Air Force RFI Seeks Concepts for Up to Five Cislunar Spacecraft

The Department of the Air Force has issued an early-stage request for information (RFI) on a proposed Cislunar Space System, exploring a potential fleet of up to five spacecraft operating in the region between Earth and the Moon. The notice is an industry market-research step, not a request for proposals or a commitment to buy spacecraft. It is among the clearest public indications that the military is assessing operational hardware for cislunar space, a domain receiving increased attention as civil lunar activity advances. The source material describes the government as “notionally interested,” language that signals exploration rather than a funded program decision.

Under the concept described, the government would provide payloads, while industry would be responsible for the spacecraft buses and a broad set of mission-enabling services: integration and testing, the ground segment, launch, and operations. This division could create opportunities for prime contractors and teams able to combine spacecraft manufacturing with mission integration, communications, ground-network access, launch services, and sustained operations. The RFI does not provide enough information to determine mission requirements, payload specifications, spacecraft designs, launch cadence, or the acquisition approach for any eventual fleet. Companies should treat the scope as a request for input, not as a defined solicitation.

Responses are due November 24, 2026, just 14 days after the November 10 publication date. After reviewing responses, the Department of the Air Force may make up to five firm-fixed-price preliminary design study awards. Those studies would fund preliminary design work rather than spacecraft construction, launch, or operations. The notice also describes possible spacecraft as “seed vehicles” that could inform an acquisition strategy for a potential future proliferated cislunar constellation. That phrasing points to a learning and planning phase; it does not establish that a constellation will be procured or specify its size, schedule, or funding.

For contractors, the near-term action is to assess technical fit and submit relevant capability information by the deadline, while clearly distinguishing demonstrable experience from assumptions about future mission needs. Teams with deep-space spacecraft, payload integration, communications, ground systems, launch, testing, and operations capabilities may find the RFI useful both as an entry point and as a way to shape the government’s understanding of available approaches. The source identifies SAM.gov as the place to monitor for the study awards and any follow-on solicitation. Companies should track that record for subsequent notices and avoid treating either the potential design studies or a possible future fleet as guaranteed work. Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy, the Space Force acquisition chief, encouraged interest with the remark: “Please jump on my cislunar bandwagon because I need some more friends here.”

• The RFI concerns a proposed Cislunar Space System and explores up to five spacecraft.
• The government would provide spacecraft payloads; industry would supply buses, integration and testing, the ground segment, launch, and operations.
• Responses are due November 24, 2026; the stated window is 14 days from the November 10 publication date.
• The Department of the Air Force may make up to five firm-fixed-price preliminary design study awards after reviewing responses.
• Preliminary design studies are not spacecraft production awards and do not guarantee a full fleet or follow-on procurement.
• The notice characterizes the spacecraft as possible “seed vehicles” to inform a future acquisition strategy for a potential proliferated cislunar constellation.
• Mission details, payload specifications, program funding, fleet size beyond the initial concept, and a full procurement schedule are not confirmed in the supplied material.
• Contractors should evaluate capabilities across deep-space spacecraft, communications, ground networks, integration, launch, and operations, and respond by the deadline if relevant.
• Monitor SAM.gov for study-award announcements and any subsequent solicitation; do not interpret the RFI as a funded award.