USAF SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD AIR EXPEDITIONARY FORCES REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) The US Air Force is seeking information regarding technology and concepts applicable to Air Expeditionary Forces (AEF). In the future, combat and support aircraft based in the continental United States will likely become the primary means for initial crisis response and rapid power projection to any point on the globe. These air expeditionary forces must be capable of deploying rapidly to a bare base a hemisphere away and projecting lethal firepower shortly after arrival in order to halt or deter invasion or other forms of aggression. The AEF must be capable of sustaining effective air operations until reinforcements arrive, perhaps on the order of one week. The Secretary and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force have tasked the USAF Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) to conduct a study of likely AEF operations and to recommend to the Air Force options which will fulfill the training, deployment, sustainment, and employment performance required to conduct air expeditionary operations in the future. Investments in high-leverage concepts and technologies which will address current shortfalls and enable prompt, effective air expeditionary operations with a minimum expenditure of resources are to be identified by the SAB in its recommendations to the Air Force. Wright Laboratory is issuing this Request For Information at the request of the SAB to enable the broadest search for applicable concepts and technology. Although no contracts are to be awarded as a direct result of this solicitation, concepts and technologies selected and included by the SAB in its report to the Air Force may receive investment emphasis in future Air Force budgets. Concepts and technologies which are sought include, but are not limited to, those which would provide the following improvements: (1) reduced time to deploy effective airpower to intercontinental ranges, (2) reduced tanker and cargo sorties to support the force deployment and sustainment, (3) reduced forward-deployed aircraft, support equipment, supplies, personnel, and facilities while maintaining or increasing operational effectiveness, (4) improved force protection, (5) enroute mission planning, targeting, weather, and threat warning, (6) multiple kills per pass, and (7) dynamic reassignment of ground targets. A few examples of concepts and technologies which could contribute to achieving these improvements include: (1) lightweight tenting and matting, (2) lighter, but more lethal weapons, (3) system designs and maintenance techniques that minimize maintenance, turn-around time, and logistics during the initial week of deployment, (4) small, lightweight, wideband satcom terminals that permit reachback for intelligence and targeting products and air tasking orders, (5) space-based surveillance systems that offer timely observation of enemy land, sea, and air movements and situational awareness for force protection, (6) electronic mobility processing of personnel and equipment, (7) automated, knowledge-based operations planning tools, and (8) effective chemical and biological agent detectors and lightweight protection gear. Neither of the foregoing lists are intended to be exhaustive; they are offered only as examples to better characterize the nature of the problem for which innovative and creative concepts and technologies are sought. Responders to this RFI are requested to contact the Wright Laboratory POC, Mr Jim Prunner, WL/XP, 2130 8th Street, Suite 1, WPAFB, OH 45433-7542, Phone (937) 255-2532, FAX (937) 656-4448. Any information submitted in response to this RFI should be forwarded to the above Wright Laboratory POC, not the SAB. It is also requested that initial inputs be limited to 2-4 pages. Responders may be requested to provide additional details/information based on their initial submittals.

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