The objective of this effort is to provide a focused yet flexible, rapid, agile contracting vehicle between Air Force Research Laboratory, its Products Centers, and the Operational Community to support rapid research, development, prototyping, demonstration, evaluation, and transition of Counter small Unmanned Aircraft System (C-sUAS) capabilities. These capabilities are to be used in combating Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS)—and others leveraging COTS technology—presently being used by our adversaries in asymmetric warfare against U.S. military personnel and materiel. Emphasis will be placed on: a) development of technology capability solutions that address specific user requirements; b) delivery of prototype technologies for evaluation and feedback in the context of the user’s operational environment; and c) provision of a mechanism for user acquisition of limited product quantities required for operational introduction of technologies.
The scope of this effort is to perform multiple activities necessary to achieve AFRL’s vision of superiority in C-sUAS Science and Technology (S&T). This includes activities for rapid development, design, prototyping, enhancements, demonstration, scenario development, experimentation & evaluation, integration, testing, technical installation, transition, and support through initial operations of C-sUAS technologies, which enable Global Vigilance, Global Reach, and Global Power in air, space, and cyberspace for C-sUAS operations. The primary goals are three-fold:
- Develop new C-sUAS S&T capabilities and prototype solutions that can meet mission requirements and fill technology gaps across the entire C-sUAS kill-chain to include D5 effects (i.e. deceive, disrupt, deny, degrade, and destroy)
- Demonstrate C-sUAS prototypes employing multiple mitigation techniques in a cooperative fashion that are able to achieve results in an automated and/or autonomous manner
- Mature specific technological developments to mitigate multiple sUAS threats simultaneously, particularly enhancements of emerging baseline capabilities by AFLCMC, SBIRs, and industry in general
Research and Development (R&D) in the following areas pertaining to C-sUAS include: analysis of Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS) signals and signatures; developing detection, location, and identification techniques; developing link access techniques; cyberspace Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR); development of cyberspace and EMS-enabled cyberspace countermeasures; integration of C-sUAS components and technologies; Command and Control (C2) using open architecture solutions; automation of capabilities; autonomy; prototyping; and demonstration.
R&D of cyberspace and cyber-enabled countermeasures (aka effects) that can be used as part of a C-sUAS dynamic kill chain are within scope. These efforts may employ blue-force sUAS in any part of the kill chain. Some of these EMS or EMS-enabled cyberspace measures could be classified and will be handled in accordance with the applicable Security Classification Guide (SCG).
Solicitation Number: RFI-RIKD-19-01
Deadline for responses: 2 January 2018
Responsible agency: Department of the Air Force
