Air Force Office of Scientific Research · United States

AFRL/AFOSR Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 University Center for High-Speed Aerothermoelasticity

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Air Force Office of Scientific Research expects to make awards of $8.25 million – $13.75 million each, from a total budget of $13.75 million. Applications close on 2 Apr 2027. Eligible applicant types include public and State controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education.

Deadline: 2 Apr 2027 (in 138 days)
Grant amount: $8.25 million – $13.75 million per project
Funding rate: No mandatory cost sharing stated; funding percentage not stated
Total budget: $13.75 million
Cost sharing: Not required
Likely applicant types: Universities & research From source categories or programme rules; the call decides.
Funder: Air Force Office of Scientific Research
Reference: FA955027S0001
Assistance listing: 12.800 Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program
Last checked: 13 Nov 2026

Open the official call ↗ Add deadline to calendar

About this call

The Air Force Office of Scientific Research, in partnership with the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) Air Warfare Directorate (RA), intends to provide support for a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers at U.S. universities to establish a university-led Center for High-Speed Aerothermoelasticity. This multidisciplinary, basic research initiative focuses on investigating complex problem sets involving the fundamental physics at the intersection of high-speed fluid mechanics, thermal transport, and structural sciences. By supporting a balanced, integrated approach across computational simulation, theoretical modeling, and ground experimentation in these three areas, the Center will tackle critical aerothermoelasticity challenges for the Air Force mission and related challenges in science and engineering. This opportunity is a chance to work closely with the Air Force Research Lab Air Warfare Directorate (AFRL/RA) on computational simulations and ground and flight experiments in the field of high-speed aerothermoelasticity.

Read the full text

We seek unclassified proposals from a highly collaborative, qualified and responsible university-led team that bridges the traditional silos of fluid dynamics, thermal transport, and structural mechanics. The program requires an interdisciplinary roster of up to ten investigators (including computational and experimental leads) and strongly encourages partnership with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), in alignment with Executive Order 14283. Beyond technical discovery, the Center acts as a vital connection between academia and DoW scientists at facilities such as Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC). This ensures that breakthrough academic research translates into tangible capabilities for the Department of the Air Force (DAF) and access to a well-trained future aerospace workforce. It is important that your proposal shows strength in as many of the evaluation areas as practical for maximum competitiveness.

The award shall be made to U.S. institutions of higher education, where the principal investigator is employed on a full-time basis and holds a regular, non-contractor position. Researchers working at the Federally Funded Research and Development Centers and DoW Laboratories are not eligible for this competition.

Who can apply

Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
Private institutions of higher education

Applicant categories are a starting point. The official call decides eligibility.

Topics

Science and Technology and other Research and Development

Timing

Applications must be received no later than 02 April 2027, 11:59 PM Eastern Time

How to apply

Read the full notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) linked from the official page: eligibility, cost sharing and evaluation criteria.
Make sure your organisation has an active SAM.gov registration and Unique Entity ID (UEI); registration can take several weeks.
Register with Grants.gov and set up a Workspace for this opportunity, with the right roles for your organisation.
Prepare the required forms, narrative, budget and attachments exactly as the NOFO specifies.
Submit before the deadline and keep the tracking number. Check for amendments before you submit.

From the call text

Who can apply: Not stated in the call text we hold — check the official page
Company stage: Not stated in the call text we hold — check the official page
Single applicant or consortium: Not stated in the call text we hold — check the official page
Where applicants must be based: Not stated in the call text we hold — check the official page
Where to apply: Not stated in the call text we hold — check the official page

Contact

Daniel P Smith · aerothermodynamics@us.af.mil · 703-588-8494

Where these facts come from

Fact	Value	How we know	Taken from the source
Deadline	2 April 2027	official data field	15 Nov 2026
Amount per applicant	$8.25 million – $13.75 million	official data field	15 Nov 2026
Total budget	$13.75 million	official data field	15 Nov 2026
Funding rate	No mandatory cost sharing stated; funding percentage not stated	read from the official text	15 Nov 2026
Who can apply	Public and State controlled institutions of higher education; Private institutions of higher education	official data field	15 Nov 2026
Where to apply	Unknown — not stated in the source we hold	unknown	—

Official sources

Official call page

Facts on this page come from the funder’s official data, taken on 13 Nov 2026. The funder's own documents, including later amendments, always take precedence.