Air Force to brief industry on program to develop UAVs smaller than 20 pounds able to fly 4-hour missions
Nov. 19, 2010
DAYTON, Ohio, 19 Nov. 2010. U.S. Air Force officials will brief industry Dec. 1 and 2 on a program called Small Unmanned Renewable enerGy long Endurance Vehicle (SURGE-V), which seeks to develop an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) smaller than 20 pounds that is able to fly missions lasting longer than four hours.
Briefings to provide information on an upcoming broad agency announcement (BAA) for the SURGE-V small UAV program will be at an industry day on 1 and 2 Dec. 2010 at the Tec^Edge Innovation and Collaboration Center, 500 Springfield St., in Dayton, Ohio. Register for the industry day by sending an e-mail to the Air Force's Michael Rottmayer at [email protected] no later than 29 Nov. 2010 -- just 10 days away.
The U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) have a growing need to extend mission persistence for hand- and air-launched small UAVs, which have been limited in endurance and payload because their small sizes prevent them from carrying much fuel -- either batteries or liquid combustible fuel -- Air Force officials say.
The goal of the SURGE-V program will be to develop a hybrid power and propulsion system for UAVs smaller than 20 pounds that enables these aircraft to operate on missions longer than four hours. The aim is to demonstrate such a small UAV propulsion system in an operational environment.
Only U.S. citizens who are certified under DOD Directive 5230.25 may attend the industry day briefings. The first day of the briefings will involve presenting details of the program, along with questions and answers. The second day will offer 30-minute one-on-one sessions with Air Force representatives. Notify Rottmayer by e-mail before the industry day if interested in a one-on-one session.
Air Force officials caution that this is a sources sought notice, and does not yet constitute an invitation for bids or a request for proposal (RFP).
For questions or concerns contact contracting officer Margaret Bradshaw by phone at 937-656-9626, by e-mail at [email protected], or by post at Det 1 AFRL/PKPA, 2310 8th St., Area B, Bldg 167, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433-7801.
More information is online at https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/AFRLWRS/SURGE-V-Industry-Day/listing.html.
John Keller is editor-in-chief of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine, which provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronic and optoelectronic technologies in military, space, and commercial aviation applications. A member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since the magazine's founding in 1989, Mr. Keller took over as chief editor in 1995.
