Attachment 1 - Areas of Interest (AOI) v1.pdf

Team Eglin Agile Acquisition IDIQ Area of Interest (AOI)

1. Description

This IDIQ is related to the programs managed by Team Eglin: the Armament Directorate (AFLCMC/EB), SOCOM Det-1, Air Force Research Lab Munitions Directorate (AFRL/RW), Air Force Nuclear Warfare Center (AFNWC), and the 96th Test Wing (AFMC-96TW). On behalf of Team Eglin, the Agile Weapons Office (AFLCMC/EBX) is seeking the ability to: rapidly develop technologies of novel weapons capabilities, apply unique solutions, cultivate innovative ideas, and support system concepts that provide evolutionary, revolutionary, and disruptive capabilities to weapons systems for the United States Air Force. Note:

References to “weapons” should be ready broadly to apply to projects pertinent to the Air Force PEO for Weapons and Team Eglin, which may expand beyond traditional armament to areas such as test and training systems.

2. General Intent / Areas of Interest areas / Background

In general, this IDIQ is intended to cover a broad array of Team Eglin activities that support the entire weapons lifecycle: science and technology (S&T), research, development, test and evaluation, production and fielding, operations, sustainment and modernization. The intent is to increase the acquisition tempo of delivering new capabilities to the warfighter in order to maintain the USAF’s battlefield dominance now and in the future. Emphasis is placed on transforming the weapons enterprise to be more open, agile, and digital.

Supplementary information below for what the team is seeking (information is not all inclusive):

2.1 Technologies and/or processes that enable the development, testing, and fielding of capabilities in the areas of, but not limited to: engine/rocket motor development, energetics, guidance, navigation and control, sensors (e.g. seekers, inertial measurement units, datalinks, etc.), software/algorithms/avionics, materials, flight termination systems, and telemetry/instrumentation systems.

2.2 Development planning activities to identify a near-term plan to develop and transition individual weapons concepts into acquisition and fielding programs. This includes work at the technology level, system level, testing, modeling, simulation and analysis to document fidelity for senior leaders.

2.3 Weapon studies applied to current and potential weapon systems in various mission scenarios.

2.4 Digital Acquisition, Engineering and Sustainment:

Digital-based acquisition programs use models, data, and artifacts that evolve and mature throughout the development and acquisition lifecycle: from concept exploration to sustainment and modernization.

In order to get after significantly reducing timelines for delivering new capabilities to the warfighter, the Weapons Enterprise must increase standardization and common interfaces use such as weapons open system architecture (WOSA) and Universal Armament Interface (UAI), continuously adapt and innovate, and collaborate in an integrated environment that combines models, data, and tools across the enterprise.

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2.4.1 Digital engineering includes but is not limited to Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), Integrated Trade Space Analyses, Behavior Modeling, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, and a system/concept Modeling and Simulation (M&S) foundation that includes performance modeling, operational analysis, digital twin/thread, and live virtual construct (LVC). Integration of a digital engineering framework that combines models, data, and artifacts allows the US to rapidly respond to changing threats, field advanced capabilities, and engineer dominant systems at the speed of relevance.

2.4.2 WOSA is a structure in which systems/concepts interfaces share common, widely accepted standards that can be independently verified, and is key to enabling incremental development, enhancing competition, driving innovation, and maximizing interoperability.

2.4.3 Investigation areas include (but are not limited to) defining an architectural concept for a modular open system approach to weapon development and fielding; identification of candidate weapon components/subsystem interfaces; degree of commonality, interchangeability and interoperability across modules/subsystems; impacts to systems engineering responsibility under open architecture; strategic asset reuse (hardware and software) within and across modular/open systems.

2.5 Agile Weapons Enterprise (AWE):

Support explorations of new technologies that enhance weapon system and or platform capacity, standoff, survivability, accuracy, flexibility, improved lethality against a wider array of target types, and allow for rapid integration on both legacy and next generation platforms. This includes initiatives for the rapid execution of innovative, emerging capabilities and technologies for munitions or munitions related products by developing, integrating, and proving through rapid prototyping, demonstration, and/or fielding. Tools that advance the Air Force’s ability to determine the value of various technologies are also desired.

2.6 Major thrust areas in the Weapon Domains include, but are not limited to, the following: Air

Dominance (Advanced Air-to-Air Missile), Air-to-Ground (Direct Attack, Medium/Long Range Systems against fixed and moving, above and below ground targets, etc.), Air-to-Surface (e.g.

ships/maritime vessels) and Armament Systems (guns, ammunition, material handling equipment).

2.6.1 We are looking for innovative ideas, characterization of technologies, and system concepts that provide evolutionary, revolutionary, and disruptive capability to fill warfighter gaps.

Evolutionary provides incremental capability by delivering gradual performance improvement and may utilize existing operations, competencies, and processes.

Revolutionary brings next generation capability to the Air Force and Department of Defense and delivers a step-change in performance. Disruptive enables game changing capability that may be new to the world, require new operations, competencies, and processes, and creates dilemmas for US adversaries on the battlefield.

2.6.2 Mission areas for gap mitigation include base defense, Long Range Strike, Close Control Strike, Intra-Theater Strike, and Offensive & Defensive Counter-Air (to include Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD)/ Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses (DEAD)). Desired weapon capabilities include but are not limited to defeat of fighters, bombers, support aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, cruise missiles, integrated air defense systems (IADS), ballistic missiles, fixed and moving targets, hard & deeply buried targets (HDBTs), area targets, maritime systems, and weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). Weapon technologies and concepts that provide U.S. forces the ability to retain air superiority and global precision attack capabilities are highly desired.

Technologies and methodologies to improve the cost, schedule and performance of development and manufacturing for any concept and existing legacy system are requested.

2.6.3 Support in developing concepts, analyzing mission effectiveness (including affordability), and demonstrating prototypes for innovative Air Force Armament materiel solutions in the following areas: Reach, Affordable Mass, Autonomous Collaboration, Sensing and Communication Nodes, and Non-Kinetic Effects.

2.6.3.1 Reach: Hold adversaries at risk in air, ground, and surface domains with increased standoff technologies that enhance scramjet/ramjet engines, compact boosters with higher specific impulse, small and efficient gas turbine engines, and hypersonic flight are primary emphasis areas; technologies that increase weapon standoff at neutral inventory cost are also highly desired.

2.6.3.2 Affordable Mass: Deliver large quantities of low cost weapons from traditional and non-tradition platforms. The goal is to impart a cost imposing strategy on the adversary by overwhelming the airspace with low cost, yet effective weapons.

2.6.3.3 Autonomous Collaboration: Weapons adapt to the battlespace and maximize outcomes in situations that would overwhelm human decision makers; sharing data and develop/execute coordinated actions to improve information across the entire group.

2.6.3.4 Sensing and Communication Nodes: Weapons will be used as a sensor and communication node to enable Multi-Domain Operations.

2.6.3.5 Non-Kinetic Effects: Add unique, disruptive battlespace capability (multi target defeat) with large, “reusable” magazine. Directed energy (high energy lasers, high power microwaves, etc.) and electronic warfare are primary focus areas.

* References to “weapons” should be ready broadly to apply to projects pertinent to the Air Force PEO for Weapons and Team Eglin. This may include areas such as test and training capabilities.