N19A-T001
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TITLE: Optimized Higher Power Microwave Sources
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TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Weapons
ACQUISITION PROGRAM: Joint
Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate
OBJECTIVE: Develop a compact,
highly efficient high-power microwave (HPM) L-band and S-band source with
hardened subsystems and tubes to enable the Radiofrequency- High-Power
Microwave (RF-HPM) system to produce sufficient directed energy to stop vehicle
and vessels engines.
DESCRIPTION: This STTR topic
is seeking to develop two sets of compact, robust/mobile, highly efficient
multiple or single frequency and waveform agile HPM source designs. One of
these HPM sources will operate in the L-Band frequency range (0.5 to 1.5 GHz),
and the other in the S-Band frequency range (2.0 to 4.0 GHz). Waveforms in
these two frequency bands, at sufficient Effective Radiated Power (ERP) at the
target, have proven to be effective counter-electronic HPM directed energy
weapons, which interfere with the electronics on-board vehicle and vessel
engines in such a way as to stall/stop these engines. Therefore, these HPM weapons
have military utility for RF Vehicle Stopping, RF Vessel Stopping, and
neutralization of other relevant targets where electronics are on board. The
final system design should be optimized for long range vehicle and/or vessel
engine stopping, with or without waveform agility (multiple frequencies). The
final system design should also be optimally driven and designed to produce
higher overall system output power that’s greater than conventional HPM sources
(> 30MW for L-Band and > 10 MW for S-band sources) in the same or smaller
overall form-factor (SWAP/C2) as conventional HPM sources. These final designs,
can also result in two separate optimized HPM systems (i.e., one in the L-Band
and one in the S-Band) or a single multi-frequency (short or long pulse), with
pulse repetition rate of 100 - 300 Hz. [Ref 2].
This STTR topic’s concept and follow-on prototype seek to increase the peak
power out of a new HPM (e.g., magnetron) tubes designs, and increase
waveform/frequency agility in order to stop vehicle and vessel engines at
greater ranges via HPM counter-electronic effects on the targeted engines while
maintaining current conventional HPM System MTBF. As this is a directed energy
weapon system, the design shall project a collimated/focused beam of HPM energy
on to the target with an effective spot-size and with a real-time agile
gimballed system and a low-light level/thermal imaging weapon sight be able to
“acquire” the target and then be able to “hit the target” and keep the HPM
energy on a moving vehicle or vessel target. This HPM energy with an effective
“power on target” shall neutralize vehicle and vessel engines and by keeping
this energy on the targets, be able to keep the vehicle engines stopped. This
“hold down” capability shall not exceed the safe permissible exposure limits
(PEL) as established by DoD Instruction 6055.11 [Ref 3]. The proposed system
will integrate this single or multiple frequency HPM source into a small
compact form-factor (see performance specifications provided below). These higher
power HPM sources and their associated peripheral systems will include the
following capabilities/performance specifications:
1. A compact RF-HPM source design with a minimum ERP of 30-40 MW in L-Band and
10-15 MW in S-Band
2. An effective vehicle stopping ranges in excess of 300 meters and an
effective vessel stopping range of 100 meters
3. Pulse widths from short pulse widths of tens of nanoseconds at pulse
repetition rates of greater that 150 Hz to long pulse widths of 100s of
microseconds at pulse repetition rates of greater than 100 Hz
4. An overall system size and weight, with the antennas, under 150 ft3 and 3000
lbs (at 30-40 MW) in L-band and 25 ft3 and 750 lbs (at 10-15 MW) in S-band
5. Beam spot-size with an effective “power on target” shall be no larger
than1/2 the width of the target at range.
6. RF-HPM source design with higher system output power with system
mean-time-between-failures (MTBF) of > 3000 hours (commensurate with current
L and S-band HPM sources)
7. Power consumption shall be optimized for overall system SWAP/C2 and can be
supplied by compact gas generators, batteries, or via a hybrid
generator/battery system.
PHASE I: Develop a conceptual
design for an optimized set of HPM Vehicle and Vessel Stoppers that operate in
either the L or S-Bands or both and meet or exceed the design performance
specifications in the Description. Determine the technical feasibility of the
concept design and model key elements that can be developed into a useful
product for the Marine Corps through analytical modeling and simulation to
provide initial assessments of the concept performance. Provide a Phase II
development plan with performance goals and key technical milestones, and that
addresses technical risk reduction as well as military suitability issues, such
as overall system size, weight, power consumption, thermal cooling, and system
cost.
PHASE II: Develop a
full-scale vehicle and/or vessel stopper prototype that can be employed from a
conventional DoD small tactical vehicle such as Joint Light Tactical Vehicle
(JLTV or a Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR). Evaluate the prototype
to determine its capability in meeting the performance goals defined in the
Phase II development plan. Demonstrate system performance through prototype
evaluation and modeling or analytical methods over the required range of
parameters mentioned in the Description, including numerous deployment cycles.
Use evaluation results to refine the prototype into an initial design that will
meet Marine Corps requirements. Prepare a Phase III development plan to
transition the technology to Marine Corps use.
PHASE III DUAL USE
APPLICATIONS: Support the Marine Corps in transitioning the technology for
Joint Service and Marine Corps use. Develop additional RF-HPM Vehicle and
Vessel Stopper prototype demonstrators, optimized for additional small tactical
DoD platforms to include other small military vehicles, vessels, and unmanned
systems. Evaluate and determine each design’s operational effectiveness and
added capabilities achieved in an operationally relevant environment. Support
the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate (JNLWD)/Marine Corps for test and
validation to certify and qualify the system for Joint Service to include
Marine Corps use.
Vehicle and vessel stopping operational needs are common to many other U.S
government agencies as well as for civilian law enforcement such as the
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) (specifically Secret Service and Customs
and Border Protection), Department of State (DoS), Department of Justice
(DoJ),)—all of which desire this long-range capability [Ref 1]. This need has
strengthened recently given the weaponization of vehicles by terrorist
organizations and groups. The ability to non-lethally interdict a threatening
incoming vehicle and/or vessel has utility in many security checkpoint and
crowd control applications to include several municipal applications.
REFERENCES:
1. “Joint Operating
Environment 2035.” DoD Joint Staff; dated 2016.
2. Current NSWC-Dahlgren
RF-HPM Vehicle Stopper Design Brief, 2017.
3. DoD Instruction 6055.11.
“Protecting Personnel from Electromagnetic Fields”. Change 1, 10/10/2017.
http://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/605511p.pdf?ve
KEYWORDS: High Power
Microwaves; Radio Frequency; Directed Energy; Vehicle Stopping; Vessel
Stopping; Non-Lethal Weapons
** TOPIC NOTICE **
These Navy Topics are part of the overall DoD 2019.A STTR BAA. The DoD issued its 2019.1 BAA STTR pre-release on November 28, 2018, which opens to receive proposals on January 8, 2019, and closes February 6, 2019 at 8:00 PM ET.
Between November 28, 2018 and January 7, 2019 you may communicate directly with the Topic Authors (TPOC) to ask technical questions about the topics. During these dates, their contact information is listed above. For reasons of competitive fairness, direct communication between proposers and topic authors is not allowed starting January 8, 2019 when DoD begins accepting proposals for this BAA.
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