Air Force approaches industry for COTS-based targeting system for forward air controllers
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio, 4 Nov. 2013. U.S. Air Force close-air-support experts are reaching out to industry to find companies able to design a production-ready operational control system (OCS) based on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components to help ground controllers direct attack aircraft to their targets.
Officials of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) Battlefield Airmen Branch (WISN) at Wright-Patterson AFB Ohio, issued a sources-sought notice (FA8629-14-R-2400) Friday for the Battlefield Airmen Operational Control System (OCS) program.
The notice is not a formal solicitation, and may not lead to contract awards, Air Force officials caution. The Air Force is looking for an OCS to help forward air controllers who operating on foot while performing digitally aided close air support (DACAS).
The Air Force wants Windows 7-based computing, data and power distribution, and cable that are compatible with the Harris AN/PRC-152A and AN/PRC-117G radios, Rockwell-Collins DAGR GPS receiver, L-3 TacROVER-p radio, Raytheon Microlight radio, shoulder-mounted military-grade GPS receivers, and the Vectronix PLRF-15C pocket laser range finder.
The OCS must get its power from a commonly available BA-5590, BB-2590, or conformal battery, or available AC/DC external power, which can operate the system and recharge internal batteries. The OCS vest should be MOLLE compatible and adaptable to an Eagle, CRYE, or BAE RBAV vest, as well as to a military backpack.
The system should have processor power with a PassMark rating -- not CPU mark -- of 750 to 1000; 7-inch diagonal screen size; can be a tablet or a two-piece computer with separate display and processor; and must weigh less than 10 pounds, not including the vest and battery.
Companies interested should email white papers no longer than eight pages no later than 21 Nov. 2013 to the Air Force's William Keaney at [email protected]. For questions or concerns phone Keaney at 937-656-8145.
More information is online at https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/ASC/FA8629-14-R-2400/listing.html.
John Keller | Editor
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.
