Jane Edwards
The U.S. Air Force is seeking information on interested vendors with a capability to meet the requirements of the F-35 Adaptive Engine Replacement program.
The service will use the responses from the market research to determine potential sources’ capability to deliver a propulsion system that can be integrated into the F-35A weapon platform and whether to launch a full-and-open competition or compete the program as a set-aside for small businesses, according to a sources sought notice published Thursday.
The Air Force expects the FAER program to meet the Adaptive Engine Transition Program’s engineering and manufacturing development phase.
Interested stakeholders should submit capability statements addressing several categories, including program content, flight testing, contracting, risk, logistics and future efforts.
For the program content aspect, the military branch wants information on ground and flight test content that should be accomplished in the FAER program prior to entering into the low-rate initial production phase by fiscal year 2028.
Capability statements should also detail how many flight test engines, aircraft and sorties needed to complete the FAER program.
Responses are due Feb. 28.
