Posted by John Keller
PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J., 4 Feb. 2010. U.S. Army field artillery experts plan to issue an industry request for proposals (RFP) later this month to develop ways to manufacture high-temperature diode-pumped lasers rugged enough to ignite the propellant in field artillery shells.
The Joint Munitions & Lethality Contracting Center of the Army's Armament Research, Development, and Engineering Center (ARDEC) at Picatinny Arsenal, N.J. announced plans Wednesday to issue an RFP for a high-temperature laser igniter on an ARDEC developed artillery ignition experiment. The RFP is expected as early as 18 Feb.
The goal is to develop ways to manufacturer shock-resistant high-temperature diode pumped laser igniters that eventually may replace the percussion primer technology that fires today's standard field artillery guns.
The Army issued an industry request for information on laser artillery ignition technology last October. Companies that have expressed interest in the project so far are Beamstop'r Inc. in Beachwood, Ohio; Fraunhofer USA Inc. in Brookline, Mass.; High Power Devices Inc. in North Brunswick, N.J.; Laser Diode Array Inc. in Auburn, N.Y.; Lasertel Inc. in Tucson, Ariz.; Lasermax Inc. in Rochester, N.Y.; and Rofin-Sinar Inc. in Plymouth, Mich.
Army officials say they will compete this project openly, resulting in a nine-month cost plus fixed fee contract with a six-month option. The RFP will be posted at http://procnet.pica.army.mil by about 18 Feb. The presolicitation number is W15QKN-10-R-0202.
For questions or concerns contact Jessica Stogner at Picatinny Arsenal by phone at 973-724-6965, by e-mail at [email protected] or by post at Jessica Stogner, Contract Specialist, CCJM-JA, Bldg. 10, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806-5000.
More information is online at https://www.fbo.gov/notices/611b2ebfd283054368db91062919d60d.
Follow me on TwitterJoin the PennWell Aerospace and Defense Media Group on Linkedin at http://bit.ly/9MXl9
Become a fan of Military & Aerospace Electronics on Facebook at http://bit.ly/1VGM0Q
Post your aerospace and defense-related material to the #milaero community on Twitter. Use the #milaero hashtag.
