The U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is interested in industry’s capability to provide a High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft for missile defense laser uses by the 2023 timeframe, the agency said last Tuesday.
According to a FedBizOpps Broad Agency Announcement and Request For Information (RFI), a HALE aircraft with a greater payload capability is needed to carry a high energy laser system at high altitudes to develop boost phase intercept (BPI). Boost phase is the early stage of a ballistic missile launch.
The MDA is developing capability requirements for ballistic missile defense systems for an airborne high energy laser BPI capability in parallel with ongoing technology maturation and demonstration projects, the agency said.
The agency will use the results of this RFI to inform future program options for maturing this technology and capability follow the Low Power Laser Demonstrator effort that is also taking place. It said that aircraft proposed for this mission should be able to maintain continuous positive ground control and are expected to operate from the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii and Edwards Air Force base in California.
Although unmanned platforms are desired, the post said manned concepts would also be considered if there is appropriate justification.
The agency is interested in mid-term solutions for BPI that demonstrate “significant progress toward achieving” performance parameters set out for the far-term platform. The parameters include:
- on-station altitude of over 63,000 feet,
- flight endurance of greater than 36 hours on station (plus flight time for 3,000 km transit to station),
- flight cruise speed of under Mach 0.45 at on-station altitude,
- a payload capacity of 5,000-12,500 pounds,
- power availability of 140-280kW for the payload for more than 30 minutes with no altitude loss,
- support a 1-2 meter aperture optical payload, and
- low vibration at altitude with an angular displacement of under 50 µrad.
The contractors are also encouraged to include information on alternate uses or potential commercialization for the proposed aircraft designs along with government or non-government co-sponsors.
“Areas such as cost, life-cycle affordability, and further commercialization will be important considerations in evaluating future concepts and for any forthcoming acquisitions,” the post said.
Respondents to the announcements are to submit their information by Aug. 16 to Marshall Everett at [email protected].