Cislunar SI Request for Information 018 dcc

09 November 2026

MEMORANDUM FOR INDUSTRY PARTNERS

SUBJECT: (U) Request for Information (RFI) on Super Intelligence (SI) Uses for Cislunar Space Vehicle Operations

1. (U) INTRODUCTION

(U) The Department of the Air Force (DAF) is seeking market research information on the potential utility of Super Intelligence (SI) and Machine Learning (ML) algorithms in support of the autonomous operation of space vehicles (SVs) in the cislunar environment. This information may be used to inform the potential development of DAF requirements for future cislunar space systems.
(U) Based on the market information collected with this RFI and all other sources of information relevant to the effort DAF may invest in future studies to mature operationally relevant concepts. Failure to respond to this RFI may result in loss of the ability to participate in future study contracts for this mission area.
(U) This RFI does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), and industry should not construe it as a commitment by the Government. In accordance with Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) provision 15.101, Early Exchanges with Industry, be advised that this is only an RFI, and does not obligate the Government to reimburse any cost associated with preparation and/or submission of a RFI response. This RFI does not guarantee that the Government will issue an RFP or award a contract to provide these supplies or services.

2. (U) BACKGROUND

(U) The Government has an over-arching policy objective to develop a sustained architecture beyond earth orbit. In support of this policy objective, DAF is investigating concepts and systems to support the implementation of cislunar operations in the DAF baseline. Operation of cislunar systems is challenged by the orders of magnitude increase in the cislunar domain volume, relative to the near-earth (LEO/MEO/GEO) domain volume. Communication latencies that result from the increase in volume may mean that traditional, ground-based, command and control and mission planning systems are no longer scalable on operationally relevant timelines.

3. (U) PURPOSE

(U) The Government is seeking to identify respondents with relevant cislunar operations and super intelligence domain expertise whose RFI response provides the Government with the opportunity to review and assess existing, flight-demonstrated super intelligence and machine learning software products capable of near-term adaptation and integration for cislunar operations, to inform future requirements for cislunar systems and operations. The Government