Navy asks industry for technologies in electronic warfare (EW) aircraft decoys to spoof anti-ship missiles

ARLINGTON, Va. – U.S. Navy researchers are surveying industry for relatively mature enabling technologies appropriate for a ship-based long-endurance aircraft that would act as a decoy to spoof enemy high-performance maneuvering anti-ship missiles.

Officials of the Office of Naval Research (ONR) in Arlington, Va., issued a solicitation Thursday (N0001425SBC06) for the Ship-based Long-endurance Airborne Platforms & EW Payloads program.

Researchers are looking for industry technologies that can provide a quick-reaction affordable ship-based long-endurance airborne decoy with modular electronic warfare (EW) payloads.

Such a decoy would enhance the Navy's soft-kill capability against current and evolving anti-ship missiles. Proposed technologies should be as mature as technology readiness level (TRL) 5, or prototypes ready for demonstraton.

Rapid-deployment decoys

Decoy technologies should provide rapid deployment and transition to stable flight; ability to be recoverable (optionally expendable); and extended flight endurance with hovering capability of at least an hour on station. Details on altitudes and ranges are classified.

Enabling technologies also should have secure electronic data communications; autonomous flight operation; ability to carry modular EW payloads; antenna RF isolation for the EW mission; ability to function in high sea states and temperatures; accommodate RF and other electromechanical payloads; automated command and control; and should be affordable. Responses should address system costs, scalability, and RF isolation and power and cooling needs.

ONR will conduct classified industry briefings at 1 p.m. on 23 June at the Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Ave. S.W., in Washington, DC.

Register for briefings

Companies interested should register for industry briefings no later than 19 June 2025 online at https://forms.osi.apps.mil/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=AD4z43fIh0u2rUXpQt4XUB-r9DN9BvJGvpEzpk-MevxUQlM3NklDQU04NElGTkhUWEhPVVdUNjlRQi4u&route=shorturl.

Companies interested also should email 5-page white papers to Program Officer Kevin Leonard at [email protected].

Email technical questions or concerns to Kevin Leonard at [email protected]. Email business questions to Stephen Hughes at [email protected]. More information is online at https://sam.gov/opp/a0d0683db32b4a4098cd697036919a1d/view.