Over-the-Horizon Radar (OTHR) Operational Fusion

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Integrated Sensing and Cyber; Integrated Network Systems-of-Systems 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 implement algorithms for fusing OTHR tracks with Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) data to generate real-time attributable tracks of long-range airborne weapons over the entire mission cycle from carrier aircraft takeoff thru intercept or impact. DESCRIPTION: The Government has developed OTHR processing and tracking algorithms. This topic seeks to develop integrated means of correlating and fusing these OTHR tracks using OPIR source data and infrastructure, significantly enhancing the continuity and quality of the composite track data. 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: Develop, demonstrate, and assess integrated means of correlating and fusing OTHR tracks using OPIR source data and infrastructure, significantly enhancing the continuity and quality of the composite track data as well as providing a developmental path for the Government's C2BMC integration and distribution. Specifically, plan and implement tasks to achieve the following objectives: 1. Develop algorithms for correlating OTHR and OPIR tracks 2. Demonstrate improved geo-registration of OTHR tracks using OPIR data 3. Demonstrate these algorithms using real-world data 4. Demonstrate track quality including correlation, continuity, and spurious generation. 5. Implement algorithms in and port to tailor coding to assure real-time processing capability. 6. Demonstrate correlation and attribution performance over span of threats types and mission scenarios 7. Assess BMDS military utility improvements to existing OTHR and OPIR stand-alone capabilities PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Support integration of Government-approved capabilities from Phase II into the Government's C2BMC lab enterprise. REFERENCES: Track-to-Track fusion with cross-covariances from radar and IR/EO sensor, University of Connecticut; 22nd International Conference on Information Fusion; Ottawa, Canada - July 2-5, 2019 The Missile Defense System. https://www.mda.mil/global/documents/pdf/bmds.pdf KEYWORDS: over-the-horizon radar; OTHR; overhead persistent infrared; OPIR; correlation; fusion