SN-21-42_Design of Seaplane Wing-in-Ground Effect Vehicles_RFI_Final.pdf

DARPA-SN-21-42

Request for Information

Design of Seaplane Wing-in-Ground Effect Vehicles

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Tactical Technology Office

Responses due 17 September 2021, by 4:00 PM ET

This Request for Information (RFI) from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)’s Tactical Technology Office (TTO) seeks ideas, methodologies, and approaches solely for information and planning purposes.

Responses to this RFI may potentially support the development of new DARPA efforts focused on novel seaplane and Wing In Ground effect (WIG) capable vehicles.

Intellectual or other privileged or proprietary information contained in responses to this RFI will not be distributed outside of the Department of Defense (DoD) or U.S.

Government employees from other Government agencies who are working with DARPA on this RFI. In the event that a new DARPA program is developed in response to this RFI and a solicitation is issued, no intellectual or other proprietary information received in response to this RFI will be divulged to the research community.

BACKGROUND:

Traditional sea and air lift platforms have significant operational constraints that limit flexibility. Sea lift platforms provide highly efficient transportation of large payloads, but require long transit times (days to weeks), large highly developed ports, and large standoff distances in contested environments. Conventional strategic airlift platforms provide high speed, but require long prepared runways and have limited capability to support maritime operations. Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) and other maritime aircraft have limited range / payload capacities and are dependent on shipboard or shore-based servicing and launch and recovery infrastructure. WIG vehicles achieve increased aerodynamic efficiencies and address many of the operational limitations of traditional sea and air lift platforms in maritime theaters, but they are unable to operate in high sea states and have limited capability to avoid collisions in congested environments.

DARPA is interested in the design of a new class of vehicle that addresses the major operational limitations of traditional air and sea lift platforms. Although related to prior and current WIG vehicles, there are significant differences that DARPA believes enable a highly innovative and transformational concept. Specific features of this new concept are:

Takeoff and land in the water (up to Sea State 3) for runway independence Maximize flight time in ground effect for increased range, endurance, and survivability Extended out of ground effect flight capability for obstacle avoidance, flight over land, weather avoidance, etc.

High sea state operation for in-ground effect flight as well as takeoff and landing and extended on water operations Low cost manufacturing techniques and design choices (e.g. unpressurized fuselage) Large operational payload (100+ tons) and capability of carrying multiple amphibious vehicles

DARPA seeks to identify additional novel concepts and configurations that meet these objectives. Ongoing engagements with potential service partners have identified a wide variety of use cases that indicate the utility of the concept. Examples of potential mission areas include:

Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO) Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO) Distributed logistics and logistics under threat operations Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), on-site triage, mass casualty rescue Amphibious operations Unmanned vehicle operations Low payload, long duration arctic patrol flights

DESCRIPTION:

DARPA is exploring ideas to help frame potential future program investments in this new concept. Existing platforms are unable to effectively support distributed operational constructs and ongoing studies and concept exploration activities have identified several key challenges a future concept must overcome. Specific technical challenges include:

Low Cost Development and Manufacturing Methods: Current aircraft manufacturing methods will result in an exquisite solution that will be too expensive to effectively allow the purchase quantities desired. What innovative manufacturing techniques can be applied to the concept to reduce overall system cost from standard $/lb. estimates for large aircraft?

High sea state takeoff/landing: High sea state takeoff and landing will be required for high operability in oceans around the world. What key technologies and design features are required for high sea state takeoff and landing operations?

Flight control in high sea states: High operability for transoceanic flights necessitates the capability to fly in ground effect in high sea states to maximize system efficiency. What sensing and control solutions are required to maintain ground effect flight with acceptable ride characteristics, handling qualities, and crew workload near highly dynamic surface waves?

Payload load/unload capabilities: To efficiently support distributed operations, considerations for payload loading and unloading must be accounted for in the design. What mechanisms and design features are required to load/offload cargo?

How can the vehicle interface with existing systems and logistics operations (on water, at pier, ship to ship, ship to shore, etc.)?

Extended on water operations and maintenance: The envisioned system will spend a majority of its time on water. What unique technologies or design considerations can be utilized to decrease life cycle costs associated with salt water / salt fog exposure?

Maritime and Air Vehicle Demonstrator Design: The envisioned system will operate extensively in the air and on the water, requiring a blend of maritime and aircraft design methods. What unique skillsets and design methodologies can be applied to effectively develop a low cost, full-scale demonstrator vehicle?

Vehicle size and Performance Capabilities: To effectively support future Navy and USMC operations, the vehicle must be sized appropriately to carry relevant payloads or mission sets. What size platform will provide the most disruptive capability to the services?

This RFI encourages participants to provide ideas addressing all of the identified challenges and any others related to this new concept. DARPA encourages participants to provide rationale for any other challenges which should be considered for a potential demonstration program.

REQUESTED INFORMATION:

Responses are welcome from all capable sources including, but not limited to, private or public companies, individuals, universities, university-affiliated research centers, not-for-profit research institutions, and U.S. Government-sponsored labs. DARPA is interested in responses that must address one or more of the following areas:

1. Technical description of a proposed vehicle configuration including major subsystems.

2. Assessment of the confidence of industry in designing, fabricating, and testing a demonstration vehicle.

3. Identification and assessment of major risk reduction testing required in a development program and applicability of sub-scale flight test vehicles.

4. An assessment of the confidence of industry in current state of the art modeling and simulation tools to properly assess takeoff, landing, and flight dynamics in high sea states.

5. Detailed description of completed and ongoing work related to seaplanes, wing in ground effect vehicles, low cost aircraft / vessel design and manufacturing.

SUBMISSION:

This announcement contains all information required to submit a response. No additional forms, kits, or other materials are needed.

Respondents should submit a single integrated response addressing the areas described above. DARPA requests responses submitted in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format. Each response is limited to not more than 15 pages using 12-point font and 1-inch margins on 8.5-inch by 11-inch paper. Effective responses that can be provided in fewer than 10 pages are encouraged. Any submitted material in excess of the 15-page limit may not be reviewed. Supporting graphics and data charts are encouraged and will not be counted towards the page limit when appended to the written RFI response. If applicable, respondents may also include an annotated bibliography of reports and publications and may append copies of reports or publications that are particularly relevant to this RFI, and / or difficult to obtain otherwise, none of which will count toward the page limit.

The contact information should include the respondent’s technical and/or administrative points of contact (names, addresses, phone numbers, fax numbers, and e-mail addresses) to enable potential clarification discussions.

All technical and administrative correspondence and questions regarding this announcement and how to respond to this RFI should be sent to DARPA-SN-21- 42@darpa.mil. E-mails pertaining to this RFI that are sent directly to individual DARPA program managers will not receive a response. No telephone inquiries will be accepted.

NOTE: DARPA may request individual and group discussions with respondents as necessary to gain a full understanding of the information submitted. DARPA may contact respondents individually via e-mail.

DISCLAIMERS AND IMPORTANT NOTES:

This is an RFI issued solely for information and program planning purposes; this RFI does not constitute a formal solicitation for proposals or proposal abstracts. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Submission of a response is strictly voluntary and is not required to propose to subsequent Broad Agency Announcements (if any) or research solicitations (if any) on this topic. No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the SAM.gov website. It is the responsibility of any potential offerors/bidders to monitor this site for the release of any solicitation or synopsis.

DARPA will not provide reimbursement for costs incurred in responding to this RFI or participating in any subsequent Workshop pertaining to this RFI.

If a response is classified, it should be coordinated with DARPA prior to submission.

Respondents wishing to provide a classified response should send an e-mail to the e-mail address specified above as soon as possible with the subject line “Classified Coordination Requested” to allow time for proper coordination. NO CLASSIFIED INFORMATION

SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RFI RESPONSE SENT TO DARPA-SN-21-

42@darpa.mil.

To the maximum extent possible, please submit non-proprietary information. If proprietary information is submitted, it must be appropriately and specifically marked. It is the submitter’s responsibility to clearly define to the Government what is considered proprietary data. Any proprietary information should clearly be labeled as “Proprietary.”

DARPA will not publicly disclose proprietary information obtained as a result of the RFI.

To the full extent that it is protected pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act and other laws and regulations, information identified by a respondent as "Proprietary" will be appropriately controlled. Submissions may be reviewed by Government personnel and support contractors bound by appropriate non-disclosure agreements. Responses to this RFI will not be returned.

Respondents are advised that DARPA is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted under this RFI. Responses to this RFI do not bind DARPA to any further actions.

Point of Contact:

DARPA/TTO

DARPA-SN-21-42@darpa.mil