The AFRL Information and Spectrum Dominance Directorate (AFRL/RF) seeks solutions for the ADEPT effort to develop pre-emptive or reactive countermeasures—including expendable, directed-energy, and novel developmental EO-spectrum solutions—to protect U.S. aircraft and aircrew in contested environments. ADEPT is divided into two technical areas: Hardware & Executable Analysis of Threats (HEAT) and Advanced Countermeasure Engineering (ACE). The solicitation has been amended as of 28 September, 16 October, and 22 October 2026, adding Q&A attachments and revising technical proposal page limits.

The Air Force Research Laboratory Information and Spectrum Dominance Directorate (AFRL/RF) seeks solutions for the ADEPT effort to develop pre-emptive or reactive countermeasure solutions—including expendable, directed energy, and novel developmental approaches in the EO spectrum—to protect U.S. aircraft and aircrew in contested environments. ADEPT is divided into two technical areas: Hardware & Executable Analysis of Threats (HEAT) and Advanced Countermeasure Engineering (ACE). Solicitation amendments revise technical proposal page limits, including a 20-page limit for Technical Area 2, and add a Q&A attachment.

The ADEPT effort, supporting AFRL’s Information and Spectrum Dominance Directorate (AFRL/RF), aims to develop pre-emptive or reactive countermeasure solutions—including expendable, directed energy, and novel developmental solutions in the EO spectrum—to protect U.S. aircraft and aircrew in contested environments. The program is divided into two technical areas: Hardware & Executable Analysis of Threats (HEAT) and Advanced Countermeasure Engineering (ACE). A 28 September 2026 amendment revised the technical proposal page limit to 15 pages per Technical Area.

In support of the AFRL Information and Spectrum Dominance Directorate (AFRL/RF), the objective of the ADEPT effort is to develop pre-emptive or reactive countermeasure solutions —including expendable,... In support of the AFRL Information and Spectrum Dominance Directorate (AFRL/RF), the objective of the ADEPT effort is to develop pre-emptive or reactive countermeasure solutions —including expendable, directed energy, and novel developmental solutions in the EO spectrum—to protect U.S. aircraft and aircrew in contested environments. The ADEPT program is divided into two separate technical areas: Hardware & Executable Analysis of Threats (HEAT) Advanced Countermeasure Engineering (ACE)