Multi-Spectrum Defensive Electronic Warfare (MSDEW) Advanced Research Announcement (ARA)
Funds defense-related research, development, testing, and demonstration of multi-spectrum electronic warfare sensors, systems, and countermeasures for Air Force national security needs.
⚑ Federal contract/ARA; calls issued under the ARA through 2027-07-13. · Eligibility is not fully specified in the notice excerpt; appears open to qualified contractors rather than limited to a named institution. · Includes design, modeling/simulation/analysis, experimentation, testing, and demonstration; procurement of supplies, parts, accessories, and designs for experimental and test purposes.
This is a defense engineering/electronic warfare R&D solicitation focused on sensors, systems, and countermeasures, not the team’s social-behavioral research on risk perception, communication, and policy. Even though Andrew Fox and Hank Jenkins-Smith touch national security and threat perception, this topic is too technical and hardware-centric for their usual PI-level work.
JUDGED AGAINST THE ROSTER'S PUBLICATION DOSSIER · GPT-5.4-MINI · 2026-07-07
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 90 strong | technical depth: central; funds applied research |
| IPPRA | 45 partial | portfolio topic: national_security_defense (primary); social/behavioral work is none; funds applied research; capped at 45 (limited social-science role) |
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 45 partial | funds applied research; prototyping/demonstration stage; deep-tech content |
Description
MSDEW ARA will develop sensors and systems supplies to meet the need for the national defense for improved joint lethality in contested environments, the ability to strike diverse targets inside adversary air and missile defense networks, and support a force which can deploy, survive, operate, maneuver, and regenerate in all domains while under attack. The program advances the Air Force EW (signal) capabilities to meet the need for the national defense and requires acquisition of aeronautical supplies, parts, accessories and designs for experimental and test purposes. These above strategic objectives will be accomplished through design, modeling, simulation and analysis (MS&A), experimentation, testing, and demonstration of multi-spectrum threat warning and countermeasures sensors, systems and technologies. This ARA will be open for Calls through 13 Jul 2027. UPDATED April 2025: This soliciation update removes references to an announcement level Model Contract as Model Contracts will be issued at the Call level. This update also makes minor administrative updates to the announcement. UPDATED November 2024: This solicitation update removes all references to Call 01 as that call is closed; extends the close date for the ARA for two years until 13 Jul 2027; adds the Security Risk Review - AFRLI 61-113 and appendices; and updates the primary and second points of contact (POCs).
Eligibility
Applicant restrictions (federal contract). Set-aside: . Notice type: Presolicitation. Organization: DEPT OF DEFENSE / DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE / FA8650 USAF AFMC AFRL PZL AFRL/PZL.
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