MDA27BZ02-DV002 — Rapidly Deployable Aerial Interdiction Cluster

Demonstrate a rapidly deployable aerial interdiction cluster to be part of the layered missile defense.

The Missile Defense Agency seeks novel solutions for a rapidly deployable aerial interdiction cluster for close-in defense against evolving threats to national security assets, including counter-air; counter-drone; electronic warfare; and force protection. The proposed cluster should be capable of transitioning from a standby state to a deployed state and be capable of autonomous, sustained operations. Cluster should contain a number of continuously cycling elements capable of multiple modes of operation (i.e., surveillance, discrimination, electronic warfare, attack). The cluster should contain a high volume of elements that are low size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C). The assets should be capable of maneuvering and loitering. Assets should be able to host various sensors and/or effectors capable of interdicting various threats (i.e., hypersonic vehicles, glide vehicles, drones, low-flying aerial objects). Modular cargo bays capable of carrying payloads are desired. System should employ a resilient mesh-node architecture and utilize multiple communication pathways.

Phase I-like proposals will not be evaluated and will be rejected as nonresponsive. For this topic, the Government expects the small business would have accomplished the following in a Phase I-like effort via some other means, e.g., independent research and development (IRAD) or other source, a concept for a workable prototype or design to address, at a minimum, the basic capabilities of the stated objective above. Proposal must show, as appropriate, a demonstrated technical feasibility or nascent capability. The documentation provided must substantiate the proposer’s development of a preliminary understanding of the technology to be applied in their Phase II proposal in meeting topic objectives. Documentation should comprise all relevant information including, but not limited to, technical reports, test data, prototype designs/models, and performance goals/results. Feasibility = maturity and what have you already done/validated. Proposers interested in participating in Direct to Phase II must include in their responses to this topic Phase I feasibility documentation that substantiates the scientific and technical merit and Phase I feasibility described in Phase I above has been met. (i.e., the small business must have performed a proof of concept like “Phase I” component and/or other validation in a relevant environment, and/or at a much higher Technology Readiness Level (TRL) level (5 or higher) and describe the potential commercialization applications. The documentation provided must validate that the proposer has completed development of technology in previous work or research completed.) IRAD work: Documentation should include the most relevant information including, but not limited to: technical reports, test data, prototype designs/models, and/or performance goals/results. Work submitted within the feasibility documentation must have been substantially performed by the proposer and/or the principal investigator (PI).

Proposals would be evaluated to the degree that they deliver a solution that demonstrates the ability to become a high-volume, low cost-per-unit cluster. Evaluation would also consider to what degree cluster units could be rapidly re-deployed and what percentage of total cluster assets could remain on continuous deployment. Cluster should be capable of detection and tracking of rapidly maneuvering objects. Cluster communication capabilities should have sufficient bandwidth to process and securely relay observation data. Significant technology advancements in core capability areas (swarm autonomy and coordination, advanced sensing and fusion, resilient communications and networking, countermeasures and survivability) would be considered for evaluation. The vendor solution should culminate in a demonstration subjected to conditions to verify function and performance.

Conduct engineering and manufacturing development, test, evaluation in a realistic environment with a system level test-bed. Cluster sensitivity, performance, and communication capabilities should be verified.