Information Mastery in Cognitive Warfare

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), under the Department of Defense, has announced a funding opportunity titled "Information Mastery in Cognitive Warfare" (Opportunity Number: FA238425SB007). This initiative is aligned with the USAF Strategy for Information Warfare and seeks to strengthen national security through research and development in cognitive and information warfare. The grant falls under the broader CHEERS (Continuing Human Enabling, Enhancing, Restoring and Sustaining) program, specifically Call 2 of the Multiple Authority Announcement (MAA), and supports efforts under the Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program (Assistance Listing: 12.800). This solicitation aims to address emerging threats in the operational information environment where adversaries utilize influence operations to achieve strategic advantage. This program emphasizes the importance of influence in modern warfare, particularly in the cognitive domain, where the shaping of beliefs, perceptions, and behaviors plays a pivotal role in national defense. The project supports multidisciplinary research incorporating psychology, sociology, computer science, machine learning, data analytics, and systems engineering. Research areas include developing metrics to measure cognitive warfare effects, mapping cognitive vulnerabilities, creating influence playbooks and narrative generation tools, modeling decision-making at multiple levels, and integrating these capabilities into broader military operations. Contractors are expected to develop tools that forecast threat dynamics, enhance information maneuver planning, and simulate the operational environment using realistic data. Technical objectives include the creation of methodologies to quantify changes in network sentiment, map adversarial cognitive weaknesses, and forecast outcomes using AI/ML-driven models. Additionally, the program requires development of training tools and planning frameworks to support military information support operations (MISO) and psychological operations (PSYOP). The effort will culminate in the development of a Cognitive Warfare LLM Platform, which incorporates analytics, planning support, and a digital playbook. This platform must support operational and strategic decision-making, integrating kinetic and non-kinetic strategies for influence effectiveness. The total funding available for this opportunity is $24.12 million, distributed over a 63-month period (60 months of performance and 3 months for final reporting). Annual funding allocations range from $4.25 million to $5.6 million. The award ceiling matches the total program funding, and there is no stated minimum award floor. Cost sharing is not required. The expected number of awards has not been specified. Deliverables include technical reports, software, design documentation, and periodic expenditure reports. Human subjects are involved, but there is no use of animals or hazardous materials. The maximum required security classification is TS/SCI, and some personnel must have Tier 1/SF85 background checks. The contractor may require access to facilities on the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and will be responsible for meeting OPSEC, COMSEC, and counterintelligence requirements. Eligibility for this grant is broad and includes all entity types, with unrestricted applicant status. This includes public and private institutions of higher education, for-profit organizations, small businesses, tribal organizations, nonprofits, and government entities at all levels. Applications must be submitted by September 6, 2025, and the opportunity is not offered on a rolling basis. While the documentation does not specify recurrence, similar past solicitations such as FA238424S2233 suggest a likelihood of future iterations, though this is not confirmed. The solicitation was officially posted on August 7, 2025, and is currently open. Applicants must follow a two-step BAA (Broad Agency Announcement) process. Detailed proposals will likely need to address multiple objectives described in the Statement of Objectives (SOO). All public releases must be pre-cleared by the Air Force, and any disclosures of sensitive data must be reported to the appropriate authorities. The point of contact for this opportunity is Michelle Goss, who can be reached at michelle.goss.1@us.af.mil or 937-713-9830.