Munitions Contracting Division (AFRL/MNK), Building 13, 101 West Eglin Boulevard, Suite 337, Eglin AFB, FL 32542-6810

A -- REVOLUTIONARY GUIDANCE AND ORDNANCE TECHNOLOGY SOL BAA No. MNK-99-0002 POC Linda Weisz, Contract Specialist (850)882-4294, ext. 3206 E-MAIL: Linda Weisz, Contract Specialist; Charles Cottrell,, weisz@eglin.af.mil">weisz@eglin.af.mil;cottrell@eglin.af.mil. CONTINUATION OF PART I, PREVIOUS SYNOPSIS for Munitions Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory, Eglin AFB. MULTI MODE EXPLOSIVES The goal of this work is to develop warheads which are more flexible with regard to the targets they can destroy. One of the main constituents of a warhead is the explosive. Explosives may vary with regard to energy release per unit weight and with regard to ignition sensitivity. Ideally, an explosive should remain insensitive to ignition until it is properly fuzed. After ignition it should be able to provide the equivalent energy of other more sensitive (volatile), high energy explosives. The purpose of this research is to develop an explosive which has high energetics along with low ignition sensitivity. Mr. Tom Brantley, AFRL/MNMI, (850) 882-2961, ext. 3453, brantlet@eglin.af.mil, COOPERATIVE WEAPON TECHNOLOGY The goal of this work is to develop a means whereby discrete weapons or submunitions can coordinate their attack. AFRL/MN expects that many future weapons will be equipped with autonomous target recognition (ATR) algorithms. However, even with ATR, each munitions selects a target based solely upon its own information. The result is that many targets are completely missed while the highly visible targets are attacked by more munitions than necessary to achieve a kill. The major objective of this research is to develop the technologies which will enable a group of autonomous munitions to communicate, cooperate, and adapt to battlefield dynamics such that the search and attack strategies are optimal. Mr. Rob Murphy, AFRL/MNGN, (850) 882-2209, ext. 1259, murphy@eglin/af/mil, INTEGRATED GUIDANCE It is MN's belief that the traditional "stove pipe" approaches of the past will not facilitate the leap forward in technology required in future conflicts. Intelligent weapon systems need to become highly integrated, both at the component and system level, to afford the capability and autonomy required of future tactical weapons. We define integration here as the interactionand interconnection of functions or components in a system, whereby the effectiveness of the system is enhanced by the combining, complementing, and sharing of the various functions of the system. it is the overarching goal of this research to develop new and novel ways to enhance weapon system effectiveness through higher levels of guidance, navigation, control, and estimation integration, from the sub-system component level all the way up to the operation level. One example of this is the loosely coupled, tightly coupled, ultra-tightly coupled evolution of GPS/INS systems for tactical weapon navigation. Dr. Randy Zachery, AFRL/MNGN, (850) 882-2961, ext. 3453, zachery@eglin.af.mil, MUNITION SPEED/MANEUVERABILITY The goal of this work is to develop means or methods to efficiently impart increased velocity and maneuverability to air delivered munitions. This capability can manifest itself as translational speed or as an enhanced ability to change direction. Many traditional approaches such as integrated jets or rocket motors have drawbacks, not the least of which are added cost and weight. There may be innovative ways to construct the jets and rocket motors so they are less expensive and lighter in weight. Or, there may be other methods to increase munition speed. Innovative ways to increase maneuverability other than conventional fins or reaction jets may also exist. Methods may be developed which increase a munition's velocity somewhat less than that associated with a rocket or jet motor. But these methods may cost far less than those motors and thereby be practical for greater employment. The purpose of this study is to develop an inexpensive, light weight means to impart greater velocity to direct attack munitions. Dr. Michael Valentino, AFRL/MNAV, (850) 882-4294, ext. 3475, valentin@eglin.af.mil, STAND OFF DISTANCE ENHANCEMENT The goal of this work is to develop methods and means to increase the combat radius of a munitions after it has been released from the parent aircraft. Traditionally, this has been accomplished by the incorporation of some type of rocket or jet motor. Alternately, the integration of some high lift/low drag wing has also been used. Both methods have disadvantages. The rocket and jet motors are expensive and add significant weight to the munitions. Conventional, fold out wings may also be expensive and cumbersome. In addition, time to target increases linearly with standoff making mobile targets more difficult to engage. Innovative increases in jet or rocket motors technology could make them lighter in weight and less expensive. There may be ways to generate airframe lift by novel means which are less bulky and less expensive than current methods. Reducing drag of the vehicle could also affect range. The purpose of this study is to develop innovative methods to efficiently and inexpensively increase munitions stand off distance. Maj Peter Van Wirt, AFRL/MNAV, (850) 882-4651, ext. 3316, vanwirtp@eglin.af.mil, MUNITION COMPONENT PART REDUCTION (NUMBERS/SIZE) The goal of this work is to developmanufacturing technologies, design technologies, materials, assembly methods, assemblies, or subassemblies which individually or combined, reduce the number of component parts that comprise an existing or possible future munitions. The assumption is made that fewer parts translates into a finished product that may be less expensive to build, lighter in weight, more resistant to malfunction, and easier or quicker to maintain or repair. Also, a parallel goal of this work is to reduce the size of the munitions component parts. This contribution to overall size reduction would have inestimable value in both aircraft combat loadout and with regard to logistics. The purpose of this study is to develop innovative methods to reduce a munitions component parts (both in numbers and size) while lowering its production cost and increasing its mission ready rate and combat effectiveness. Mr. Charles Cottrell, AFRL/MNAV, (850) 882-3124, ext. 3344, cottrell@eglin.af.mil, NETWORKED COMMUNICATION/INTELLIGENCE The goal of this work is to develop an efficient, secure means to share real time data among individual munitions, parent aircraft, surveillance assets (airborne or space borne), and command facilities (airborne or ground based). This information may include such things as suspected target location, threat location, friendly force location, asset assignment, and possibly post strike battle damage assessment. The purpose of this information networking is to more efficiently coordinate scarce combat resources to successfully conduct a military campaign. Mr. Rob Murphy, AFRL/MNGN, (850) 882-2209, ext. 1259, murphy@eglin.af.mil, MUNITION KNOWLEDGE (ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE) The goal of this work is to develop an artificial intelligence based "knowledge" that may be applicable to munitions including submunitions. This artificial intelligence may be applicable to self-diagnostic maintenance, to optimal target selection, to a mid strike analysis by remaining submunitions, real-time for path planning, or any other method which couldenhance individual weapon or coordinated sortie effectiveness. A munitions which could modify its attack profile just prior to target engagement in order to optimize its impact effectiveness would represent an important advance. A munitions which could adapt its ingress path to the target to increase the number of targets and the probabilities of these detection's and classifications, while simultaneously avoiding threats and jamming would also represent an important advance. The purpose of this study is to develop a munitions based artificial intelligence capability which would enhance dependability and efficiency. Dr. Randy Zachery, AFRL/MNGN, (850) 882-2961, ext. 3453, zachery@eglin.af.mil, MULTIFUNCTIONAL DAMAGE MECHANISMS The goal of this work is to develop damage mechanisms that destroy or seriously degrade a target without resorting solely to blast, fragments, or high speed projectile impact. Advances in several scientific fields, including electromagnetics, may offer suitable avenues for development.The combining of one or more unconventional damage mechanisms along with conventional blast, fragmentation, and/or projectile impact mechanisms may prove to be appropriate for optimizing a future munitions effectiveness. The purpose of this study is to develop unconventional damage mechanisms which may be used independently or in concert with existing mechanisms to enhance munitions effectiveness. Mr. Tom Brantley, AFRL/MNMI, (850) 882-2141, ext. 2220, brantlet@eglin.af.mil, NON LETHAL TECHNOLOGIES The goal of this work is to develop non lethal technologies which are compatible with existing or future air delivered munitions and are likely to be effective in situations where deadly force is not the best solution. These non lethal technologies can be used for facility denial purposes and/or for degrading the combat effectiveness of enemy vehicles and dismounted personnel. Particular emphasis shall be placed on two areas: hard and deeply buried facility denial and usefulness in an urban environment against hidden or barricaded combatants. It is understood that future air delivered weapons which employ non lethal munitions may have to be deployed from unconventional platforms such as cargo planes and helicopters, though deployment from existing attack aircraft is preferred. The purpose of this study is to develop a capability in this area for the Air Force. Mr. Tom Brantley, AFRL/MNMI, (850) 882-2141, ext. 2220, brantlet@eglin.af.mil, Posted 03/10/99 (W-SN306840). (0069)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0001 19990312\A-0001.SOL)