BAA-RQKS-2015-0005-SOO.pdf

BAA-RQKS-2015-0005

Attachment 1

STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES

ADVANCED STARING INFRARED SEARCH AND TRACK TECHNOLOGIES

(ASISTT)

10 March 2015

1. BACKGROUND

The United States Air Force is interested in the development of capabilities that achieve and maintain air superiority in the highly contested A2/AD environment. The Air Force Research

Laboratory is pursuing that interest by advancing the technologies necessary for the development of an airborne long range offensive IRST that is a staring system based on innovative optical designs, high dynamic range large format infrared focal plane arrays (FPAs) and advanced target detect/track processing methods. By leveraging advancements in the development of large format two-dimensional FPAs much benefit can be realized from successful implementation of

Wide Field-of-View (WFOV) concepts for an offensive staring IRST system. It is anticipated that this type of sensor will yield higher performance in a more compact, lighter weight design with greater aircraft installation flexibility and beneficially augment existing fire control capabilities. The ASISTT program will conduct technology development and risk reduction activities to exploit the advantages of large format FPAs and associated ROIC designs to achieve instantaneous search volume coverage in a staring configuration. It is expected that by exploiting these advantages a novel and innovative IRST can be developed that supports long range detection and tracking of targets along clear atmospheric paths and in cluttered environments with low false alarm rates while staring over the system FOV.

2. OBJECTIVES

The scope of this effort covers the analysis, design, manufacture, test and performance assessment of the requisite technologies needed to develop an offensive staring IRST with long range detection and tracking of airborne targets. This effort encompasses design and trade study analyses, sensor hardware development, detection and tracking algorithm development and/or implementation and field/flight experiment support.

The objective of the Advanced Staring Infrared Search and Track Technologies (ASISTT)

Program is to identify, mature and demonstrate technology solutions supporting the development of a future airborne long range offensive infrared search and track (IRST) capability based on staring (non-scanned) system configurations. The offensive capability to be developed requires

Weapons Quality Tracks (WQT) of airborne targets under clear air and in the presence of cluttered scenes. This research and development effort in staring IRST systems is in contrast to current offensive IRST implementations using gimbaled optics and smaller scanning format arrays.

The ASISTT Program will develop a staring IRST technology demonstrator in a flyable brassboard configuration that can be used in a series of performance verification/validation experiments and demonstrations. The purpose of developing a brassboard is to reduce technology risk by determining and maturing appropriate technologies needed for integration into a demonstration system capable of operating in a flight environment. Through a series of tests the brassboard system will be used to baseline performance against targets of interest.

This effort will develop an understanding of the technical maturity of each of the requisite technologies needed to develop an airborne long range offensive IRST capability based on staring (non-scanned) system configurations. Furthermore, this effort will conduct specific critical trade studies and system level analyses to fully define the relationship of emerging technologies to the feasibility of developing a staring IRST based on the performance requirements given in Appendix A (classified). Provided a feasible concept is practical and can be designed, the contractor will develop a flyable brassboard with representative performance.

The contractor will design, develop and test the critical components and sub-systems prior to construction of the brassboard system. System level testing will be conducted to verify that performance objectives have been met.

2.1 TECHNICAL OBJECTIVES

ASISTT will have five tasks, to be priced out separately. The tasks to be conducted are (1)

Trade Study/ System Concept Definition; (2) Preliminary Brassboard Design; (3) Design/Build

Brassboard Sensor; (4) Algorithm Implementation and/or Development; and (5) Long Range

Ground and Flight Performance Validation/Verification. The final task is to provide contractor support to a series of Government conducted testing of the brassboard system. Testing will be conducted to baseline system performance against targets of interest that are at range and in cluttered environments.

2.1.1 Trade Study/ System Concept Definition: The Contractor shall conduct specific critical trade studies and system level analyses to fully define the relationship of emerging technologies to the feasibility of developing a staring IRST based on the performance requirements given in Appendix A. The objective is to develop an IRST conceptual design that supports the generation of fire control solutions at range along clear atmospheric paths and in cluttered environments with a low false alarm rate while staring over the system FOV. The overarching objective is to develop a concept that maximizes volume coverage while minimizing design packaging. The trade space to be considered includes, current and future advancements in large format FPAs, innovative read-out architectures, sensor chip assembly designs, innovative

WFOV optical designs, and advanced processing methods for target detection/tracking at range and in clutter that fully exploit the high frame rate advantages of a staring system. The trade study will take into account total system life cycle costs and identify high cost, high failure rate and high maintenance items.

2.1.2 Preliminary Brassboard Design: The Contractor shall develop a preliminary design for a flyable brassboard based on the system concept defined in 5.1. A detailed systems model will be developed and used to demonstrate the proposed systems’ potential to meet program metrics in a flyable configuration. Based on these analyses, the contractor shall develop a

Systems Requirement Document (SRD) for the proposed system that will identify critical technology elements, the associated performance requirements for each element, and provide a preliminary allocation of size, weight and power. It is desired that a system with complete volume coverage, as specified in Appendix A, be implemented, but if necessary due to cost considerations the design may be limited in total volume coverage. However, volume coverage sufficient to conduct in-flight evaluation of system performance for target detection/tracking at range and in clutter is required. This design will also include allocation for a data recorder capable of recording/storing sensor image data and associated metadata.

2.1.3 Design/Build Brassboard Sensor: Based on the preliminary design and SRD of 5.2, the contractor shall perform a detailed design, fabricate and functionally test a flyable representative brassboard system. Functional testing shall include standard tests for resolution, sensitivity/Signal-to-Noise Ratio, and dynamic range. Functional testing is to be conducted prior to acceptance for ground/flight testing. The contractor may propose the use of contractor furnished equipment or software but these items must be identified separate from government funded developmental items.

2.1.4Algorithm Implementation and/or Development: The primary objective is to design and/or implement the basic algorithms and supporting processing architecture suitable for performance validation and verification of the brassboard system. The contractor shall define, develop and demonstrate target detection and tracking and clutter rejection algorithms.

Algorithm processing hardware shall be based on the architecture specified in the SRD. A processing system design compliant with the in-flight testing objectives and capable of producing the desired data products for both in-flight and post-flight analyses of sensor performance shall be developed. Algorithms that take advantage of the higher dwell times and frame rates are to be used to fully exploit the advantages of large format staring arrays.

Experimental algorithmic approaches are of interest, however depending on maturity they may be developed separately from the brassboard effort and evaluated in post processing. The contractor shall provide for the collection and storage of the IRST data. Data collected and stored from the sensor shall be in an industry standard format or the contractor will provide a reader for their format. Note, for this phase of the development effort the use of Commercial off the Shelf data acquisition and processing components sufficient to conduct in-flight and post-flight performance evaluation is an acceptable approach.

2.1.5 Long Range Ground and Flight Performance Validation/Verification: The contractor shall support an end-to-end demonstration of the brassboard system to verify and validate that the system meets the objectives detailed in the SRD and Appendix A. Initially a long range ground test will be conducted to verify system functionality and maximum allowable range performance. The ground test will be followed by a series of in-flight performance assessments. Testing will be conducted on Government Provided Ranges and Aircraft that will allow for excursions scaled across the range extent of the requirements (Appendix A). The goal of the testing will be to baseline functional performance of the sensor against targets in clear atmosphere and in the presence of cluttered scenes.

2.1.5.1 The contractor shall develop a plan for functional laboratory testing of the sensor in accordance with the standard testing specified in 5.3. The contractor shall identify hazards through a systematic hazard analysis process encompassing detailed analysis of system hardware and software. An air worthiness analysis shall be conducted in conjunction with the hazard analysis. The contractor shall ensure that all test hardware and associated systems are air worthy in performance of 5.3. All ground/flight test activities shall be supported by the contractor IAW AFRL 99-101, AFRL Test Guide or latest applicable AFRL guidance. This includes providing the necessary support in obtaining the requisite Air Worthiness Certificate for the test items and any special technical or safety review boards.

2.1.5.2 The contractor shall support the integration, installation, interfaces, airworthiness determination, system check-out and ground/flight testing for the program.

2.2 MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES

The contractor shall provide program management and systems engineering functions that effectively manages technical risk and ensures adherence to the established program schedule and funding for the contract. The contractor shall be responsible for establishing and maintaining an effective internal management and system engineering control system. The management control system shall be used for planning, control of cost, measurement of performance, and generation of timely and reliable information on contractor's program progress. The contractor shall immediately notify the Government of any significant schedule, performance or cost changes or deviations to the program. The contractor shall conduct design and progress reviews during the program. Reviews shall include a program kick-off meeting, system requirements review, preliminary and critical design reviews. Additionally, the contractor shall support safety, test and flight readiness reviews. Progress reviews shall occur as needed but be limited to no more than three times per year and may be held in conjunction with other scheduled reviews. In addition, the contractor shall support informal reviews via teleconference or videoconference as required.

3. DELIVERABLES

3.1 Final Scientific Report

3.2 Hardware; Flyable Brassboard Prototype

3.3 Software; Source Code and Executable Software

4. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The technical effort shall be 42 months, with three additional months allotted for completion of the final report for a total of 45 months.

5. SECURITY

The contractor shall implement the security program required to accomplish this program. The contractor shall provide personnel with sufficient security clearance levels to be allowed access to the data necessary to execute the program. The contractor shall provide the secure facilities necessary to process the data generated under this effort. The contractor shall have the ability to handle and store unclassified, proprietary, and classified information to perform this activity.

The contractor shall ensure appropriate security protection methods are in place commensurate with the security level of the material provided to the contractor and generated by the contractor for performance of this effort.

General Operations Security (OPSEC) procedures, policies and awareness are required in an effort to reduce program vulnerability from successful adversary collection and exploitation of critical information. OPSEC will be applied throughout the life cycle of the contract. The Critical

Information List (CIL) will be provided upon request by AFRL/RYOY Information Protection

Office. While working on the government installation, OPSEC guidance will be provided by the

RYOY Information Protection Office.

6. SAFETY

The contractor must comply with all federal, state, and local safety and environmental regulations. The contractor must acquire an approved Safety Plan IAW AFI 91-202 AFRL

Supplement 1 before any experiment may be conducted outside a lab environment. The contractor must comply with all Air Force safety and environmental regulations (AFRL/RQY).

The contractor must comply with system safety requirements contained in MIL-STD 882E, Section 4 “General Requirements” for any deliverable systems or hardware. The contractor must identify safety-critical components of those systems or hardware, and software interfaces with those components. The contractor must test and verify the safety-critical hardware and software for safety acceptance (AFRL/RQY). The contractor must submit a Flight Test plan for approval by a Safety Review Board; flight risk will be assessed at the SRB, if Flight Test plan is proposed.

ATTACHMENTS

1. Appendix A – Classified “Secret” available upon request