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Counter Directed Energy Weapons (C- DEW)
Navy SBIR 2010.1 - Topic N101-087 ONR - Mrs. Tracy Frost - [email protected] Opens: December 10, 2009 - Closes: January 13, 2010 N101-087 TITLE: Counter Directed Energy Weapons (C- DEW) TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Sensors, Battlespace, Weapons ACQUISITION PROGRAM: Navy Counter-Directed Energy Research S&T Program (ONR 35) RESTRICTION ON PERFORMANCE BY FOREIGN CITIZENS (i.e., those holding non-U.S. Passports): This topic is "ITAR Restricted." The information and materials provided pursuant to or resulting from this topic are restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120 - 130, which control the export of defense-related material and services, including the export of sensitive technical data. Foreign Citizens may perform work under an award resulting from this topic only if they hold the "Permanent Resident Card", or are designated as "Protected Individuals" as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). If a proposal for this topic contains participation by a foreign citizen who is not in one of the above two categories, the proposal will be rejected. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this SBIR is to advance the state-of the-art of counter directed energy weapons technologies and develop countermeasures for high energy lasers and/or high power microwave weapons systems in the future. Specifically, this SBIR seeks to develop specific items for a U.S. Navy weapon system, or systems, to improve their survivability characteristics and maintain established performance capabilities when attacked by High Energy, Directed Energy Weapons (DEW), with minimal cost or system impacts. DESCRIPTION: With improved performance in both high energy lasers (HEL) and High Power Microwaves, the susceptibility of weapons systems and their sensors used in seekers or targeting system are seen as potentially degraded in a war fighting environment when impacted with DEW effects. Recent interest in protection of Unmanned Aircraft Vehicles (UAV) and their sensor suites is of particular interest. As are similarly, manned systems where performance may be degraded due to concerns or encounters with threat Directed Energy Weapons. Existing protection solutions are often taken on a case by case basis, and not cost effective or easily replicated/produced. In some cases, a limited capability may service many military requirements as well as service many commercial protection requirements � such as eye protection for laser welding systems or for sensors used in various reproduction industries. Therefore, innovations in small, lightweight, and efficient packaging for sensor protection (or electrical protection schemes for radar systems) that has a commercial analog or application is highly desirable. Specifications for such an application are as follows: RESTRICTION ON PERFORMANCE BY FOREIGN CITIZENS (i.e., those holding non-U.S. Passports): This topic is "ITAR Restricted." The information and materials provided pursuant to or resulting from this topic are restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120 - 130, which control the export of defense-related material and services, including the export of sensitive technical data. Foreign Citizens may perform work under an award resulting from this topic only if they hold the "Permanent Resident Card", or are designated as "Protected Individuals" as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). If a proposal for this topic contains participation by a foreign citizen who is not in one of the above two categories, the proposal will be rejected. PHASE I: In Phase I of this effort the contractor shall assess the various approaches identified for their specific proposal on Counter DEW Techniques. They will provide a trade analysis on the costs and benefits of these approaches relative to size, weight, efficiency, cooling requirements, production potential and cost. Based upon the findings of the trade study, a detailed design for such a device with performance projections shall be developed. The design must describe the techniques used to mate the proposed system into the weapon and show expectations for performance, as well as the cost impact of the solution when compared to the "all up round production cost" (AURPC) compared to an unimproved weapons system. In general, cost goal increases of less than 2% are encouraged per AURPC in order to enable transition to an acquisition program office. Trend analysis and projections will be presented against generic commercially available systems whenever possible. However, the technology within this topic is often restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in their statement of work. PHASE II: In Phase II of this effort the contractor shall build a suitable number of prototype devices to allow for experimentation and demonstration. A demonstration of the developed devices must show that the specified minimum requirements, specifically for spectral and spatial properties, are either met or exceeded. Depending on the application, the effort may make several, or only a few prototypes to prove and test the effectiveness of various techniques used. In some cases, the development of a material countermeasure or counter-technique may require access to classified information, and therefore may become classified in Phase II. In those cases, an establishment of a "need to know" and a suitable Department of Defense, Contract Security Classification Specification, Form DD254, will be executed. This is not required in every case, but may be required in certain circumstances. Though Phase II work may become classified, the proposal for Phase II work will be submitted as UNCLASSIFIED only. If the selected Phase II contractor does not have the required certification for classified work, the Navy program office will work with the contractor to facilitate certification of related personnel and facility. PHASE III: In Phase III, the contractor shall work with the government to conduct a low rate production study on a specific design or designs as of the developed solution set, possibly using representative DEW systems intended to defeat weapons systems at tens of kilometers. In some cases, the development of a material countermeasure or counter-technique may require access to classified information, and therefore the Phase III effort may become classified. In those cases, an establishment of a "need to know" and a suitable Department of Defense, Contract Security Classification Specification, Form DD254, will be executed. PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Laser eye safety and HPM protection systems are required for numerous civil and commercial applications including telecommunications. This work is currently performed with eye hazardous laser sources, which force operators to either fly at altitudes that keep the eye hazard to a minimum or use bulky and expensive protection for electronics, such as flight avionics. A compact protection capability for safely working around high energy laser sources or high power microwaves would positively impact this business area. REFERENCES: 2. Laser Weapons: The Dawn of a New Military Age. Anderberg, Bengt and Myron L. Wolbarsht. New York, N.Y.: Plenum Press, 1992. Call Number: UG 486 .A53 1992 3. "Laser Illumination in the Cockpit: prank or terrorism?" Connor, C. W. , Aviation Security International 11, no. 1 (February 2005): 8-12 4. "The Laser Threat." Fetzer, Barry R., Marine Corps Gazette 76, no. 10 (October 1992): 66-67. 5. Jane�s Unconventional Weapons Response Handbook. Sullivan, John P. et al. (See sections on Lasers) 6. High Energy Laser (HEL) Lethality Data Collection Standards; Jorge Beraun, Charles LaMar, J. Thomas Schriempf, Robert Cozzens, William Laughlin, David Loomis, Barry Price, Ralph Rudder, and Craig Walters; Directed Energy Professional Society, Albuquerque, New Mexico (2007) 7. High Power Microwaves, Second Edition ; James Benford, Edl Schamiloglu; CRC Press, New York (2007), ISBN-13: 9780750307062 8. Proceedings, Seventh Annual Directed Energy Test and Evaluation Conference,available from the Directed Energy Professional Society, (http://www.deps.org/DEPSpages/DEjournal.html ) Albuquerque, NM, 2008 KEYWORDS: Lasers; High Energy Lasers; HEL; Laser Protection; High Power Microwave; HPM; Directed Energy
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