Air Force surveys industry for best companies to develop next-generation airborne laser weapons
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – U.S. Air Force combat aircraft experts are looking over industry to determine the state of the art in airbornelaser weapons technology, and the companies best able to provide it.
Officials of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., issued a source-sought notice (FA8656-17-R-0005) on Tuesday for the Airborne Tactical Laser Technology request for information.
Air Force officials are conducting a technology survey to determine the current state of laser weapon system technology suitable for near-term applications in a prototype airborne tactical laser weapon.
Air Force laser weapons experts are trying to improve their understanding of industry's state-of-the-art laser capabilities and their costs to support weapon system integration studies and identify industry participants in future laser weapon system procurements.
Experts are thinking about developing a fieldable airborne prototype laser weapon to learn about real-world effectiveness and supportability. This RFI will help them assess the feasibility, cost, schedule, and risk of building such an airborne laser weapon prototype.
Related: Navy to ask industry to develop laser weapon prototype for deployment on helicopters
Specifically, Air Force experts want more information from industry on currently available technologies in laser sources, electrical power, thermal management, beam control, battle management, and any other subsystems required for system operation.
These subsystems must be able to operate in a flight environment. Although Air Force experts have not chosen a specific aircraft type for a future airborne laser weapon prototype, they are trying to keep the laser weapon's weight and volume to a minimum.
The Air Force wants more information in airborne laser weapon performance, size and weight, cost, schedule, and risk for each concept that industry submits. Officials also are interest in industry's thoughts on airborne laser weapons concepts of operations and concepts of employment.
The Air Force wants any of industry's suggestions on the best approach to conducting a prototype laser weapon acquisition that could speed-up eventual fielding of tactical laser weapons.
Related: Northrop Grumman moves to next phase of DARPA laser weapons-based missile-defense program
Companies interested should submit white papers no later than 17 Ma 2017 by secure email or secure Website to the Air Force's Capt. Jonathan Esquivel at [email protected], with copies to Todd Davis at [email protected] and Charles Helms at [email protected].
The Air Force may or may not choose to meet with respondents after white papers are submitted.
Email technical questions or concerns to Charles Helms at [email protected]; and contractual questions to Capt. Jonathan Esquivel at [email protected], and Todd Davis at [email protected].
More information is online at https://www.fbo.gov/notices/78195c21dac09b9c01b749750632ae16.
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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.
