Action Kit: USAF Next-Gen Fighter & Bomber Procurement Expansion

Event: US Air Force needs 500 next-gen fighters, bombers to beat China, think tank says

Type: Policy Change

Severity: MEDIUM

Date Generated: 2024

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Immediate Actions (This Week)

• [ ] Review current pipeline for F-47 and B-21 subcontracting opportunities — Identify existing opportunities in your pipeline that align with Boeing F-47 or Northrop Grumman B-21 programs and flag them for priority tracking
• [ ] Assess your company's technical capabilities against next-gen aircraft requirements — Map your current capabilities (avionics, advanced materials, propulsion systems, mission systems, manufacturing) to likely subcontract packages
• [ ] Monitor congressional defense authorization markup sessions — Track House and Armed Services Committee (HASC) and Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) proceedings for FY2025+ NDAA language reflecting this recommendation
• [ ] Identify prime contractor teaming partners — Research Boeing and Northrop Grumman supplier portals and small business liaison offices; document points of contact for F-47 and B-21 programs
• [ ] Verify CMMC and ITAR compliance posture — Confirm your current CMMC assessment level, ITAR registration status, and NIST 800-171 implementation status to ensure readiness for increased defense aerospace opportunities

Short-Term Actions (30 Days)

• [ ] Develop capability statements tailored to next-gen aircraft programs — Create targeted one-pagers highlighting relevant past performance in fighter/bomber systems, advanced manufacturing, or mission-critical components
• [ ] Engage with Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) small business offices — Attend industry days, schedule capability briefings, and register for notifications from Wright-Patterson AFB acquisition offices
• [ ] Update SAM.gov profile with relevant NAICS codes — Ensure your entity registration includes 336411 (Aircraft Manufacturing), 336412 (Aircraft Engine Manufacturing), 336413 (Aircraft Parts Manufacturing), 334511 (Navigation/Guidance Systems), 541330 (Engineering Services), and 541712 (R&D in Physical/Engineering Sciences)
• [ ] Conduct competitive intelligence on incumbent suppliers — Research current F-35, B-2, and B-21 supplier bases to identify white space opportunities and potential teaming partners
• [ ] Initiate or accelerate CMMC Level 2 certification process — Given DFARS 252.204-7012 requirements for defense aerospace contracts, begin formal assessment and remediation if not already at Level 2
• [ ] Establish saved searches for related solicitations — Configure alerts for RFIs, sources sought notices, and RFPs containing keywords: "F-47," "B-21," "next-generation fighter," "long-range strike," "sixth-generation," and related program office codes
• [ ] Review and update your ITAR compliance program — Ensure technical data controls, foreign person access restrictions, and export compliance procedures are documented and audit-ready

Long-Term Actions (90+ Days)

• [ ] Develop strategic partnerships with Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers — Formalize teaming agreements, mentor-protégé relationships, or joint venture structures to position for major subcontracts as procurement volumes increase
• [ ] Invest in advanced manufacturing capabilities — Evaluate capital investments in additive manufacturing, composite fabrication, or digital engineering tools that align with next-gen aircraft production requirements
• [ ] Build past performance portfolio in relevant domains — Pursue smaller contracts or SBIR/STTR awards in advanced propulsion, stealth materials, sensor fusion, or autonomous systems to strengthen your competitive position
• [ ] Establish relationships with Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) — Engage AFRL's Aerospace Systems Directorate and Materials & Manufacturing Directorate for early-stage R&D opportunities that feed production programs
• [ ] Monitor DoD budget execution and program of record changes — Track President's Budget submissions, Selected Acquisition Reports (SARs), and program baseline reviews for F-47 and B-21 to identify procurement timeline shifts
• [ ] Prepare for increased supply chain security requirements — Anticipate stricter supply chain risk management (SCRM) requirements under DFARS 252.204-7012 and potential expansion of covered defense information (CDI) protections
• [ ] Develop workforce pipeline for cleared personnel — If pursuing classified work on next-gen platforms, establish recruiting and security clearance sponsorship processes to meet personnel security requirements

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Compliance Checklist

This policy shift will intensify existing compliance requirements for defense aerospace contractors. Ensure your organization meets these standards before pursuing F-47 or B-21 opportunities:

ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations)

• [ ] ITAR Registration — Maintain current registration with DDTC (Directorate of Defense Trade Controls) for manufacturing or exporting defense articles
• [ ] Technical Data Controls — Implement physical and electronic controls preventing unauthorized access to technical data related to fighter/bomber systems
• [ ] Foreign Person Access Restrictions — Establish procedures for screening and controlling foreign national access to ITAR-controlled technical data and defense articles
• [ ] Export Compliance Program — Document policies, training, and recordkeeping for ITAR compliance; designate empowered official

CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification)

• [ ] CMMC Level 2 Certification — Achieve third-party assessment and certification for CMMC Level 2 (required for contracts involving CUI/CDI)
• [ ] System Security Plan (SSP) — Maintain current SSP documenting security controls for all systems processing covered defense information
• [ ] Plan of Action & Milestones (POA&M) — Document and remediate any security control gaps identified during assessment
• [ ] Continuous Monitoring — Implement ongoing security monitoring and annual self-assessments between CMMC recertifications

NIST 800-171 (Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information)

• [ ] 110 Security Controls Implementation — Fully implement all 110 security requirements across 14 control families
• [ ] Boundary Definition — Clearly define and document the CUI security boundary within your network environment
• [ ] Incident Response Plan — Establish procedures for detecting, reporting, and responding to cyber incidents involving CUI (72-hour reporting requirement to DoD)
• [ ] Subcontractor Flow-Down — Ensure DFARS 252.204-7012 requirements flow down to all subcontractors handling CUI

DFARS 252.204-7012 (Safeguarding Covered Defense Information)

• [ ] Adequate Security — Implement NIST 800-171 controls or approved alternative compensating controls
• [ ] Cyber Incident Reporting — Establish capability to report cyber incidents to DoD within 72 hours via DoD's incident reporting system
• [ ] Media Preservation — Implement procedures to preserve and protect images of affected systems for DoD forensic analysis
• [ ] Malicious Software Submission — Establish processes for submitting malicious software discovered during incident response to DoD Cyber Crime Center

Additional Defense Aerospace Requirements

• [ ] Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) — If pursuing contracts >$2M, ensure CAS compliance and disclosure statement currency
• [ ] Earned Value Management (EVM) — For contracts >$20M, implement EVMS compliant with ANSI-748 guidelines
• [ ] Supply Chain Risk Management — Document supplier vetting processes, country-of-origin tracking, and counterfeit part prevention programs
• [ ] Quality Management System — Maintain AS9100 certification or equivalent aerospace quality management system

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Resources

Official Policy & Guidance

• Mitchell Institute Report: "The Imperative for 500 Next-Generation Aircraft" (https://mitchellaerospacepower.org) — Original think tank recommendation driving this policy discussion
• Air Force Acquisition (SAF/AQ) Policy Directives (https://www.safaq.hq.af.mil/Policy/) — Official acquisition policy and program guidance
• DFARS 252.204-7012 Full Text (https://www.acquisition.gov/dfars/252.204-7012-safeguarding-covered-defense-information-and-cyber-incident-reporting) — Cybersecurity requirements for defense contractors
• CMMC Accreditation Body (Cyber-AB) (https://www.cyberab.org) — Official CMMC certification requirements and C3PAO directory

Agency Resources

• SAM.gov Contract Opportunities (https://sam.gov/content/opportunities) — Federal procurement opportunities database
• Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) (https://www.aflcmc.af.mil) — Primary acquisition office for fighter and bomber programs
• Air Force Small Business Programs (https://www.afsbir.af.mil) — SBIR/STTR opportunities and small business resources
• Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) (https://discover.dtic.mil) — Technical reports and research related to next-gen aircraft programs

Compliance Resources

• NIST 800-171 Rev 2 Full Text (https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/sp/800-171/rev-2/final) — Complete security requirements for protecting CUI
• DoD ITAR Guidance (https://www.dla.mil/HQ/LogisticsOperations/Services/FMS/TechnicalData/ITAR/) — ITAR compliance guidance for defense contractors
• DIBCAC Self-Assessment Handbook (https://www.dibnet.dod.mil) — Defense Industrial Base Cybersecurity Assessment Center resources

Market Intelligence

• Congressional Research Service Defense Acquisition Reports (https://crsreports.congress.gov) — Analysis of major defense programs and budget trends
• Selected Acquisition Reports (SARs) (https://www.esd.whs.mil/CAPE/SARS/) — Official program status reports for major defense acquisition programs
• Air Force Budget Documents (https://www.saffm.hq.af.mil/Budget/) — Detailed budget justification books showing program funding levels

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How Cabrillo Club Automates This

Real-Time Intelligence & Opportunity Matching

Cabrillo Signals War Room has already detected this Mitchell Institute policy recommendation and delivered this Action Kit to your dashboard within minutes of publication. The War Room continuously monitors defense policy think tanks, congressional testimony, DoD budget documents, and trade press to surface procurement signals before they become formal solicitations. You didn't need to manually track dozens of sources — the system identified the F-47/B-21 procurement expansion, assessed its relevance to your NAICS codes and agency relationships, and generated this tailored action plan automatically.

Cabrillo Signals Match Engine is now rescoring every opportunity in your pipeline that relates to next-generation fighter or bomber programs. If you're tracking Boeing or Northrop Grumman subcontracting opportunities, sources sought notices from AFLCMC, or SBIR topics related to advanced propulsion or stealth materials, those match scores just increased based on this policy shift. The Match Engine factors in agency budget signals, keyword relevance, and competitive landscape changes to keep your pipeline prioritization current without manual intervention.

Cabrillo Signals Intelligence Hub allows you to configure saved searches that automatically alert you when follow-on solicitations appear matching this event's profile. Set up alerts for NAICS codes 336411-336413, keywords like "F-47," "B-21," "next-generation fighter," or "long-range strike," and agency codes for Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. When a sources sought notice or RFP drops on SAM.gov matching these criteria, you'll receive an immediate notification with the opportunity pre-scored against your capabilities.

Proposal Automation & Compliance Management

Proposal Studio (Proposal OS) accelerates your response to F-47 and B-21 subcontracting opportunities by maintaining your technical capabilities library, past performance database, and compliance matrices. When an RFP arrives requiring ITAR compliance, CMMC Level 2 certification, and AS9100 quality systems, Proposal OS automatically generates compliance cross-references, pulls relevant past performance narratives from previous aerospace contracts, and produces first-draft technical approaches based on your documented capabilities. The bid/no-bid decision engine factors in this policy shift automatically — opportunities aligned with expanding next-gen aircraft procurement now score higher in the go/no-go analysis.

Proposal Studio Workflow Tracker manages the entire capture process from initial opportunity identification through post-submission tracking. When you flag an F-47 or B-21 opportunity for pursuit, Workflow Tracker automatically routes compliance reviews to your contracts team (DFARS flow-down verification), legal team (ITAR registration confirmation), and cybersecurity team (CMMC certification status). The 9-gate capture process ensures you've completed capability assessments, teaming partner outreach, and compliance verification before committing resources to proposal development. All documentation is audit-ready and organized for government inspection.

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Ready to automate your capture process? Explore the Signals Intelligence Hub to configure saved searches for next-gen aircraft opportunities, or visit Proposal Studio to see how AI-powered proposal automation can cut your response time in half while improving compliance accuracy.

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