Air Force eyes digital radio technologies for spectrum warfare and jam-resistant AESA radar

Nov. 12, 2014
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio, 12 Nov. 2014. U.S. Air Force researchers are trying to use software-defined radio and cognitive radio technologies to develop new kinds of radar jamming capabilities, as well as active electrically scanned array (AESA) radar that can resist advanced electronic warfare (EW) jamming.
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio, 12 Nov. 2014. U.S. Air Force researchers are trying to use software-defined radio and cognitive radio technologies to develop new kinds of radar jamming capabilities, as well as active electrically scanned array (AESA) radar that can resist advanced electronic warfare (EW) jamming.

Officials of the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, released a presolicitation Monday (BAA-RQKS-2015-0002) for the Spectrum Warfare Evaluation and Assessment Technology Engineering Research (SWEATER) program.

SWEATER seeks to develop sensor-assessment technologies involving AESA radar and jamming systems using digital RF memory (DRFM) and devices that are software-defined or use RF-cognitive based technology.

Related: Air Force Research Lab chooses seven companies to take on advanced spectrum warfare work

The program will conduct RF sensor assessment technology for electronic support (ES), electronic attack (EA), electronic protect (EP) and cyber warfare. Special emphasis is on countering enemy radar and communications systems in closed-loop and free-space environments.

Air Force researchers say they expect to issue a formal request for proposals (RFP) for the SWEATER program in late January. The sponsoring organization of the SWEATER program is the Spectrum Warfare Systems Engineering Branch of the Air Force Research Laboratory's Sensors Directorate.

Air Force researchers will sponsor an open house from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on 3 Dec. 2014 for companies interested in participating in the SWEATER program. the open house is at 2241 Avionics Circle on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. Secret clearances are required to attend.

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For more information on attending the open house contact the Air Force's Glenn Cicero by email at [email protected] or by phone at 937-938-4230.

For questions or concerns about the SWEATER program contact the Air Force's John Fisher by email at [email protected] or by phone at 937-713-9978. Also contact Gail Krentz by email at [email protected] or by phone at 937-713-9980.

More information is online at https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/AFRLWRS/BAA-RQKS-2015-0002/listing.html.

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