Air Force Explore Opportunity Call
Air Force Explore Opportunity Call
The Air Force unveils AF Explore, a new opportunity call for capability ideas that advance the transformational component of the AF Science and Technology (S&T) 2030 strategy. With this nationwide call, the Air Force is seeking disruptive ideas that can create remarkable new capabilities for the future force.
Transformational Capability Ideas should address one of the following Functional Challenges and advance at least one of the five Strategic Capabilities outlined in the:
Air Force Science and Technology Strategy
1 – Global persistent awareness
2 – Resilient information sharing
3 – Rapid, effective decision-making
4 – Complexity, unpredictability, and mass
5 – Speed and reach of disruption and lethality
Capability Idea submissions will be similar to that of a 2-3 page white paper and will require elements such as an idea maturation plan consisting of aggressive, short duration applied research and development efforts to assess the operational viability and demonstrate feasibility of transformational warfighter capabilities including their associated business and use cases. Idea Maturation Plans can demonstrate operational viability and feasibility of the Capability Idea through various approaches including, but not limited to: modeling & simulation, military utility experimentation, exercise participation, technical analysis, technology maturation, risk reduction activities, and subject matter expertise input.
To guide these Capability Ideas, the Air Force is issuing a series of functional challenges beginning with the following three:
1 – In-flight re-arming and refueling
2 – Personnel recovery kit delivery
3 – Vehicle tracking in commercial imagery
Submissions are due Nov. 11, 2019 with funding invitations distributed by March 2020. For more information on these challenges visit: