Booz Allen, Peraton to build SOSA-based advanced software for electronic warfare (EW) situational awareness

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio – U.S. Air Force electronic warfare (EW) experts are asking two more defense companies to develop software that helps aircraft pilots understand and manage electromagnetic situational awareness for airborne EW.

Officials of the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, announced contracts Thursday to Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. in McLean Va., and to Peraton Labs Inc. in Basking Ridge, N.J., for the Ephemeral Paragon (E-Gon) program.

E-Gon seeks an advanced software suite of tactical single-ship EW capabilities to provide an enhanced understanding of the electromagnetic operating environment with a focus on algorithm adaptation, EW system management, and data management of the electromagnetic operating environment.

Booz Allen won a $7.7 million E-Gon contract and Peraton Labs won a $6.8 million E-Gon contract. These companies join the Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Laboratories segment in Cherry Hill, N.J., which won a $15.9 million E-Gon contract in late March.

Open-systems standards

Researchers are asking the three companies to develop E-Gon computer hardware that complies with the Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA), Open Mission systems (OMS), and Big Iron open-systems standards.

E-Gon's five technical areas and details considered controlled information and are not openly available. The Air Force will award one contract for each of the five technical areas. Each technical area will mature existing government-owned algorithms until technologies are mature enough for prototype demonstration in a real-world environment.

Ultimately, the project seeks to mature E-Gon software sufficiently to enable one systems integrator to build the software into a tactical platform.

For more information contact Booz Allen Hamilton online at www.boozallen.com; Peraton Labs at www.peratonlabs.com; the Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Laboratories at www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/capabilities/research-labs/advanced-technology-labs.html; or the Air Force Research Laboratory at www.afrl.af.mil.

Email technical questions or concerns to the Air Force's Paul Repasky at [email protected], and contracting questions to the Air Force's Colleen McDonald at [email protected].