Pentagon Looks To Expand Supersonic Aircraft Industrial Base

Special notice seeks proposals aimed at production speed, sustainment costs and supply chain concerns.

Pentagon Looks To Expand Supersonic Aircraft Industrial Base
[Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Alexander Cook]
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Key Takeaways:

  • The Pentagon is seeking new manufacturing and sustainment approaches for future supersonic military aircraft to address challenges like cost, production speed, material availability, and supply chain concerns.
  • The initiative explores advanced technologies such as additive manufacturing, robotics, digital engineering, and advanced repair methods, aiming to reduce reliance on foreign sources.
  • Solutions are being solicited through the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace, with submissions due by June 24.
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The Pentagon is searching for new manufacturing approaches intended to support the production and sustainment of future supersonic military aircraft. According to a special notice posted on SAM.gov, the effort is focused on addressing cost, production speed, material availability and supply chain concerns tied to next-generation aerospace systems.

The notice identifies several areas of interest, including additive manufacturing, advanced materials, robotics and automation, digital engineering, reverse engineering of legacy components and advanced repair technologies. The goal is to improve how supersonic aircraft and related components are built, maintained and supported, while reducing reliance on foreign sources for critical materials and parts.

The effort is being handled through the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace and submissions are due June 24. Future awards, if made, could be handled through the Defense Industrial Base Consortium.

Matt Ryan

Matt is AVweb's lead editor. His eyes have been turned to the sky for as long as he can remember. Now a fixed-wing pilot, instructor and aviation writer, Matt also leads and teaches a high school aviation program in the Dallas area. Beyond his lifelong obsession with aviation, Matt loves to travel and has lived in Greece, Czechia and Germany for studies and for work.
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