A -- LOW COST INTERCEPTOR SEEKERS, BRIEFING TO INDUSTRY Date of Briefing: 24 February 1998. Points-Of-Contact: Technical -- LTC William R. Johnson, USA, DARPA/STO; Fax: 703-522-6108. Contracts -- Alan Frederick, DARPA/CMD; Fax: 703-696-2208. Please direct communications to the appropriate point-of-contact. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Sensor Technology Office (STO), plans to solicit proposals for the Concept Development phase of a low cost seeker system program whose products will be capable of countering a wide array of air vehicle threats. In anticipation of the issuance of a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for this Phase, DARPA will hold an Industry Briefing. The following information pertains: BACKGROUND: The relatively low cost and simple technology involved in building subsonic air vehicles, along with availability of low cost, highly accurate guidance and control systems, make the proliferation of cruise missiles, unmanned air vehicles (UAVs), and low, slow flying, piloted aircraft likely threats in future conflicts. These threats would travel at low speed, have moderately low radar cross section (RCS) and infrared (IR) signatures, and lack the sophistication to conduct reactive maneuvers, as well as the inability to direct electronic countermeasures against interceptors. However, these threats could fly as low as 100 meters over land, and 30 meters over water, and may be jet-powered, propeller or rotary-wing driven. They may be employed in a surveillance role, may carry a small number of weapons, troops, or supplies, or be capable of jamming surveillance, fire control, navigation, or communications systems. Additionally, such systems could be capable of dispersing chemical and biological agents. Seekers of interest to DARPA (sensor, gimbal if applicable, signal and data processing, and guidance electronics) must be able to meet the following constraints when tactically packaged: weigh less than 30 pounds, survive >100 g's axially and operate in presence of 20 g's laterally, fit into 6 -- 10 inch diameter by 12 -- 24 inch long volume, consume less than 1000 watts, and be capable of acquiring and homing on a passive threat which has been designated to a cue volume of (nominally) 1 cubic km -- all with a unit flyaway cost objective of less than $50K per seeker in production quantities of 3000. In general, low cost, weight, size, power, and the capability to operate in a wide variety of weather conditions are desired features. Seekers of interest to DARPA need not be capable of engaging all threat types; but, a multi-threat capability is also desired. Similarly, also of interest to DARPA are 1) packages with multiple sensors that, as a whole seeker system, meet the above constraints (e.g., passive sensor for homing on jammer signal in midcourse and active sensor for terminal homing), and 2) conversely, a family of modular seekers which covers different threats is also of interest. Industry representatives are advised that handover, threat, and potential air vehicle data will be supplied by DARPA at the Industry Brief;subsequent to the Briefing, hardcopy will be provided on request. INDUSTRY BRIEFING: An Industry Briefing for this BAA will be held at DARPA, Room 510 of 3803 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203 on 24 February 1998 from 10:00 AM until 12:00 noon. Attendance is limited to two representatives per division from each corporation, company, or university, with a maximum of 8 people per offeror. This Briefing will be classified SECRET. Clearances should be sent to DARPA Visitor Control Center, 3701 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714, or by FAX at 703-528-3655. (Please have your classified mailing address available at this briefing so any classified sections can be mailed to your organization.) A list of names of prospective attendees must be submitted from each offeror. Please fax the list to the technical point-of-contact noted above, and indicate a point-of-contact for coordinating the list. On 24 February, attendees must first check-in at 3701 N. Fairfax Drive to check security clearances before proceeding to the briefing at 3803 N. Fairfax Drive. DARPA will endeavor to answer written questions submitted in advance at this Briefing; all other questions will be taken for the record during the briefing and answered via the "Frequently Asked Questions" that will be established simultaneous with the issuance of the BAA for this effort. By 26 February 1998, the BAA, the FAQ File, and the unclassified version of the briefing will be available at http://www.darpa.mil/baa/98-17. Classified sections of the industrial briefing may be requested.

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0574 19980212\SP-0027.MSC)