Controlled Payload Release Mechanism for Pyrophoric Air Expendable Decoy
Navy SBIR 2018.1 - Topic N181-014 NAVAIR - Ms. Donna Attick - donna.moore@navy.mil Opens: January 8, 2018 - Closes: February 7, 2018 (8:00 PM ET)
TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Air
Platform, Materials/Processes ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA 272
Tactical Aircraft Protection Systems The technology within this
topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR),
22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related
material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the
Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual
use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs),
their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and
the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in
accordance with section 5.4.c.(8) of the Announcement. Offerors are advised
foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to
the technical data under US Export Control Laws. OBJECTIVE: Develop and
produce a controlled (timed) payload release mechanism for multiple stacks of
pyrophoric foils in a single decoy device cartridge. DESCRIPTION: Pyrophoric
decoys are part of a family of advanced Infrared (IR) decoys designed for use
by Department of the Navy fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft to successfully
decoy advanced-threat missile systems in current and future operational
environments.� Pyrophoric decoys utilize a special, high surface area metal
foil, which rapidly oxidizes when exposed to oxygen.� When dispensed from the
host aircraft, the special pyrophoric alloy material payload reacts with air to
emit intense IR radiation that is not visible to the naked eye.� The IR
radiation diverts or decoys IR-seeking missiles away from the host aircraft
[Ref 1].� The current pyrophoric decoy is composed of pyrophoric iron coated
onto steel foil.� Several hundred pyrophoric foils comprise the payload of a
typical decoy and are currently dispensed simultaneously from an airtight
casing via the action of a single impulse cartridge which incorporates Hazard from
Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordnance (HERO) Safe features.� The Navy seeks a
pyrophoric payload release mechanism that can either bind or contain multiple
(3 or more) discrete sub-payloads of pyrophoric foils upon dispense from a
device and then release the material in a controlled, timed manner such that
multiple discrete bursts of infrared energy are produced from the dispense of a
single cartridge.� The candidate mechanism should not be susceptible to HERO
within the sealed aluminum cartridge; should make efficient use of volume as
the total volume available for payload is approximately 5 inches in length by
approximately 1.3 inches in diameter; should utilize the force and/or flame
from the CCU-136 impulse cartridge to initiate the dispense/release sequence
[Ref 2]; should function reliably after significant shock from the impulse
cartridge; should provide consistent and controllable timed release of the
pyrophoric material payload, and should be variable to optimize the timing of
the release of the individual stacks of pyrophoric material. PHASE I: Design and
demonstrate feasibility of prototyping and manufacturing a controlled payload
release mechanism for application to multiple inert sub-payloads dispensed from
a single decoy cartridge.� The decoy cartridge must be a standard Navy round
36mm MJU-49/B decoy form-factor compatible with the AN/ALE-47 Airborne
Countermeasure Dispenser System.� The Phase I effort will include the
development of prototype plans for Phase II. PHASE II: Manufacture and
demonstrate a representative prototype countermeasure payload release mechanism
utilizing non-reactive payload material and Government-furnished reactive payload
material in both ground tests and flight tests. PHASE III DUAL USE
APPLICATIONS: Manufacture, for assessment, flight function testing, and
qualification testing, units that maintain physical integrity and function
properly when subjected to a 40ft drop, aircraft and transportation vibration,
and a 28-day temperature and humidity cycling.� They must meet performance
specifications over a range of temperatures (-65�F to +165�F) [Ref 3].� The
timing mechanism developed may have use in the commercial/entertainment
pyrotechnics industry. REFERENCES: 1. Viau, C. R., (2012).
�Expendable countermeasure effectiveness against imaging infrared guided
threats.� EWCI, Second International Conference on Electronic Warfare, 2012,
Bangalore, India. http://tti-ecm.com/uploads/resources_technical/expendable%20countermeasure%20effectiveness%20against%20imaging%20infrared%20guided%20threats%20(ewci%202012).pdf 2. MIL-STD-331C, Department
of Defense Test Method Standard: Fuze And Fuze Components, Environmental and
Performance Tests For, 5 Jan 2005, http://everyspec.com/MIL-STD/MIL-STD-0300-0499/MIL-STD-331C_22109/ 3. MIL-DTL-82962J, Detail
Specification: Cartridges, Impulse, CCU-136/A and CCU-138/A, 21 Jan 1997, http://quicksearch.dla.mil/qsDocDetails.aspx?ident_number=123737 KEYWORDS: Countermeasure;
Decoy; Pyrophoric; Aircraft; Electronic Timing; Infrared
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