RCCTO_Innovation_Day_Focus_Areas.pdf

The critical capability areas cited below, provide an initial set of key focus areas for the Army and other DoD stakeholders. Vendors are not limited to these critical capability areas and may submit other critical enabling technologies which may be of interest to the Army.

Advanced Tactical SIGINT System Prototype hardware/software system providing a “Go Kit” for Army EW/SIGINT soldiers use in operationally relevant theaters. The initial kit, hardware and software, will be integrated into a ruggedized deployable kit that is easily transportable to support forward operational assessments. Areas of Interest (AoIs) consist of advanced wideband antennas, GP/GPU based ruggedized server hardware, and artificial intelligence/machine learning based microservice capability modules. This activity enables rapid development of theater specific threat relevant EW/SIGINT capability modules and directly informs capability development needs based on quarterly operational assessments.

Theater Resilient Communications to include Use/Exploitation of Commercial (notably LEO). Gap/threat mitigation based on kinetic and non-kinetic attacks.

Resilient theater communications designs that can provide resilient services in the face of kinetic and non-kinetic attacks. The design must facilitate convergence onto a common, unified network and seek to avoid service, joint specific networks, minimizing network complexity in design, operation, and use. The network design should consider commercial (notably LEO services) and must auto-bridge networks, data links, data standards using AI and other enabling technologies. Key concepts consist of the ability to build and use the network when needed, pool resources in a down mode for future use. The future force must be able to pool, tip, cue network resources that are required by MDO and enable domain convergence. MDC2 is the integration fabric for this construct. The network is extended forward via maneuver to provide required connectivity to committed forces in close combat.

JEMSO/EW – Spectrum awareness, visualization, understanding to inform operational planning and execution.

Prototype and establishment of an intuitive sensing grid that delivers cooperative sensor operations across the depth and breadth of the MDO battlespace. The integrated sensor architecture is built upon common, open standards, is managed by the MDC2 integrated tasking order (ITO) process based on collection and targeting requirements of collective C2 nodes. Sensors forward process data and disseminate products to populate the MD common operational picture (COP) that is shared with all mission partners. The common picture is further tailored based on functional warfare or mission need.

Countering UAS Innovative approaches to detect, Identify, Track, Engage and Defeat small UAS or a swarm of small UASs. AoIs include but not limited to 1) UAS Defeat mechanisms could be of Kinetic and/or Non-kinetic nature, 2) Engagement systems can utilize direct energy or kinetic energy-based C-UAS effectors, 3) C-UAS Systems can be Land-based and Aerial based, 4) C-UAS system can be Single entity or swarm of entities - based Systems can also demonstrate Passive surveillance and geo-localization of enemy UASs flight paths/deployment/staging areas and their Ground-station controls, 5) Systems need to demonstrate high kill ratios against enemy targets by simulation and/or actual field-based experimentation and demonstration means.

MDTF Capabilities to Counter A2/AD – (EW, Space, Cyber, LRPF, New Kill Chains) Innovative approaches for countering anti access and area denial (A2/AD). AoIs include but not limited to 1) applying electronic warfare 2) space based solutions (commercially viable is of interest), 3) cyber offensive and defensive capabilities, 4) as well as new approaches to long range precision fires and their kill chains.

Persistent Low-Visibility Unmanned A-ISR Innovative approaches for an unmanned aerial vehicle capability to detect, classify, localize, and identify targets.

AoIs include 1) low observable, 2) long duration (8hrs+) or novel implementations for continuous operations, 3) ease and speed of deployment, 4) flexibility in platform configuration, 5) ability to integrate third-party sensors, autonomy software, and variety in power sources, and 6) ease of commercial and military transportation.

Tactical Cyber:

- A cyber solution that provides the capabilities to deny, degrade, disrupt, destroy, and manipulate electronics (e.g., through the means of sensing and emitting Radio Frequency (RF) signals). Capabilities should provide the means to rapidly deliver lightweight (small packet size) effects in a tactical environment.

- Technology that enables targeting and engagement of weapons by expeditionary cyber forces in support of Multi- Domain Operations (MDO) leveraging IoT communications and devices.

- Innovative technology that is CMOSS-compliant and is remotely-reconfigurable that is capable of executing multiple cyber protocols.

Mission Management / Cyber Command & Control (C2): Tools for user situational awareness that provides the capability to counter threats, manage risk and achieve objectives.

Automated Cyber/Artificial Intelligence (AI): Technologies enabling predictive and automated cyber threat analysis (to include behavior-based detection) with goal of automating cyber analysis and defensive actions leveraging machine learning techniques.

Identify technology that provides multiple recommended courses of actions, ranked in priority order, based on historical mission data (mission planning, rehearsal) and/or host specific technical information (execution phase).

Platform/Mission Assurance: Weapon System defensive technologies that include a way to measure / assess their ability to be resilient to evolving threats.

AoIs include cyber resilience in vehicle architecture (defend against unauthorized control or service denial), device security/supply chain provenance (harden against reverse engineering, tampering or unauthorized updates to H/W and S/W; ability to mitigate malicious supply chain risk and latent vulnerabilities in microelectronics and S/W) and embedded cyber-resilient technologies (real-time threat detection and automated response).

Below are focus areas to consider:

1. Secure protocols

a. Secure boot / Trusted systems

b. User authentication solutions for multiple users/positions

c. Secure Software Download/ firmware upgrade

2. Advance Sensing & Analytics

a. Sensors - Verification of external hardware integrity

b. Verification that no malicious changes have occurred to external senses such as camera, LIDAR, RADAR etc.

c. Identification of modified messages

3. Resilient Runtime

Prototype hardware/software system providing a “Go Kit” for Army EW/SIGINT soldiers use in operationally relevant theaters. The initial kit, hardware and software, will be integrated into a ruggedized deployable kit that is easily transportable to su...