Air Force experts eye multi-aperture RF and microwave system for sensors, navigation, and communications
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – U.S. Air Force aerial weapons experts are reaching out to industry for help in developing a small radio frequency and millimeter-wave (RF/MMW) system for target engagement, navigation, weapons fuzing, communications, and multi-platform sensors capabilities.
Officials of the Integrated Seekers and Processing Branch of the Air Force Research Laboratory's Munitions Directorate at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., issued a request for information (FA865123RFI04) last week for the first phase of the Multi-Aperture Networked Intelligence for Agile Combat (MANIAC) project.
MANIAC seeks to develop a tactical system concept, system models, and a detailed technical design for a low-size, -weight, -power consumption, and cost multifunction RF/MMW system.
It should use active and passive sensing for homing and RF-aided inertial guidance; provide navigation for the system's own platform and nearby platforms; intra-fleet communications; and collaborative modes.
This RF and microwave capability should enable agile, sustained, and accurate operation in contested and degraded environments against ground-mobile targets while employed in solitary or collaborative small, low-cost, air-delivered munitions.
The proposed state-of-the-art system should improve size, weight, power consumption, and cost (SWaP-C) by use and reconfiguration of common multiband and wideband apertures; multichannel transceivers; and distributed hybrid processing controlled by an autonomous or cognitive resource-management system.
Companies interested should provide a capability statement; identify relevant past contracts; point of contact; CAGE code; and facility clearance. Companies that provide promising ideas may receive invitations to industry briefings and one-on-one discussions. A certified DD Form 2345, Militarily Critical Technical Data Agreement, must be submitted with the package.
Companies interested should email information no later than 6 Feb. 2023 to the Air Force's Shannon Paradise at [email protected], or Jane Ellison at [email protected].
More information is online at https://sam.gov/opp/313242a9cee94a49b033907bd7c17ab7/view.
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John Keller is the Editor-in-Chief, Military & Aerospace Electronics Magazine--provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronics and optoelectronic technologies in military, space and commercial aviation applications. John has been a member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since 1989 and chief editor since 1995.
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