cyber effects modeling, reverse engineering, behavioral analysis, intrusion, adaptive cyber security, simulation and interface research, concolic testing, and systems configuration management.

Quantum technology involves onboard navigation and threat detection, secure communications and sensing, nitrogen vacancy diamond sensing, quantum encryption, and quantum computing.

Secure networking

Secure communications and networking involves command and control, software development, information assurance, blockchain networks, health monitoring, data transfer in dynamic and contested environments.

Digital engineering involves digital twin technology, predictive maintenance, automated sustainment, digital communication of system requirements using model-based systems engineering (MBSE) and Systems Modeling Language (SysML), engineering models, and virtual environments.

Avionics, sensors, and EW involves multi-modal sensors, passive and active sensors, precision navigation and timing (PNT), open-systems architectures, signal and image processing, flight-control systems, and advanced EW concepts.

Hypersonic flight

Hypersonics involves high-speed aerodynamics, multi-physic modeling and simulation, hypersonic system testing, high-temperature materials, guidance and navigation, and advanced air-breathing propulsion.

Companies interested should email white papers no later than 22 June 2026 to the Navy at [email protected]. Those submitting promising white papers may be invited to submit full proposals.

Email questions or concerns to the Navy's Stephanie Gleason at [email protected]. More information is online at https://www.fbodaily.com/archive/2025/06-June/25-Jun-2025/FBO-07484993.htm.