ONHS Report: DARPA-SN-26-93

RFI for Next Generation Hypersonic Cruise Missiles

Solicitation ID: DARPA-SN-26-93

Agency: DARPA/TTO

Type: Special Notice

Deadline: 2026-10-06T17:00:00 ET

Eligibility: Yes (Unrestricted)

Funding: N/A

Doc Type: RFI

Clearance: CUI

Program Manager: DARPA-SN-26-93@darpa.mil

Last Updated: 2026-08-08 16:03

Analyzed File: DARPA-SN-26-93.pdf

Eligibility Reasoning

Responses to this RFI are welcome from all capable sources including, but not limited to, private or public companies, individuals, universities, University-Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs), Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), not-for-profit research institutions, and U.S. Government-sponsored labs. ... DARPA invites responses from all capable sources engaged in related research activities and appreciates responses from all capable and qualified sources, including, but not limited to, universities, UARCs, FFRDCs, private or public companies, and Government research laboratories.

Note: This is an AI-generated summary...

Summary

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Tactical Technology Office (TTO) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for the Next Generation Hypersonic Cruise Missile (NGHCM) program. The goal is to inform a future Program Solicitation for a system-level effort to design, build, and flight-test a demonstrator of a fully integrated, air-breathing hypersonic cruise missile. The program seeks a revolutionary leap in performance—specifically in range, cruise speed, and/or altitude—to counter advanced adversary air defenses, while emphasizing a Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA) philosophy for affordable, high-rate production. The RFI seeks industry input in three Focus Areas: (1) Trade Space Exploration and Concept Development for system architectures across various launch platforms; (3) Critical Technology Evaluation for radical new subsystems in propulsion, materials, and thermal management; and (4) Innovative Test and Evaluation (T&E) Technologies to accelerate development and reduce testing costs.

Overall Technical Areas

Hypersonic Vehicle ArchitectureAir-Breathing Propulsion SystemsHigh-Temperature MaterialsThermal Management SolutionsAerodynamic Design OptimizationAdvanced Booster TechnologiesHigh Energy Density FuelsModel-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)Digital Twin TechnologiesAutonomous Flight SystemsHypersonic Test & EvaluationExtreme Environment InstrumentationAdvanced Data AssimilationDesign for Manufacturing (DFMA)High-Performance Power & Actuation

Probable LBNL Areas

BSACSAEESAESAETAPSA

Focus Areas

Example Priorities:

DARPA seeks system-level architectural concepts and integration strategies for a next-generation air-breathing hypersonic cruise missile.
System-level trades across multiple launch platform constraints (air, ground, and surface), DFMA integration, and the programmatic approach to executing a rapid development and demonstration program.
Describe the approach to exploring a wide and diverse employment trade space. Rather than assuming a single point design, how does the architecture scale or adapt to different operational constraints to maximize tactical utility?
Identify how the new concept incorporates a DFMA philosophy from the outset.
Identify the intended Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE). How to utilize “digital thread" and digital twins to accelerate the design cycle and integrate complex subsystems?

Specific Technical Skills:

Systems EngineeringHypersonic AerodynamicsAerospace EngineeringPropulsion IntegrationModel-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)Digital EngineeringTrade Space AnalysisDesign for Manufacturing (DFMA)Mission AnalysisStructural Dynamics

Potential PIs for this Area:

Name	Score	Organization
Steven Hofmeyr	0.73	CSA \| AMCR \| Computer Science · Systems Engineering
Gregory Lemieux	0.71	EESA \| CESD \| Earth System Sciences · Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)
Eric Masanet	0.71	ETA \| Energy Analysis \| Systems & Energy Tech Analysis · Propulsion Integration
Thomas Hendrickson	0.71	ETA \| Energy Analysis \| Systems & Energy Tech Analysis · Trade Space Analysis
Angelos Ioannou	0.71	CSA \| AMCR \| Computer Science · Digital Engineering
Aaron Lattanzi	0.71	CSA \| AMCR \| Applied Mathematics · Hypersonic Aerodynamics
Claire Tomlin	0.70	BSA \| Biological Systems & Engineering \| Department of BioEngineering and BioMedical Sciences · Aerospace Engineering
Louis-Benoit Desroches	0.70	ETA \| Energy Analysis \| Energy Efficiency Studies · Mission Analysis
Unique Karki	0.70	ETA \| Building Tech. & Urban Sys. \| Bldg & Industrial App Dpt · Design for Manufacturing (DFMA)
Mamun Miah	0.70	EESA \| EG \| Geophysics Dept · Structural Dynamics

Example Priorities:

DARPA seeks information on specific, high-risk, high-reward technologies essential for enabling a revolutionary hypersonic cruise missile system.
This includes advances in air-breathing propulsion systems, high energy density fuels, advanced booster technologies, high-temperature materials, thermal management solutions, and high-performance power generation/ actuation/fuel systems.
DARPA seeks unconstrained, radical new subsystem concepts that can deliver a quantum leap in overall system performance and distinguish themselves completely from the current state-of-the-art.
Clearly articulate the physical principles, current maturity level (Technology Readiness Level (TRL) / Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL), and the specific limitations of current state-of-the-art systems the technology overcomes.

Specific Technical Skills:

Scramjet PropulsionHigh-Temperature MaterialsMaterials ScienceThermal ManagementHigh Energy Density FuelsBooster TechnologyPower Generation SystemsFlight Control ActuationTechnology Readiness Level (TRL) AssessmentSubsystem Integration

Potential PIs for this Area:

Name	Score	Organization
Scott Mccormack	0.76	ESA \| MSD \| Material Physics · High-Temperature Materials
Francesco Ricci	0.75	ESA \| MSD \| Material Physics · Materials Science
Kristin Persson	0.75	ESA \| MSD \| Material Physics · Materials Science
Qin Yu	0.74	ESA \| MSD \| Material Physics · High-Temperature Materials
Xiong Peng	0.73	ETA \| ESDR \| Energy Storage & Dist Dpt · Power Generation Systems
Claire Tomlin	0.73	BSA \| Biological Systems & Engineering \| Department of BioEngineering and BioMedical Sciences · Flight Control Actuation
Ravi Prasher	0.73	ETA \| ESDR \| Energy Storage & Dist Dpt · Thermal Management
Meirong Zeng	0.72	ESA \| CSD \| Condensed Phase - CPIMS · High Energy Density Fuels
Ronald Pandolfi	0.72	CSA \| AMCR \| Mathematics · Subsystem Integration
Vi Rapp	0.72	ETA \| Building Tech. & Urban Sys. \| Bldg & Industrial App Dpt · Scramjet Propulsion

Example Priorities:

DARPA seeks unconstrained, radical, new T&E concepts in the areas of test execution, instrumentation, and flight test architectures.
These concepts must significantly accelerate model validation and reduce the time, cost, and uncertainty associated with complex hypersonic ground and flight testing.
Revolutionary capabilities—such as autonomous telemetry, advanced data assimilation, and novel range safety architectures—that lead to a quantum leap in overall program execution efficiencies.
Identify how advanced data assimilation techniques are utilized to maximize knowledge gain from limited physical test data.
Identify novel flight test execution, telemetry, range safety, or in-flight data assimilation methodologies that challenge traditional flight test paradigms.
Concepts should describe the ability to scale to different missions and distances from 250nm – 2000nm. technologies that can remove dependencies on traditional test ranges and enable programs to test on demand.

Specific Technical Skills:

Hypersonic Test and EvaluationInstrumentation EngineeringAutonomous SystemsData AssimilationTelemetry SystemsRange SafetyFlight Test ArchitectureModel ValidationHigh-Speed Data BackhaulSensor Development

Potential PIs for this Area:

Name	Score	Organization
Claire Tomlin	0.73	BSA \| Biological Systems & Engineering \| Department of BioEngineering and BioMedical Sciences · Autonomous Systems
Yuan Mei	0.72	PSA \| PHY \| Atlas · Sensor Development
Yang Zhou	0.71	EESA \| CESD \| Earth System Sciences · Data Assimilation
Arpit Gupta	0.71	CSA \| ESNET \| Tech Adv and Engagement · High-Speed Data Backhaul
Zachary Jones	0.71	BSA \| Biological Systems & Engineering \| Process Engr & Analytics · Hypersonic Test and Evaluation
Bruce Mah	0.70	CSA \| ESNET \| Tech Adv and Engagement · Telemetry Systems
Jeremy Smith	0.70	EESA \| EG \| Geophysics Dept · Model Validation
Hannah Parrilla	0.70	PSA \| NSD \| ANP · Range Safety
Shankar Earni	0.69	ETA \| Building Tech. & Urban Sys. \| Bldg & Industrial App Dpt · Instrumentation Engineering
Angelos Ioannou	0.69	CSA \| AMCR \| Computer Science · Flight Test Architecture

Potential LBNL PIs (Overall)

Note on PI Matching: These suggestions are generated through an AI-driven semantic analysis of LBNL staff profiles.

Name	Score	Organization
Scott Mccormack	0.78	ESA \| MSD \| Material Physics · High-Temperature Materials
Yuan Mei	0.76	PSA \| PHY \| Atlas · Extreme Environment Instrumentation
Claire Tomlin	0.75	BSA \| Biological Systems & Engineering \| Department of BioEngineering and BioMedical Sciences · Autonomous Flight Systems
Ravi Prasher	0.75	ETA \| ESDR \| Energy Storage & Dist Dpt · Thermal Management Solutions
Jovan Tadic	0.75	ETA \| Energy Analysis \| Systems & Energy Tech Analysis · Advanced Data Assimilation
Matthew Zahr	0.74	CSA \| AMCR \| Mathematics · Aerodynamic Design Optimization
Meirong Zeng	0.74	ESA \| CSD \| Condensed Phase - CPIMS · High Energy Density Fuels
Weiping Huang	0.74	ETA \| Building Tech. & Urban Sys. \| Bldg Technologies Dept · Digital Twin Technologies
Arianna Formenti	0.74	PSA \| ATAP \| Advanced Modeling Prog · Advanced Booster Technologies
Peter Tennessen	0.74	PSA \| Engineering \| Mechanical Engineering · High-Performance Power & Actuation

Fundamental Research Exemption (FRE)

Intellectual or other privileged or proprietary information contained in response to this RFI will not be distributed outside of the U.S. Government.