Ground-Based Affordable Mass (G-BAM)
AI Overview
The Department of War seeks a ground-based, affordable mass (G-BAM) precision payload delivery system using commercial technologies to provide cost-effective, high-volume alternatives to expensive hypersonic systems. This initiative addresses the need for sustained "magazine depth" capability against peer adversaries while maintaining operational affordability.
This summary is AI-generated from the official solicitation.
Key Details
Official Description
The Department of War (DoW) is pivotally shifting toward "affordable mass" to counter peer adversaries who are rapidly expanding their military capabilities. While hypersonic systems offer high speeds, their exorbitant costs—exceeding $50 million per round—limit the military's ability to achieve the "magazine depth" necessary for prolonged conflict. This project proposes a ground-based, non-hypersonic, long-range precision payload delivery system that leverages low-cost production methods and co...
Change History
Critical change · Deadline
Ground-Based Affordable Mass (G-BAM)
The close date moved earlier, from December 23, 2026 to November 30, 2026. That is a shift of 23 days earlier, so applicants now have less time to respond.
Why it matters: teams planning submissions around the December deadline will need to compress their timelines, including proposal writing, internal review, and any partner or subcontractor coordination. Applicants who were waiting until late December should move their internal milestones up accordingly and confirm whether any preliminary steps, such as registrations or letters of intent, also need to be completed earlier.
Critical change · Deadline
Ground-Based Affordable Mass (G-BAM)
The open date moved earlier, from December 3, 2026 to November 16, 2026, a shift of 17 days sooner.
For applicants, this means the window to prepare and submit opens about two and a half weeks earlier than previously planned. Teams that had scheduled proposal work to begin in early December should move that start up, and anyone relying on a December kickoff for partner coordination, registrations, or budget sign-off should accelerate those steps. Applicants gain earlier access to submission but lose the cushion they had expected before the window opened.
Ground-Based Affordable Mass (G-BAM)
Key Changes to Phase II Requirements
Cost Requirements - Significantly Tightened:
- Previous: Flyaway cost <$2 million
- Updated: All-up flyaway cost <$250K at scale; cost-per-effect <$500K
- This represents a ~8x reduction in allowable unit cost, substantially raising the bar for affordability.
Production Capacity - Dramatically Increased:
- Previous: 500 units annually
- Updated: 100+ units monthly (1,200+ annually minimum), or credible path to that rate
- More than doubles the annual production requirement and adds a monthly milestone.
Operational Range - Extended:
- Previous: >300 nm threshold
- Updated: 600+ nm objective
- Doubles the required range capability, significantly expanding scope.
New Requirements Added:
- Payload capacity: Minimum 35 lbs; preference for >100 lbs (completely new)
- DDIL/EW survivability: Mission capability in denied/disrupted environments (completely new)
- Reliability: Demonstrate under
Ground-Based Affordable Mass (G-BAM)
New opportunity: Ground-Based Affordable Mass (G-BAM)
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