Air Force launches SWAT program to help develop and evaluate spectrum warfare technologies
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio, 17 Nov. 2014. U.S. Air Force researchers are ready to ask industry to help them develop and evaluate technologies to help determine the value of new spectrum warfare systems and technologies.
Officials of the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, released a presolicitation last week (BAA-RQKS-2015-0003) for the Spectrum Warfare Assessment Technologies (SWAT) program.
Spectrum warfare is an evolving umbrella term that encompasses electronic warfare (EW), optical warfare, navigation warfare, and cyber warfare.
Related: Electronic warfare to be part of all military operations
It describes the ability of U.S. military forces to operate freely in domains such as radar and radio communications, lasers and electro-optical sensors, Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite navigation, and computers and data networks while denying these capabilities to adversaries.
A formal solicitation for the SWAT program is expected in mid-January. Meanwhile, Air Force researchers will brief industry on the SWAT program during an industry day from 10 a.m. to noon on 3 Dec. 2014 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.
The SWAT program seeks to conduct leading-edge system-of-systems spectrum warfare applications and technology development using multispectral synthetic battlespace simulation to integrate sensor and electronic warfare (EW)technologies, identify development risks, and rapid technology insertion.
Related: Air Force eyes digital radio technologies for spectrum warfare and jam-resistant AESA radar
The SWAT program will demonstrate and verify the value of new spectrum warfare technologies based on electronic warfare skill sets. The program will be worth about $49.5 million over its life cycle. The winning SWAT contract will deliver hardware, software, and data.
Companies interested in attending the SWAT industry day briefings on 3 Dec. should email the Air Force's Philippe Duvelle at [email protected] no later than 25 Nov. 2014. For questions or concerns email or phone Duvelle at 937-528-8935.
More information is online at http://www.fbodaily.com/archive/2014/11-November/15-Nov-2014/FBO-03572285.htm.
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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.
