RF Architectures Applying Photonic Timing and Routing (RAAPTR)
DARPA will fund innovative defense-relevant RF system architecture research using photonic timing and routing, including hardened low-phase-noise photonic oscillators, ancillary analog/mixed-signal components, and subsystem demonstrations for mobile land, air, and space platforms.
⚑ Federal contract solicitation (DARPA); proposals are for defense-relevant applied R&D, not evolutionary improvements or non-optical microwave generation. · CUI addendum must be requested separately by the deadline stated in the solicitation overview. · No award ceiling stated.
This is a pure defense engineering/program with no meaningful social, behavioral, policy, risk-perception, or evaluation component. The team dossier is not a fit for photonic RF architectures, oscillators, or mixed-signal subsystem development.
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
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative proposals to develop radiofrequency (RF) system architectures that employ and maintain optical timing precision in form factors and ruggedness traceable to compact mobile land, air, and space-based defense platforms. Proposals to the Radiofrequency (RF) Architectures Applying Photonic Timing and Routing (RAAPTR) program should investigate innovative approaches that enable revolutionary advances in vibration-hardened, ultra-low phase noise photonic oscillators; vibration-hardened, low phase noise ancillary analog and mixed-signal components; and high-performance analog and digital subsystem architectures that apply RAAPTR components to defense-relevant use cases and mission capabilities. Specifically excluded is research that advances non-optical methods of microwave generation or that results in evolutionary improvements to the existing state of practice. A Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) addendum provides additional details on the RAAPTR program. Please see Attachment A of this Program Solicitation (PS) for instructions on how to request the CUI Addendum. The Proposer must request the CUI Addendum by the deadline stated in the Overview section.
Eligibility
Applicant restrictions (federal contract). Set-aside: . Notice type: Solicitation. Organization: DEPT OF DEFENSE / DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY (DARPA) / DEF ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGCY.
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Proposal brief SEE AN EXAMPLE →
A one-page internal memo: fit assessment, submission requirements, document scaffold, and next steps dated back from the deadline — tailored to your project idea if you add one.
Proposal shell · Department of Defense (BAA-style) conventions SEE A DOD EXAMPLE →
Funder-faithful document skeletons — Department of Defense (BAA-style)'s document set with section headings, page limits, reviewer guidance, and writing prompts; add a project idea to get [DRAFT] starter bullets. Download as .md for Word or Overleaf.