REQUEST FOR ``NO COST'' INFORMATION ON MINIATURE AIR-LAUNCHED DECOY (MALD) PROPULSION, AIRFRAME, AND PAYLOAD TECHNOLOGIES AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF MALD INDUSTRY DAY 21 SEPT. 1995 POC: Dr. William J. Scheuren, ARPA Tactical Technology Office (TTO), Fax No. (703) 896-8401. Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), Contracts Management Office (CMO), 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714. The Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) is seeking technical papers describing enabling technologies for a Miniature Air-Launched Decoy (MALD). The purposes of this announcment are to inform potential program participants of ARPA's plans to conduct an Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) of MALD, to facilitate industry participation in the ACTD, and to encourage alternative technological solutions to the MALD concept. Contractors responding to this special announcement should submit technical papers, less than 10 pages in length, to ARPA. The papers should include ideas and concepts, technologies underlying the concepts, or component technologies indicating the relevance of the technology to the MALD system or any of its subsystems including decoy payload, airframe, engine, guidance, navigation, and control avionics, or launch mechanisms. Technical contributions may consist of complete, end-to-end concepts and the required enabling technologies for the system, components of a concept, or a modularized family of systems. Papers should include discussions of the benefits of the concepts and the maturity of the underlying technology. Contractors should also indicate their areas of expertise (decoy payload, airframe, engine, avionics, etc.) and potential teaming arrangements under consideration. In addition, ARPA and the Air Force Aeronautical Systems Center (ASC/LKG) Lethal SEAD Program Office at Eglin AFB will co-host a MALD Industry Day on 21 September 1995 at the Eglin Conference Center. POC for ASC is Capt Mike Inzone at (904)882-4808, ext. 2176. An invitation package with agenda and directions will be forwarded upon receipt of clearance information. Please forward security information and fax number to Attn: Capt Inzone (ASC/LKG), Fax: (904)882-7983 by COB 11 September 1995. BACKGROUND: In response to a USAF Air Combat Command requirement for an aerial radar decoy, established by Mission Need Statement 329-92, ARPA plans to conduct a full and open competition resulting in a single contract to conduct an Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) of an inexpensive miniature air-launched decoy. The proposed vehicle should be capable of being carried on and launched from fighter aircraft, and should require no communication with or guidance from other aircraft or ground stations once launched. The intent of the ACTD is to design and integrate up to 100 complete MALD systems, including the signature enhancement payload package, for system level qualification testing, flight demonstrations, and field testing. The objectives of the ACTD include: producibility analysis and planning, separation analysis and launch system design, stores compatability analysis and validation, design and fabrication of the systems, system flight clearance, flight testing (system performance validation), field testing, and concept of operations and tactics refinement. The projected period of performance for the ACTD will be two to three years. The designs of the powered air vehicle and the decoy payload are to be provided by the contractor. The desired end product is a producible, low cost, expendable decoy. Contractors are encouraged to use, wherever possible, mature off-the-shelf technology and components to achieve a low cost, timely solution. If the ACTD is successful, MALD might be employed to enhance the survivability of friendly aircraft and to aid in establishing air superiority by diluting and confusing enemy air defense systems. This project is a follow-on to the ARPA Small Engine Advanced Program (SENGAP), which resulted in successful development of an extremely small 50 lb. thrust turbojet engine. In a completed risk reduction phase of the MALD project, the SENGAP engine was integrated with a representative airframe inlet and exhaust nozzle to characterize engine performance at simulated altitude conditions. There is an ongoing MALD proof-of-principle effort which started in March 1995 and is to conclude with free-flight demonstrations of a prototype MALD vehicle. This is not a solicitation, and this announcement in no way commits the Government to any fiscal liability for any costs incurred by those responding to it. This is a request for information only. Contractors may be requested to present their technical approaches at ARPA. Favorable review of a technical paper does not constitute selection for a contract award and should not be construed as a binding commitment by the Government to fund a study, development, or demonstration effort. Technical papers should be submitted to ARPA/TTO, ATTN: SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT, Dr. William J. Scheuren, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 on or before 4:00 PM on 8 September 1995.

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