Low-Cost C-UAS Rocket Range and Lethality Enhancements

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Microelectronics; Integrated Network System-of-Systems; Advanced Materials The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws. OBJECTIVE: Develop and demonstrate a low-cost system range and lethality enhancement for a 70mm rocket, demonstrating an increased C-UAS swarm capability with respect to baseline APKWS performance DESCRIPTION: Expensive US weapons systems are being used against low-cost UAS swarms. It is necessary to develop lower-cost munitions by using highly producible modular components and extending the system-level capability to counter next-generation threats. Low-cost munitions like the 2.75 laser-guided APKWS can effectively defeat UAS and can be easily modified to include new warhead designs, new rocket motor designs, or other modular system-level changes. Different concepts of interest may include nose-mounted and mid-body warheads, highly loaded grain or ramjet motors, improved motor burn designs to optimally tailor temporal thrust profile, or other design modifications to produce a significant benefit when considered at the rocket system-level. Although counter-UAS is a primary focus for this topic, concepts which improve capability against other emerging threats of interest will be given additional consideration. Concepts should include evidence of significant improvement compared to a baseline rocket system, such as a % warhead size reduction at similar lethality, or a % improved range with no change in length. System-level cost targets should remain < $60,000 in full rate production. PHASE I: As this is a Direct-to-Phase-II (D2P2) topic, no Phase I awards will be made as a result of this topic. To qualify for this D2P2 topic, the Air Force expects the applicant(s) to demonstrate feasibility by means of a prior Phase I-type effort that does not constitute work undertaken as part of a prior or ongoing SBIR/STTR funding agreement. Demonstrated feasibility should include work and results in the following areas: Phase I efforts should show the feasibility of the solution. Rocket range and lethality performance versus C-UAS targets and other aerial threats should be modelled and simulated. This effort must account for producibility factors including manufacturing, cost, and timeline to allow short term transition of the developed technology. Hardware and/or software will undergo early laboratory or field tests to demonstrate C-UAS capability. PHASE II: Phase II efforts should include a manufacturable and fieldable design enabled through significant integration work. This proposed technology should be demonstrated at a TRL 6 capability. The delivered hardware should integrate with the fieldable interceptor solution. The weapon's performance, evaluated and compared to other solutions at the system and subsystem level, will determine whether a Phase III is appropriate. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Phase III will range from prototype testing and qualification to possible transition to a program of record. Must be able to support producing quantities in the 100-1000s. PEO Customers include AFLCMC/EB, Army PEO M&S TAGM, Navy PMA-242, and SOCOM. Due to broad tri-service interest in the C-UAS capability, it is expected that rapid fielding/production will begin in large quantities of multiple thousands if specification goals and met and proven in flight testing. REFERENCES: 1. https://www.baesystems.com/en/article/apkws--laser-guidance-kits-successfully-tested-by-u-s--counter-drone-office 2. https://defensescoop.com/2023/11/03/ukraine-to-get-more-laser-guided-munitions-to-kill-drones/ 3. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-downs-41-russian-drones-major-overnight-attack-2023-12-06/ KEYWORDS: Base defense; APKWS; 70mm rocket; low-cost interceptor; infrared imaging seeker; fire-and-forget seeker; laser guidance; mid-body warhead