Collaboration for Innovative Research on Aircraft Structure (CIRAS)
The Air Force seeks research proposals for innovative aircraft structure design, analysis, and testing to reduce weight and improve performance.
Funder: Air Force -- Research Lab
Due Dates: May 11, 2026 (Current Closing Date)
Funding Amounts: Estimated total program funding $6,000,000; award amounts not specified; funding via cooperative agreement or procurement contract.
Summary: Supports innovative research in aircraft structural design, analysis, and experimentation to reduce weight and improve performance.
Key Information: Open to unrestricted applicants; no cost sharing required; focuses on advanced structural concepts, load/environmental spectra, design methods, and experimental validation.
Description
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Aerospace Vehicles Division (RQV), Aerospace Systems Directorate (RQ), is soliciting research proposals under the Collaboration for Innovative Research on Aircraft Structure (CIRAS) program. This opportunity targets innovative research in aircraft structural design, analysis, and experimental validation with the goal of reducing structural weight and/or improving aircraft performance.
Key research areas include:
- Development of innovative structural concepts aimed at weight reduction and performance enhancement.
- Generation of realistic load and environmental spectra to better simulate operational conditions.
- Advanced structural design and analysis methodologies.
- Cutting-edge experimental techniques for validating structural models and simulations.
This program supports cooperative agreements and procurement contracts to advance aerospace vehicle technologies critical to the Air Force.
