Compact High-Pressure CO₂ Compressor for Aviation Thermal Management Systems
SBIR Opportunity Analysis
The U.S. Air Force, through a DoD SBIR topic, is seeking proposals to design and develop a compact, high-pressure CO₂ compressor for aviation thermal management systems in military aircraft. The work focuses on creating an aviation-grade compressor that can support transcritical R-744 operation and provide lightweight, efficient cooling for platforms such as fighters, transports, tankers, and next-generation autonomous collaborative platforms. The compressor is expected to manage heat loads up to 200 kW, maintain a TMS outlet temperature of 20 °C ± 5 °C, reject heat to a 50 °C sink, and perform across demanding aircraft environments while meeting constraints on efficiency, vibration, noise, reliability, and turndown. Phase I calls for conceptual design and modeling, Phase II for prototype fabrication and laboratory testing, and Phase III for dual-use transition in military and commercial aviation; the topic is subject to ITAR and EAR controls with foreign national disclosure required, and proposals are due July 22, 2026 under solicitation DAF26BZ03-NV016.