Summary:
The Project Manager for U.S. Army Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (PM UAS) extends an invitation for interested parties to attend Launched Effects (LE) Industry Days on 17-19 JAN 2024 in the Stone Event Center Auditorium, Huntsville, AL. On 17 JAN 2024, the government, including leadership from partner Army Program Executive Offices, the Future Vertical Lift Cross Functional Team, and the Maneuver, Aviation, Intelligence, and Cyber Centers of Excellence, will present a holistic overview of the LE acquisition strategy and requirements. Throughout the event, Industry will have multiple ways to engage with the Army’s LE team to include question/answer opportunities, one-on-one meetings with leadership, and provide post event feedback. Specifically, the Army is interested in currently available Short Range LE system solutions as an initial capability and system solutions projected to meet the full requirements of Short Range LE.
System Description:
The Army is seeking a Short Range LE system with both ground and air launch solutions. Payload configurations may include Electro-Optical/Infra-Red (EO/IR), Radio Frequency Detect, Identify, Locate, Report (RF DILR), lethal/kinetic, communications relay, and RF Decoy. Networking and datalinks should support maximum flexibility in band/waveform selection and the integration of collaborative behaviors. Navigation systems should be based on supervised autonomous solutions and include a path to Assured – Position, Navigation, and Timing (A-PNT) solutions. Additionally, launch solutions should reflect mature integration/qualification paths.
Modular Open System Approach (MOSA) standards pertinent to this effort include the LE Specification Model (variant model generated from the UAS Family of Systems Model), Uncrewed Vehicle Control (UVC) Component Specification Model (CSM), Future Airborne Capability Environment (FACE) Technical Standard, UAS Family of Systems Block 1 Interoperability Profiles (IOPs), DO-178C Design Assurance Level (DAL) standards and software module portability, and Sensors Open Systems Architecture (SOSA).
Industry Day RSVP / Registration:
All LE Industry Day attendees must pre-register for the event by responding to the “eInvitations” link below and submission of the Visitor Access Request (VAR), see Enclosure 2: Visitor Access Request Guide. Registration
must be completed no later than 11 JAN 2024 and no substitutions to registered participants will be accepted after the registration deadline. Each individual requesting Registration approval must submit an “eInvitations” response. Interested attendees will register through “eInvitations” at https://einvitations.afit.edu/inv/anim.cfm?i=816079&k=0A6044097C5E
The LE Specification Model, UAS Family of Systems Block 1 Interoperability Profiles, UVC CSM, and Short Range LE performance information are available upon request. Approved registrants can submit their request to the email address: usarmy.redstone.peo-avn.mbx.pm-uas-17-jan-2024-industry-day@army.mil
Approved recipients must ensure Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) protection from unauthorized disclosure or access by unauthorized personnel by the measures outlined in DoDI 5200.48, para 4.1e.
One-on-one briefing requests: Respondents requesting one-on-one meetings must be registered LE Industry Day participants and submit an information packet addressing their proposed system / subsystems.
Respondents requesting a Government and Industry one-on-one meeting are asked to provide requests NLT 11 JAN 2024 to the following address: usarmy.redstone.peo-avn.mbx.pm-uas-17-jan-2024-industry-day@army.mil
One-on-one Information Packet Requested Information:
1. Provide a detailed description and specifications of the air vehicle and payload performance. Additionally, provide qualification and/or independent assessment reports and relative data supporting system performance.
2. Provide specific information for the proposed command-and-control (C2) solution and a path to Uncrewed Vehicle Control (UVC) integration. C2 solutions include collaborative behaviors and mission planning functions. For the C2 solution, provide specific information for size/weight, battery specification, sensor and air vehicle control functions, hot/cold temperature range, range of operation, display size/resolution/brightness, operation in direct sunlight and night conditions, operation in cold weather, and security considerations.
3. Provide technical specifications for data link/radios (e.g., uplink/downlink frequency by waveform, mesh node capacities and ranges, C2 transmission range by waveform), data encryption standards/qualifications/configurations, time to launch (air and ground), lost link and recovery functions.
4. Provide specifications on navigation capabilities including: Global Positioning System (GPS) (commercial or military), anti-jam capability, navigation ability without GPS and data link signals, autonomous behaviors/functionality, and accuracy of any visual based or other navigation solution.
5. Provide an assessment of the Technology Readiness Level (TRL), Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL), and Integration Readiness Level (IRL) of the product and technology maturation roadmap for air vehicle, payload, mission system, and each launch/recovery method to include considerations of system operation while in launcher (heat transfer, shock, vibration, mission plan updates, and others).
-Substantiate the TRL and IRL assessments according to the General Accounting Office (GAO) Technology Readiness Assessment Guide, GAO-20-48G dated January 2020.
-Substantiate MRL assessment according to the criteria in the DoD MRL Deskbook 2018.
6. Provide mechanical, electrical, and data interfaces supported by an assessment of interoperability to the Launched Effects specification model.
7. Provide system cost details by air vehicle, payload, mission system subcomponents, and ground support equipment. Provide cost estimating assumptions as the basis of the costs provided, e.g. quantities, quantity price breaks, dependent parallel production efforts. Provide cost sensitivity analysis that aid affordability tradeoffs,
8. Provide intellectual property and data rights assertion(s).
9. Provide projected production capacities to include lead time required for delivery.
10. Provide proposed training solution.
11. Provide an assessment of the LE Specification Model and UVC CSM to include usability and completeness.
Additional information may include:
1. Cost data for delta test and integration to meet minimum requirements.
2. An operation and support strategy identifying the system’s supportability requirements that encompass all Integrated Product Support (IPS) Elements (e.g. supply support, maintenance planning & management, Packaging, Handling, Storage, and Preservation (PHS&T), computer resources support, training). This strategy should address the implementation of organic sustainment.
3. Shelf life and sustaining engineering efforts.
4. Reliability and maintainability information.
5. Details on current teaming arrangements.
6. Mission planning software solution.
Questions:
Industry is encouraged to submit questions prior to, during and after the Industry Day event, utilizing the format found at Enclosure 001 to this invitation. Approved registrants can submit their questions to the email address: usarmy.redstone.peo-avn.mbx.pm-uas-17-jan-2024-industry-day@army.mil. Questions can also be submitted in hard copy at the Industry Day event. Administrative or Information Technology (IT) related questions asked prior to and during Industry Day events will be answered as soon as possible. Responses to all other questions will be adjudicated and posted to Industry through beta-SAM within a reasonable time following the Industry Day.
Administrative:
Event Address
Stone Event Center – Auditorium
2620 Clinton Ave. West
Huntsville, AL 35805
17 January 2024: Beginning at 0900, the Government intends to conduct CUI briefings providing a holistic overview of the LE strategy.
18-19 January 2024: Industry/Government one-on-one briefings