Demo 6 Industry Day Vendor QandA.pdf

Demo 6 Industry Day Vendor Q&A

1. Request for extension for RFWP responses.

a. Unfortunately, due to the schedule established for Demo 6 planning and execution we do not foresee the ability to facilitate an extension to turning in white papers beyond 25 October at 1600 EST. However, we will discuss further with our contracting office.

2. Would lightweight, networked vehicle C-UAS solutions meet what the JCO is looking to demonstrate?

a. Yes, this configuration could be acceptable as long as it additionally meets the other needs outlined within RFWP, for instance kinetic defeat or drone-on-drone interceptor for group 3 UAS defeat.

3. Will there be a tactical network connection provided (ATAK, FAAD C2) to use for situational awareness and detection for network ready C-UAS systems?

a. Each participant during the demonstration needs to bring their own system of systems solution that includes the DTI portion of the kill chain additional to providing your own C2.

b. The JCO is working details to incorporate FAAD C2 into the demonstration as an opportunity for vendors to demonstrate either interoperability or integration with FAAD C2. This would be treated as a side-excursion and not used as an official means to measure the participant’s solution against performance measures during the demonstration. Therefore, the FAAD C2 system that may be provided by the Government will not be used by participants as part of your solution to incorporate C2.

Additionally, this demonstration will not serve as an opportunity for vendors to work on interoperability or integration with FAAD C2. Your solution must have that interoperability or integration complete prior to the demonstration.

4. Will the Red Air UAS be flying COTS frequencies i.e., 915 Mhz, 1.2 Ghz, 1.5 Ghz, 2.4 Ghz, 5.8 Ghz?

a. We will not divulge the list of target aircraft nor the specific details of their RF signature data. However, we can share that we will be flying COTS frequencies, including what is listed in the question.

5. Will there be Skyviews, Bal-Chatri or other systems there that we can demonstrate how we integrate with to get omnidirectional early warning from?

a. The JCO will not provide additional systems for participants to demonstrate their integration with, beyond the potential of FAAD C2 as discussed earlier.

b. If there are other vendor systems that are required for your SoS solution to function, that is the responsibility of the participating vendor to conduct that coordination.

6. [CORRECTION TO ORIGINAL ANSWER PROVIDED] For topic area #2 (Group 1 and 2 dismounted DTI and/or DTID), is the JCO interested in dismounted NAVWAR capabilities? Will the demonstration have the ability to exercise systems of that kind?

a. Yes, the JCO is interested in dismounted systems that use NAVWAR or counter GNSS techniques.

7. Do we need to detect threats (SIGINT) and defeat threats (jamming) within the entire spectrum as listed in the RFI all the way to 20GHz or just make sure we can operate in a heavy EMI environment that could go up to 20 GHz?

a. The intent of stating the frequency range from 30 MHz to 20 GHz is to inform industry of the portion of the spectrum we expect to contest within the electromagnetic environment. Therefore, your system must be able to effectively operate while frequencies within this range are being contested/jammed.

b. The specific frequencies that the Target UAS will operate on is pending further information from the intelligence community. However, the JCO will not divulge this information to the participants. We expect the SoS solutions to have the ability to identify the targets using organic functionality and defeat them appropriately without knowing what they are prior to the demonstration.

8. Can we get test procedures from the government that shows how the system will be field tested? Types of electronic attack - Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM), barrage, etc.?

a. The vendors selected to participate will attend Technical Interchange Meetings where the JCO will inform of more details about the test design. However, the JCO will not share all details of the demonstration.

9. In the background section, it says that the ability to obtain technology release and build in exportability features, including anti-tamper, is necessary. Anti-tamper solutions are typically classified. Will this become a classified program?

a. Any system that proceeds through exportability procedures after the demonstration concludes will need to have built in exportability features, including anti-tamper.

However, it is not a requirement to have these features to participate in the demonstration. All systems selected for the demonstration must initiate the exportability process prior to demonstration execution.

b. Therefore, the demonstration will not be conducted as a classified event, but it is possible that the selected systems will become classified programs if chosen for exportability to Allied and partner nations following the demonstration.

10. What level of anti-tamper is expected?

a. The level of anti-tamper would be dictated by the needs of the specific FMS or DCS case.

The JCO does not have the foresight to determine the level of anti-tamper required for each system based on each unique case.

11. Will we need to provide munitions if down selected for Phase 3 (demonstration) and if so, will

JCO be willing to work with us and other government partners to facilitate the acquisition of munitions and fuzes?

a. The provision of munitions will be a case-by-case determination based on the needs of the vendor’s solution.

b. The JCO will provide common-used GFE upon request. However, this necessitates the participating vendors inform the JCO of what munitions you would require us to provide as GFE if you are not able to source organically.

12. Will the JCO work to assist with getting Laser Clearing House (LCH) approval for participating systems, or will vendors be responsible for this?

a. Vendors be responsible for this. The JCO will provide the LCH POC and, as needed, assist the participating vendors through the process.

13. The RFWP specifies DTID of Group 3 UAS within 2KM slant. Can JCO clarify that this is a minimum desired distance, or is it a maximum desired range?

a. The JCO is focused on short range defeat systems for this demonstration, which we expect will be within a 2KM slant range. Therefore, 2KM is the maximum range.

14. Does the RFWP specify an anticipated OTA contract award (phase 5 of RFWP)?

a. We do not currently have an anticipated OTA contract award date. We will gain further clarity on this timeline following the demonstration.

15. Will vendors that are selected to participate in Phase 3 have access to the data analysis and reports that are conducted by the Government on their respective systems?

a. Yes, the JCO will publish a final demonstration report which will be sent to the participating vendors following demo completion.

16. Is there any specific platform you expect to see the solution mounted on, or is there anything off limits?

a. Regarding topic #1, Group 3 short range defeat, we do not specify a platform for solutions to be mounted on. For instance, in the past we’ve had systems demonstrated on pickup trucks, military HMMWVs, and MRZRs. However, whatever platform your solution is proposed to be mounted on must be provided by you as the vendor to participate in the demo. Regarding topic #2, Groups 1 and 2 dismounted DTI and/or D, we expect the solution to not be mounted on a platform.

17. Group 1 and 2 drones may not be able to operate in a contested electromagnetic environment.

Given that, how do you see C-sUAS systems that manipulate the drone’s electromagnetic environment succeeding in this demo?

a. The group 1 and 2 target drones we operate from the Red Team for demonstrated systems to DTI and/or D will not be impacted by the electronic warfare (EW) effects we apply on the range to create the contested electromagnetic environment. If the solution you propose uses a sUAS interceptor drone as the effector, we are interested to see if you have incorporated technology that allows that sUAS to effectively operate in a contested electromagnetic environment. That additionally applies to systems with a defeat capability that manipulates the target drones’ use of the electromagnetic spectrum, such as EW effects.

18. What is the minimum engagement range allowed for weapons less than 40mm?

a. We do not currently have an established minimum range. The minimum range will be determined through the safety approval process with the YPG range staff for each demonstrated system through the planning process after selecting the solutions to attend the demonstration.

19. For topic #2, Groups 1 and 2 dismounted DTI and/or D, will kinetic systems that fire from a dismounted support vehicle be considered like the ISV?

a. We are interested to demonstrate truly dismounted systems, including warfighter wearable, weapon affixable, and handheld systems. If your proposed solution is mounted to a vehicle, we would not consider it as a solution that meets the intent of topic #2. However, if your solution is intended to be used as a small dismounted system that is removed from a vehicle to operate alongside a dismounted patrol, such as a robotic system with a C-sUAS payload, we would consider that to fit the intent of topic #2.

20. Can you confirm that dismounted capabilities must be capable of full DTI or DTID capabilities? If you have a capability that does Defeat only in a contested environment, will it not be considered?

a. For topic 2 dismounted capability, we see three primary options of a proposed solution.

One option is DTI only. A second option is the full kill chain of DTID. A third option is defeat only. We understand that some dismounted solutions may be a bullet fired from a personally assigned weapon. In that case the sensor is essentially the servicemember firing the personally assigned weapon, or in the case of the demonstration, your company’s employee who is assigned to demonstrate and fire the weapon. That individual must perform the functions of detect, track, and identify against the target as opposed to a materiel sensor solution integrated with the defeat capability.

21. Can you clarify that you want a separate WP for each topic area, not one paper covering both topic area solutions?

a. Yes, please submit a separate white paper for each topic if you are proposing a separate solution for each topic 1 and 2. Additionally, if you are proposing a separate solution for the same topic, please submit a separate white paper for each separate solution you are proposing. The JCO will review those submissions separately from each other and wants to track them separately.