ATTN ATZC DOC, DIR CONTRACTING, 2021 CLUB RD, FORT BLISS, TX 79916-6812

A -- INTO THE 21ST CENTURY: THE FOUNDATION FOR PROGRESS" SYMPOSIUM JUNE 18 THRU 19, 1998 SOL docsup-8049-0001 POC Contact Johna Roberts, 915/568-1492, Contract Specialist/MAJ John Hinds, 915/568-3972 (Site Code DOCSUP) The Directorate of Combat Development, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery (ADA) School, Fort Bliss, Texas is seeking industry presentations of innovative research and development applicable to air and missile defense for the 21st Century and Army After Next (circa 2025). Our intent is to review ideas and emerging technologies in a forum to be held at Fort Bliss, Texas on June 18-19, 1998. Briefings will be made to an audience consisting of the Commanding General, Deputy Commanding General, Director of Combat Developments, current brigade and battalion commanders, and supporting staff members. Don't miss this opportunity to meet key decision makers who steer the future of Air Defense Artillery. The focus for this session remains on developing a versatile and lethal air and missile defense (AMD) force fully capable of meeting the many growing threats and challenges of the next century. We must succeed in this endeavor, despite an austere environment of constrained research and development resources that will undoubtedly continue, and notwithstanding a scaled-back force structure which will continue to be called upon for emergencies and many operations other than war. Protection of these forces, enhancement of their air and missile defense warfighting capabilities, and protection of assets vital to our national security are our essential combat development goals. Tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial aircraft, as well as fixed and rotary-wing aircraft will continue to proliferate and must be countered effectively along with the increasing threat posed by rockets, artillery, mortar fire, as well as the ever-present threat posed by weapons of mass destruction. We seek ideas and methods to develop technologies and apply the means to enable our forces to effectively defeat all of these threats. Technological developments should address our Future Operational Capabilities, which look for improved methods of: ADA force projection, deployability and mobility; improved munitions for greater and extended lethality; enhanced and user-friendly algorithms enabling fused, comprehensive situational awareness, decision aids, and planning support aids; rapid accurate methods for automated and non-cooperative threat classification, discrimination, identification, and correlation of fire-control information; improved highly sensitive and longer-range sensors yielding over-the-horizon detection, identification and improved early warning; robust passive and active methods of weapon system survivability; robotics and automation to minimize manpower requirements and inprove weapon system performance; improved system sustainability and endurance; countermeasures to defeat enemy aerial and space-based reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition attemps; and virtual interfaces to enhance soldier performance despite the speed and confusion of 21st century warfare. The question to be asked is how can we rapidly develop the command and control architectures necessary to govern such a capability for Force XXI, and continue with affordable R&D that will enable us to build and deploy systems with this kind of physical agility in the Army After Next? Each proposed topic for presentatin and abstract must be received no later than April 24, 1998. Acceptable subjects will focus on our Future Operatinal Capabilites (FOCs), and these applications of technologies, organizations and/or training necessary to effectively accomplish our AMD mission in the next century. We are seeking quantitative and where necessary proprietary information to stimulate the requirements determination process. This is not a request for proposals! All information will be suppied at no cost to the government, and proprietary information will be protected. Interesting topics may lead to subsequent request for further information, possible experimentation and eventual development. For further information, contact Major John Hinds, (915) 568-3972; fax (915) 568-2444 or e-mail hindsj@emh10.bliss.army.mil. Information may also be obtained from the home page on the Internet (http://bliss-www.army.mil.) (0082)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0014 19980325\A-0014.SOL)