N251-005 TITLE: Day/Night Crew Served Weapon Sight System

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Integrated Sensing and Cyber;Microelectronics

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 a day and night capable target acquisition and engagement sight system for crew-served small arms weapon systems.

DESCRIPTION: This SBIR effort is to develop a day/night crew-served weapon sight system that combines the functionality of multiple legacy sight systems while providing additional performance and capabilities. Marines require a replacement for technologically obsolete thermal weapon sights procured for medium (7.62mm) and heavy (12.7mm and 40mm) machine guns. These single-function devices do not provide fire control capabilities, such as target range determination with dynamically corrected aimpoints, nor do they provide the clarity and range of dedicated visible light sight systems utilized during daylight. The Marine Corps is also investigating capabilities to provide the range performance of heavy machine guns in form factors comparable to medium machine guns, with associated mobility advantages for dismounted Marines. Such a capability would require an associated day/night sight system and fire control to efficiently utilize the limited amount of ammunition carried by machine gun teams.

Technical approaches may include modular or fully integrated capabilities (see technical parameters in Phase II) but should emphasize light weight for dismounted applications. Multiple approaches may be assessed in Phase I, but a prototype hardware solution (or multiple solutions) must be achievable within the time and funding scope of the base Phase II effort. In all phases of the effort, the proposer shall provide target and environmental modeling assumptions and sensor/optical parameters.

It is recommended that proposers utilize the U.S. Army Night Vision Integrated Performance Model (NVIPM) for sensor range predictions. A copy of NVIPM software can be provided as Government Furnished Information upon contract award, however proposers are expected to have prior proficiency in use as training will not be provided by the Government. Phase I proposals shall include, but are not limited to, discussion of the performer’s experience and knowledge of relevant technologies and their application to optical systems for small arms; the proposer’s ability to model the size, weight, power, cost, and range performance of optical systems for small arms applications; and the proposer’s capabilities for rapid prototyping and relevant prior examples. Supplementary material should include recent examples of the performer’s ability to develop, refine, and qualify relevant systems for use in military operational environments and produce systems in significant quantities, utilizing either internal resources or via teaming or licensing agreements. Phase I proposals may include preliminary concepts that demonstrate understanding of the relevant trade spaces.

The prototype system is not expected to be optimized for power consumption, nor to meet gunfire shock and full military operational environment requirements; however, it shall be suitably robust for use outdoors in temperate climates. The prototype shall include an external power capability to operate on 120VAC power via an adapter and any internal batteries shall be removable by the operator, allowing use on external power only.

The prototype system shall provide the operator a 70% probability of recognizing personnel targets at no less than 2,400 meters in overcast starlight conditions (~100 microlux), without the use of active illumination sources, through bright sunlight conditions (~100 kilolux) and under 7 kilometer clear air equivalent visibility. The prototype system shall include a color visible light capability (powered digital imager or unpowered direct view optic) for bright sunlight to civil twilight (3-400 lux) use, in clear air, at the stated distance. Solutions incorporating digital day imagers shall have dynamic range sufficient for observing objects in shadows across the stated ambient light levels. Viewable scene and/or symbology brightness shall be adjustable to minimize detectable emissions at night and bright enough to permit observation during daylight without the use of a light sealing eyecup. The prototype system shall be capable of performing the stated task in dirty battlefield and adverse weather conditions at no less than one-third the clear air range. Recognition shall be evaluated by the ability of the operator to detect and correctly count the number of upright personnel within a group with no more than 50% line of sight positional overlap between individuals presenting a frontal aspect.

For NVIPM modeling, the recommended relevant parameters are: 0.75 meter target characteristic dimension, V50 (recognition) = 2.2 cycles, 2 Kelvin target contrast for thermal band imaging, and 25% target contrast for reflectance band imaging.

The prototype system shall have a fire control capability with sufficient ranging and corrected aimpoint accuracy to permit first-round engagement of targets at the maximum effective range of the associated small arms system.

The prototype system shall have sufficient field of view to observe projectile impacts on target, rapidly search for and detect targets, and maintain situational awareness of friendly forces approaching perpendicularly to the target area before they enter the cone of fire. Specialized mounting solutions, including superelevation capabilities, are permissible for different weapons. Relevant USMC weapons include the M240B 7.62mm Medium Machine Gun, M2A1 12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun, and Mk19 40mm Heavy Machine Gun.

The prototype system should demonstrate the ability to receive target handoff from a secondary observer, such as a nearby machine gun team leader or a distant small unit leader (Objective).

The performer shall provide a plan for both low and full rate production, describing proposed fabrication capabilities and teaming or licensing agreements, if applicable. The performer shall provide a cost estimate for non-recurring initial resources and facilities as well as production of sight systems based on step ladder pricing.

PHASE I: Define and develop a concept for a day/night crew-served weapon sight system. Establish the feasibility of the concept. Prepare a Phase II plan.

PHASE II: Develop and deliver at least one hardware system prototype suitable for demonstrating the range performance, operator employment, and approximate size and weight of the preferred concept on relevant small arms systems. Prepare a Phase III commercialization/transition plan.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Further refine the sight system for optimization of size, weight, power, and manufacturing cost and for survivability in the conditions associated with weapon firing shock and the military operational environment. Deliver sufficient representative sight systems to allow qualification and Marine user evaluation for refinement prior to full rate production. Dual use applications include law enforcement precision marksman and civilian hunting applications, subject to ITAR and local government restrictions. Related applications may include machine vision systems for remote inspection and autonomous vehicle long distance hazard/pedestrian avoidance.

REFERENCES:

1. "Telescopic Sight." Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telescopic_sight

2. "Thermal Weapon Sight." – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_weapon_sight

3. "Rangefinder." Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rangefinder

4. "Machine Gun." Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_gun

5. "Marine Corps Tactical Publication (MCTP) 3-01C, Machine Guns and Machine Gun Gunnery." https://www.marines.mil/News/Publications/MCPEL/Electronic-Library-Display/Article/900523/mctp-3-01c/

KEYWORDS: Sensors; Optics; Fire Control; Sights; Small Arms; Weapons; Targeting

TPOC 1: Ryan Kresse
Email: [email protected]

TPOC 2: Joshua Adams
Email: [email protected]

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