N252-099 TITLE: Indirect Laser Detection and Characterization Device
OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Directed Energy (DE);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: Design, develop, and demonstrate critical components and elements for a robust, compact, self-powered (rechargeable batteries), advanced optical sensing system for the detection, classification, and tracking of the HEL in a cluttered environment to provide early cueing of self-defense systems in either a man worn, deployed on a vehicle with tiered fixed/mobile networking, and utilizing both unmanned and manned platform concepts. Due to the rapidly escalating threat that high energy lasers present to Armed Forces of the United States, it is desirable to have reliable early warning system for "tip off" alert to lasers being used for sensing or damaging personnel or platforms. This SBIR topic seeks to augment personnel, either a stationary or mobile, or in a tiered capability with a unique optical sensor capable of sensing, warning, identifying, and potentially enabling the automatic use of countermeasures to address threats. The capability also may offer measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT) when mounted on remotely operated or autonomous vehicles.
DESCRIPTION: Due to the rapidly escalating threat that HELs present to the Armed Forces of the United States, it is desirable to have a reliable early warning system for "tip off" alert to lasers being used for sensing or damaging personnel or platforms. This SBIR topic seeks to augment personnel, either stationary or mobile, or in a tiered capability with a unique optical sensor capable of sensing, warning, identifying, and potentially enabling the automatic use of countermeasures to address threats. The capability also may offer measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT) when mounted on remotely operated or autonomous vehicles. Dual sensing sensors, both in visible & near infrared (VIS/NIR), and Short-wave infrared (SWIR) are near term potentials that should be realized, however additional sensing capabilities in the mid-wave and long wave infrared (MWIR/LWIR) wavelengths are also of high interest areas for potential innovation, but believed to be beyond threshold requirements for a man-wearable or man portable system and near-term solution for the initial architecture.
HEL weapons represent a new and disruptive threat to Armed Forces worldwide. The operational attributes of this class of weapon present a unique detection and defense problem. There is a need for advanced sensing to support initial detection ("tipoff"), as well as triggering defensive protective action as well as enabling defensive counter-targeting or countermeasures that inhibit laser weapon effectiveness. A unique attribute of laser weapons is the ability to be silent and potentially invisible to the human eye, resulting in an ability to counter forces from many potential directions, vastly complicating entry or mission capabilities. The potential damage to sensing technologies are problems that increase the potential for mission failure. To be useful, a cost-effective, low false-alarm rate, distributed, early-warning sensing architecture that utilizes "off axis" sensing through coherent light atmospheric scattering of visible, near infrared, short wave infrared, mid-wave infrared, and long-wave infrared is required to provide "tipoff" to alert Armed Forces of and characterize (targeting, sensing, damaging, or lethal) incoming laser threats.
The attributes of such an architecture include, but are not limited to:
Work produced in Phase II may become classified. Note: The prospective contractor(s) must be U.S. owned and operated with no foreign influence as defined by 32 U.S.C. § 2004.20 et seq., National Industrial Security Program Executive Agent and Operating Manual, unless acceptable mitigating procedures can and have been implemented and approved by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) formerly Defense Security Service (DSS). The selected contractor must be able to acquire and maintain a secret level facility and Personnel Security Clearances. This will allow contractor personnel to perform on advanced phases of this project as set forth by DCSA and ONR in order to gain access to classified information pertaining to the national defense of the United States and its allies; this will be an inherent requirement. The selected company will be required to safeguard classified material during the advanced phases of this contract IAW the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM), which can be found at Title 32, Part 2004.20 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
PHASE I: Define sensor requirements in terms of power, volume, weight, noise limitations, motion limitations, and so forth. Identify specific configuration(s) to be included, and develop the strategy and design of integration and scale of the device and attachments. Define a prototype design, operation within a system construct to include the requirements of low detectability, software, and communications to allow the integration of a cooperative, networked sensor array, in either wired or wireless networks. Reach a demonstratable benchtop device with a prototype design and manufacture plan to be implemented under Phase II.
PHASE II: Develop a prototype device that can perceive, identify, and characterize a laser in an off-axis sensing and perform data collection. Further develop a prototype and demonstrate the prototype or unmanned platform. Perform ground- or sea-based trials data collection of individual vehicles in terms of feature identification performance, operational agility, and accuracy. Perform limited field and/or sea trial to collect test data analysis when mounted on ground-based or airborne platforms.
It is probable that the work under this effort will be classified under Phase II (see Description section for details).
PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Complete final testing and perform necessary integration and transition for use in counter-laser surveillance and monitoring operations with appropriate current platforms and agencies and future combat systems under development.
Commercially, this product could be used to enable remote laboratory safety systems, and enable satellite monitoring or laser-based communications.
REFERENCES:
KEYWORDS: laser, detection electro-optic; surveillance; classification; remote sensing; Machine Learning; Artificial Intelligence; AI/ML
TPOC 1: Peter Morrison
[email protected]TPOC 2: Jason Auxier
[email protected]
** TOPIC NOTICE ** |
The Navy Topic above is an "unofficial" copy from the Navy Topics in the DoD 25.2 SBIR BAA. Please see the official DoD Topic website at www.dodsbirsttr.mil/submissions/solicitation-documents/active-solicitations for any updates. The DoD issued its Navy 25.2 SBIR Topics pre-release on April 2, 2025 which opens to receive proposals on April 23, 2025, and closes May 21, 2025 (12:00pm ET). Direct Contact with Topic Authors: During the pre-release period (April 2, 2025, through April 22, 2025) proposing firms have an opportunity to directly contact the Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) to ask technical questions about the specific BAA topic. The TPOC contact information is listed in each topic description. Once DoD begins accepting proposals on April 23, 2025 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. DoD On-line Q&A System: After the pre-release period, until May 7, 2025, at 12:00 PM ET, proposers may submit written questions through the DoD On-line Topic Q&A at https://www.dodsbirsttr.mil/submissions/login/ by logging in and following instructions. In the Topic Q&A system, the questioner and respondent remain anonymous but all questions and answers are posted for general viewing. DoD Topics Search Tool: 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.
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