Digital System-Level Mission-Driven Integrated Design Methods for Aerospace Systems

Background
The Air Force Research Laboratory, Aerospace Systems Directorate (AFRL/RQ) is focused on enhancing military capability development through effectiveness-based military capability development (EBMCD). This initiative aims to find optimal integrated system solutions that achieve mission effects or campaign goals by merging operational analysis with multidisciplinary design optimization.

The emphasis is on integrated operational analysis at the mission level, particularly concerning airframe, propulsion, and power & thermal management systems. The goal is to improve the design process by integrating various disciplines and increasing the fidelity of physics-based analyses.

Work Details
The contract involves developing a mission-driven system-level design process for aerospace systems, specifically targeting airframe, propulsion, and power & thermal management disciplines. Key tasks include:
- Creating a design process anchored by military utility analysis and measures of effectiveness.
- Ensuring concurrent integration of airframe, propulsion, and power & thermal management disciplines within a multi-fidelity design framework.
- Enabling rapid iteration of requirements with mission-driven designs.
- Reducing late-stage defects due to unmodeled physics.
- Informing technology investment decisions through military utility analysis.
- Ensuring applicability across various air vehicle systems and Mach regimes.

Additionally, the methodology should facilitate improved communication and integration among diverse stakeholders beyond traditional design communities.