Modularized, Rapidly Reconfigurable Solid Propellant-based Launch System

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Hypersonics; Advanced Infrastructure & Advanced Manufacturing; Emerging Threat Reduction 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/or mature a modularized, solid propellant-based, reconfigurable launch system utilizing Additive Manufacturing (AM) techniques to enable design flexibility and reduce overall cost [1]. DESCRIPTION: The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Targets and Countermeasures (T&C) Directorate designs, develops and provides missile targets to test US missile defenses and support agency strategic goals [2]. A highly-modularized, reconfigurable, solid propellant-based launch system is desired by MDA to allow for rapid and affordable acquisition of flight vehicles that support configuration flexibility with the desire to minimize recurring engineering and allow rapid response to evolving threats. PHASE I: Phase I-like proposals will not be evaluated and will be rejected as nonresponsive. For this topic, the Government expects the small business would have accomplished the following in a Phase I-like effort via some other means, e.g., independent research and development (IRAD) or other source, a concept for a workable prototype or design to address, at a minimum, the basic capabilities of the stated objective above. Proposal must show, as appropriate, a demonstrated technical feasibility or nascent capability. The documentation provided must substantiate the proposer's development of a preliminary understanding of the technology to be applied in their Phase II proposal in meeting topic objectives. Documentation should comprise all relevant information including, but not limited to, technical reports, test data, prototype designs/models, and performance goals/results. Feasibility = maturity and what have you already done/validated. Proposers interested in participating in Direct to Phase II must include in their responses to this topic Phase I feasibility documentation that substantiates the scientific and technical merit and Phase I feasibility described in Phase I above has been met. (i.e., the small business must have performed a proof of concept like Phase I component and/or other validation in a relevant environment, and/or at a much higher TRL level (5 or higher) and describe the potential commercialization applications. The documentation provided must validate that the proposer has completed development of technology in previous work or research completed.) IRAD work, previous Phase I/Phase II work: Documentation should include the most relevant information including, but not limited to: technical reports, test data, prototype designs/models, and/or performance goals/results. Work submitted within the feasibility documentation must have been substantially performed by the proposer and/or the principal investigator (PI). PHASE II: Complete a detailed prototype system design incorporating additive manufacturing techniques and modular components. Incorporate modeling and simulation and/or relevant ground testing as needed to validate the ability of the designed launch system prototype to survive and deliver a notional hypersonic vehicle to representative flight environments. Demonstrate the system's ability to be reconfigurable to support multiple flight vehicle classes (i.e. short, medium, intermediate, and long range systems). Proposers must be a small business with a demonstrated track record of participating in commercial launch vehicle operations. Proposers should not propose a solution that is exclusive to MDA nor one that requires ongoing MDA outlays for maintenance and overhead costs. MDA prefers proposals that demonstrate their solution meets the needs of other DOD stakeholders. MDA highly prefers modularized, containerized, and easily-transportable solutions that can be used at a variety of launch sites. MDA encourages teaming arrangements that include commercial launch service providers. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Scale-up the capability from the prototype utilizing the new technologies developed in Phase II into a full-scale launch system. Demonstrate the capability via flight testing. Work with missile defense integrators to integrate the technology into a missile defense system level test-bed and test in a relevant environment. REFERENCES: 1. Office of the Deputy Director for Strategic Technology Protection and Exploitation, Joint Defense Manufacturing Council, Department of Defense Additive Manufacturing Strategy, Jan. 2021. Available: https://www.cto.mil/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/dod-additive-manufacturing-strategy.pdf 2. [2] Missile Defense Agency, MDA Strategic Goals . Available: https://www.mda.mil/about/mission.html KEYWORDS: test, hypersonic, targets, launch