Rapid Prototyping and Flight Demonstration of Medium-Range Affordable Mass Munition Air Vehicle Configurations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft and Fighter Platforms
Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).
Executive Summary:
The Rapid Prototyping and Flight Demonstration of Medium-Range Affordable Mass Munition (MRAMM) Air Vehicle Configurations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft and Fighter Platforms challenge seeks prototype solutions that increase missile density, reduce cost, and improve operational flexibility for air-to-air engagements in contested environments. The effort focuses on designing, integrating, and flight demonstrating affordable mass air-to-air weapon configurations that support collaborative combat aircraft (CCA), autonomous collaborative platforms (ACP), tactical fighter aircraft, and future manned or unmanned operational platforms.
The Government intends to rapidly prototype representative MRAMM air vehicle configurations capable of improving magazine capacity, aerodynamic performance, scalable manufacturing, and operational integration while generating data to support future force design and fielding decisions.
Application deadline: Oct 08, 2026, 09:32 AM, as listed in the Marketplace challenge. Reviews begin 17 Jul and occur biweekly, making early submission advantageous.
How much funding would I receive?
The solicitation does not specify the amount of the award but typically these opportunities range from about $500,000 to about $5 million
What could I use the funding for?
Prototype efforts may include:
Designing prototype MRAMM air vehicle configurations
Fabricating representative prototype systems
Developing modular open system architectures
Validating rail-launch compatibility
Demonstrating scalable manufacturing approaches
Integrating prototypes onto platforms such as the XQ-58A or other CCA/ACP assets
Conducting captive-carry and flight demonstrations
Evaluating aerodynamic performance and maneuverability
Generating operational, manufacturing, aerodynamic, and integration data
Supporting future force design and operational employment concepts
Desired solutions are intended to increase missile density while maintaining tactically relevant medium-range performance and reducing cost through scalable manufacturing.
Are there any additional benefits I would receive?
If successful, prototype efforts are intended to:
Support future force design decisions
Inform operational employment concepts
Support future transition pathways
Generate evidence for future operational experimentation
Reduce technical and operational risk through rapid prototyping
The solicitation does not specify any commercialization assistance, mentoring, follow-on funding, or other participant benefits beyond the prototype effort.
What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?
Key dates listed in the solicitation include:
Reviews begin: 17 Jul and occur biweekly
Application deadline: Oct 08, 2026, 09:32 AM
ONI anticipates a rapid down-select within 30–45 days of posting.
The solicitation does not specify when awards will be made or when funding will be received.
Where does this funding come from?
This opportunity is sponsored by:
Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research and Engineering Prototyping & Experimentation (ODASW(P&E))
The contracting path states that award will be made under the ONIX OTA in coordination with ACC-RI.
Who is eligible to apply?
The solicitation states that the opportunity is open to:
U.S.-based industry organizations
Academic organizations
Nonprofit organizations
Respondents must register on gocolosseum.org to submit.
Who is not eligible to apply?
The solicitation does not specify additional ineligible applicant categories beyond stating eligibility is limited to U.S.-based industry, academic, and nonprofit organizations.
What companies and projects are likely to win?
Based on the stated evaluation criteria, competitive proposals are likely to demonstrate:
Strong aerodynamic performance
Rail-launch compatibility
Medium-range performance and maneuverability
Modular open system architecture
Increased magazine density
Performance in contested, jammed, and stealth-enabled environments
Lower unit cost
Scalable manufacturing
Successful flight demonstration
Integration with XQ-58A or other CCA/ACP platforms
Evaluation emphasizes technical performance (40%), operational effectiveness (24%), cost and manufacturing (20%), and integration and demonstration (16%).
How competitive will this solicitation be?
The solicitation does not specify:
Expected number of submissions
Number of anticipated awards
Historical success rates
Submissions will be evaluated through subject matter expert review and ONI's AI-powered rubric generation tools using the published evaluation criteria.
Are there any restrictions I should know about?
Applicants should note:
Responses should be 2–10 pages maximum
Registration on gocolosseum.org is required
Proposals should include:
Company information
Past performance
Period of performance
Technical approach
Deliverables
Schedule and milestones
Payment schedule
Patents and data rights
Costs by milestone (ROM at a minimum)
The solicitation does not specify additional restrictions regarding cost share, TRLs, intellectual property requirements, or security clearances.
How long will it take me to prepare an application?
The solicitation requests a relatively concise submission of 2–10 pages together with company information, past performance, technical approach, milestones, costs, and supporting proposal information.
The solicitation does not specify an estimated proposal preparation time.
How can BW&CO help?
BW&CO can help organizations prepare a competitive submission by:
Interpreting the solicitation requirements
Developing a compliant technical narrative
Aligning the proposal with the published evaluation rubric
Highlighting prototype maturity, manufacturing scalability, and operational impact
Preparing milestones, schedules, and cost narratives
Reviewing the submission for compliance before submission