The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is requesting proposals for the development of counter unmanned aircraft system (C-sUAS) capabilities that will be used against commercial drones being used by adversaries, according to an April 13 contract opportunity.
The opportunity is a single award indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity research and development contact with task orders over 72 months worth up to $490.4 million.
The C-sUAS capabilities requested in this solicitation would be used to counter commercial drone capabilities that the Department of Defense classifies as groups one, two, and three. These groups refer to UAS less than 1,320 pounds that fly in flight level 180 or below, which is up to 18,000 feet.
The technology requested will fill gaps in the C-sUAS kill-chain including deceive, disrupt, deny, degrade, and destroy or D5 effects. According to the solicitation, AFRL is interested in research and development in electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) signals and signatures, cyberspace intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, cyberspace and EMS-enabled cyberspace countermeasures, autonomy, and command and control open architecture solutions.
This solicitation is not part of a Joint C-sUAS Office (JCO) department-wide effort. However, the AFRL will work with the JCO to ensure synchronization.
“All AFRL C-sUAS efforts are deconflicted with JCO priorities and internal Program Objectives and Milestones,” the solicitation states. “AFRL works closely with the JCO and service program offices to ensure synchronization. The goal of every task order will be to transition capabilities to the Warfighter, and where applicable, integrate solutions into a system-of-systems or program of record. Since this is a task order contract, it is acceptable that the Prime contractor engage with multiple sub-contractors to support various task orders.”