PETERSON AFB, Colo., 25 July 2010. U.S. Air Force officials will brief industry on a program to transmit high-resolution data from newly installed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) sensors on the Global Hawk high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) during an industry day on 9 Aug. in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The industry day briefings concern the High Data Rate Airborne Terminal (HDRAT) program in support of a milestone A decision planned for 2011. The HDRAT will receive ISR sensor data from the Global Hawk UAV at rates as fast as 274 megabits per second.
The HDRAT satellite communications (SATCOM) system will use commercial Ku-band, commercial Ka-band, Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) Ka-band, WGS X-band, and commercial X-band satellite links to send ISR sensor data from Global Hawk to ground forces, which U.S. military leaders want available for flight testing by 2017 timeframe.
HDRAT will include SATCOM antenna chain sub-systems such as radome, antenna, amplifiers, waveguide, and power supplies, as well as modems and waveforms necessary to conduct operations.
A terminal architecture supporting these kinds of capabilities has not yet been selected. The HDRAT analysis of alternatives program will recommend cost effective alternatives that meet requirements.
Air Force Space Command is hosting the industry day briefings, which will be from 9 a.m. to noon on 9 Aug. at Serco-NA, 1050 North Newport Road in Colorado Springs, Colo. Attendee in-processing will start at 8:15 a.m.
The general industry day session will include government programmatic briefings with explanations of the HDRAT program and goals, the purpose of the analysis of alternatives (AoA) program and goals, AoA market research requirements, and request for information (RFI) synopsis, assistance requested from industry, and projected timelines. A question-and-answer session will follow the briefings.
The industry day is unclassified. Those who would like to attend must RSVP no later than 3 Aug. to the Air Force's Joanne Schissel by phone at 719-554-5057, or by e-mail at [email protected]. Responses should include company name and the full names of those planning to attend. Attendance is limited to no more than three representatives per company, who all must be U.S. citizens.
Companies also may schedule 45-minute one-on-one sessions with briefers from 1 to 5 p.m. on 9 Aug., and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on 10 Aug. to ask follow-up questions, and to provide brief synopses of company capabilities.
More information is online at https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/ESC/R2486/listing.html.
