Army eyes radar that can detect threats and guide hypervelocity munitions accurately to their targets
FORT BELVOIR, Va. – U.S. Army sensors experts are reaching out to industry for companies able to prototype a multi-function precision radar (MFPR) able not only to track enemy airborne threats, but also to guide Army hypervelocity weapons to their targets.
Officials of the Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) at Fort Belvoir, Va., issued a request for information on Monday for the Multi-Function Precision Radar (MFPR) project.
Army officials want a company able to deliver at least two multi-function precision radar prototypes no later than fall 2027 for operational demonstrations in 2028, and later for possible deployment.
Multi-function precision radars should perform not only search, detection, and precision tracking of incoming threats, but also provide Army hypervelocity projectiles with the ability via datalink to navigate, fuze accurately, and possibly even provide battle damage assessment.
The multi-function radar would provide accurate and low-latency detection of hostile threats and help guide future Multi-Domain Artillery Cannon System (MDACS) projectiles at long ranges and in bad weather conditions like heavy rain, snow, wind, and dust. MDACS is to be new development program next year for air and missile defense against cruise missiles and unmanned aircraft.
The MFPR is to track the cannon-fired Hypervelocity Projectile, as well as incoming threats, and help guide the munition to incoming threats using external government-furnished Command and Control Battle Manager (C2BM) and the Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Battle Command System (IBCS).
The MFPR must be accurate enough to help the hypervelocity projectile intercept incoming threats. What's significant is the hypervelocity projectile does not have an onboard seeker. Hypervelocity projectiles fly through the air at speeds of 8 or 9 times the speed of sound.
Developing this kind of multi-function precision radar technology has the potential to help drive down the costs of air- and missile-defense munitions by enabling these weapons to operate without expensive onboard seekers and guidance systems.
The MFPR Prototypes should perform in an operational band that is available or could be available for military use worldwide; provide precision radar track data to support projectiles in flight via a communications link; provide long-range high-precision angular coverage for search detection; be able to detect threats and friendly projectiles; operable in high-clutter environments; interface with government-furnished command and control; and demonstrate supportability, safety, and cyber security.
Companies interested should email unclassified white papers no later than 24 July 2024 to the Army's Joshua Flinn at [email protected] and Sydney Horn at [email protected].
Email questions to Flinn and Horn no later than 17 July 2024. More information is online at https://sam.gov/opp/07683c84a841426eabcdaeb0a82f2508/view.
John Keller | Editor-in-Chief
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.
