Air Force approaches industry for affordable munition seeker front-end for air-defense weapon
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla., 12 Feb. 2015. U.S. Air Force airborne weapons experts are reaching out to industry for help in developing an affordable guidance system for a future air-to-air munition designed for aircraft self-defense.
Officials of the Air Force Research Laboratory's Munitions Directorate at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., released a solicitation last week (BAA-RWK-2014-0001_CALL_003) for the Miniature Self Defense Munition (MSDM) Seeker Conceptual Design project.
The MSDM seeker initiative seeks to develop a conceptual design for the optics and algorithms of an affordable seeker front end for an air-to-air weapon for aircraft self-defense. The winning contractors will analyze seeker subcomponents with engineering and simulation, Air Force researchers say.
The program will involve aerodynamics, propulsion, warhead, and the seeker front end. Cost is a primary driver. Air Force researchers say they plan to award two separate six-month contracts sometime next April.
Winning contractors will define system and subsystem requirements, explore design trades between subsystems and critical components, identify design risks, as well as model the launch aircraft, the miniature self-defense munition, and two threats.
Researchers will use the conceptual design and modeling results to decided if they will move forward with a follow-on effort. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Public Law 98-94 export control guidelines will apply to this effort.
Companies interested should send proposals by post or by courier no later than 23 March 2015 to the Air Force's Shawn Goodrich, the MSDM seeker program manager, at AFRL/RWWS, 101 W. Eglin Blvd., Eglin AFB, Fla. 32542.
For questions or concerns contact Shawn Goodrich by phone at 850-882-4244, or by email at [email protected], or Kendall Wagner by phone at 850-883-2681, or by email at [email protected].
More information is online at https://www.fbo.gov/notices/69e74a4f1d9ef0b384e3a60b32c2546b.
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.
