Aviation Applied Technology Directorate, U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Attn: AMSAM-AR-TC, Building 401, Lee Blvd, Room 117, Fort Eustis, VA 23604-5577

15 -- SENSORS/UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES (UAVS) OR SENSOR/UAV COMBINATIONS!! SOL N/A!! DUE 052298 POC Brenda Haglich (757) 878-0085, Lauren Sebring (757) 878-4828!! E-MAIL: AATD, odom@eustis-aatds1.army.mil. This announcement seeks information on commercially available sensors, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or sensor/UAV combinations that can potentially be used to support US Army Combat Maneuver Brigade and Below operations in the mounted, dismounted, and aviation environments. UAVs will support tactical decisions initially by functioning as extended "eyes and ears" on the battlefield and ultimately as fully integrated team members. Timely and accurate tactical information from the UAVs will play a key role in increasing the effectiveness of Army Combat Maneuver Brigade and Below operations. The proposed UAV systems should comprise fully integrated components, including air vehicle, sensor payloads, C4I interface systems, ground control elements, launch and recovery equipment, and may include automatic take-off and landing subsystems. The UAV operational configurations should be modular in design to permit the sensor components interchange to tailor the UAV for various missions. The Combat Maneuver Brigade and Below UAV system will be expected to successfully operate within the mobility and transportability constraints of the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. The system will use a common fuel available through military/government supply channels. The platform/sensor package should provide real time imagery (IR, thermal, camera, SAR, MTI) and SIGINT capability around an airfield or deployed force for a minimum range of 10 kilometers. Desired detection capabilities include human and vehicle movement as well as the ability to detect explosives, chemical and biological weapons. The UAV system should be GPS capable and able to transmit target location to 8-digit grid coordinate accuracy. The control module should include a real-time imagery display which can be operated by a single individual. Additionally, the system must not interfere with existing communications and optical equipment. Please include in your response information which addresses: 1) system development status (design verification testing and design/configuration stability); 2) production status including quantities of air vehicles produced, number of flights, and total flight hours; 3) availability of design and support documentation such as blueprints/drawings; 4) data link used; 5) sensor payloads, payload capability and payload growth capacity; 6) estimated production costs for an air vehicle with an EO/IR, SAR, MTI, or other payload, with air vehicle and sensor payload production cost separately identified; 7) system reliability and maintainability; 8) growth paths for any performance area; 9) a list of customers who could provide a user's assessment of the system/air vehicle and its operational capability, 10) business arrangements such as partners or team members who participated in the development and manufacture of the system/air vehicle, and 11) anticipated US Army Brigade and Below operations that the system could support. This Request for Information (RFI) is for planning purposes only and should not be construed as a Request for Proposal (RFP), Invitation for Bid (IFB) or as an obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any follow-on systems. Participation is strictly voluntary and a response/submittal shall not constitute an implied obligation on the part of the Government to reimburse a responder for any ideas, concepts, or techniques that may be implemented as a result. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of responses to the RFI, or otherwise pay for the information requested. No entitlement to payment or indirect costs or charges to the Government will arise as a result of submission of responses to this RFI and Government use of such information. It is highly desirable that information/data provided be provided with unlimited rights to the Government. However, we recognize that proprietary data may be part of responses to this RFI. If so, clearly mark such restricted or proprietary data and present it as an addendum to the non-restricted/non-proprietary information. The Government shall not be responsible for information/data received without the proper markings. System maturity, as evidenced by demonstrated performance and flight data from off-the-shelf systems/air vehicles is highly preferable; lengthy development alternatives are not desired. Interested parties should be willing to allow a site visit by a Government team to review system documentation and related test data. Respondents should also address availability of a system to be flight demonstrated to Government representatives with a recommended date for such demonstration. Interested parties should submit a written statement of interest, including a description of the item(s) considered to meet the criteria herein, with the above requested supporting data, by close of business May 22, 1998, to the Commander, Aviation Applied Technology Directorate, ATTN: AMSAM-R-T-I (Ms. Haglich), Building 401, Ft. Eustis, Virginia. Questions may be directed to Ms. Haglich at (757) 878-0085 email bhaglich@eustis-aatds1.army .mil or Allen Peterson at (757) 878-4018 email apeterson@eustis-aatds1.army.mil. (0083)

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