N231-005 TITLE: One Way Luminescent (OWL) Tracer Technology for 40mm Ammunition
OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): General Warfighting Requirements (GWR)
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 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 one-way luminescence (OWL) tracer technology that provides warfighters the capability to see the path of projectiles without exposing their positions, so that fire can be immediately adjusted instead of waiting for impact signatures.
DESCRIPTION: The intent of this SBIR topic is to develop OWL technology for 40mm ammunition. This includes low, medium, and high velocity cartridges. Additionally, high explosive and practice cartridges are to be included.
The technology must meet Threshold requirements = (T)
It is highly desirable that the technology meets Objective requirements = (O)
1) Under Night and Low-Light conditions:
a) Cartridge signature must be luminescent. (T=O)
b) Cartridge signature must be non-incendiary and non-fire producing (T=O)
c) Degree of visibility (DOV) from the gunner position must be less than 30� (T); less than 25� (O)
d) Night Vision Goggles (NVG): Visible to the gunner for a range of 900 m (T); 1500 m (O)
e) Eyesight/Optics: Visible to the gunner for a range of 900 m (O)
2) Under Day conditions, visible to the gunner for a range of 900 m (T); 1500 m (O). With or without optics.
3) Does not degrade precision or reliability in all weather / climatic conditions in which Marines operate. (T=O)
4) Does not increase cost per cartridge by more than 5% (T); by more than 1% (O)
5) Storage without degradation of compounds:
a) Duration: 10 years (T); 15 years (O)
b) Temperature: - 25�C to 60�C (T); -46�C to 70�C (O)
6) Range is equal to or greater than currently fielded cartridges (T=O)
7) Muzzle velocity is equal to or greater than currently fielded cartridges (T=O)
Current tracer technology has limitations in performance that this topic will address. This includes:
PHASE I: Develop concepts for OWL technology that meets the requirements defined in the Description above. Demonstrate the feasibility of the concepts in meeting the Marine Corps requirements. Establish that the concepts can be developed into a useful product for the Marine Corps. Feasibility will be established by material testing and analytical modeling, as appropriate. Provide a Phase II development plan with performance goals and key technical milestones, and that will address technical risk reduction.
PHASE II: Develop prototype 40mm cartridges for evaluation to determine their capability in meeting the performance goals defined in the Description above. Demonstrate technology performance through prototype evaluation and modeling over the required range of parameters. Evaluation results will be used to refine the prototype into an initial design that will meet Marine Corps requirements; and for evaluation to determine its effectiveness in an operationally relevant environment approved by the Government. Prepare a Phase III development plan to transition the technology to Marine Corps use.
PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Support the Marine Corps in transitioning the technology for Marine Corps use. Support the Marine Corps for test and validation to certify and qualify the system for Marine Corps use.
Commercial applications may include, but not be limited to, law enforcement.
REFERENCES:
1. Eshel, Tamir. OWL ammo will be all tracers but invisible to the enemy. 6 August 2014. Defense Update. https://defense-update.com/20140806_owl_tracers.html
2. US Army engineers developing new one-way tracer round. Army Technology, 30 July 2014. https://www.army-technology.com/news/newsus-army-engineers-developing-new-one-way-luminescence-tracer-round-4331164/
3. South, Todd. One-way tracers, spoof-proof artillery and other Army ammunition developments coming soon. 4 June 2019. Army Times. https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2019/06/05/one-way-tracers-spoof-proof-artillery-and-other-army-ammunition-developments-coming-soon/
4. MIL-DTL-50863F w / Amendment 5. 22 November 2021. https://standards.globalspec.com/std/14495426/MIL-DTL-50863F%20(5)%20CONT.%20DIST
KEYWORDS: Ammunition; tracer; luminescence; luminescent; OWL; 40mm; one-way
** TOPIC NOTICE ** |
The Navy Topic above is an "unofficial" copy from the Navy Topics in the DoD 23.1 SBIR BAA. Please see the official DoD Topic website at www.defensesbirsttr.mil/SBIR-STTR/Opportunities/#announcements for any updates. The DoD issued its Navy 23.1 SBIR Topics pre-release on January 11, 2023 which opens to receive proposals on February 8, 2023, and closes March 8, 2023 (12:00pm ET). Direct Contact with Topic Authors: During the pre-release period (January 11, 2023 thru February 7, 2023) proposing firms have an opportunity to directly contact the Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) to ask technical questions about the specific BAA topic. Once DoD begins accepting proposals on February 8, 2023 no further direct contact between proposers and topic authors is allowed unless the Topic Author is responding to a question submitted during the Pre-release period. SITIS Q&A System: After the pre-release period, and until February 22, 2023, (at 12:00 PM ET), proposers may submit written questions through SITIS (SBIR/STTR Interactive Topic Information System) at www.dodsbirsttr.mil/topics-app/, login and follow instructions. In SITIS, the questioner and respondent remain anonymous but all questions and answers are posted for general viewing. Topics Search Engine: Visit the DoD Topic Search Tool at www.dodsbirsttr.mil/topics-app/ to find topics by keyword across all DoD Components participating in this BAA.
|
| 2/21/23 | Q. | Can you provide guidance on projectile velocity and time of flight? Also, is there a maximum threshold for the added cost for the tracer technology per round? |
| A. | The average HV projectile velocity (MK281 MOD 3) is 240.95 m/s � 3.05 m/s @ 70F. Minimum distance from muzzle to target is 900m (T) and 1500m (O) as that will be the evaluation distance for dim trace viability.
Current cost is estimated at $25.60 - $32.00 per unit and in the announcement one of the requirements stated the price can increase 5% (T) and 1% (O). |
|
| 2/21/23 | Q. | The small caliber OWL program ended up with a pyrotechnic solution from what we have been told. The 40mm SBIR explicitly states that the solution must be non-incendiary/non-fire producing. Is this still the case or is incendiary an option? Sometimes they change the requirements and it doesn�t make it to an updated spec.
Any light you can shed on this would be helpful. It�s a tough problem to solve considering the requirements and the space limitations on the various 40mm rounds. |
| A. | While the preference is for a non-incendiary solution, materials with low enough burn temperature that will not cause fire hazards (i.e., ignite tall/dry grass) may be considered. |