DON26BZ03-NV055 TITLE: Multi-Band Approach to Target Discovery
OUSW (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Quantum and Battlefield Information Dominance (Q-BID)
COMPONENT TECHNOLOGY PRIORITY AREA(S): Space Technology
PROJECTED CMMC LEVEL REQUIREMENT: Level 2 (Self)
The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws.
OBJECTIVE: Develop a target discovery multi-band approach tool for wide-area ocean surveillance, target tracking, and environmental monitoring, to improve operational effectiveness and national security posture.
DESCRIPTION: Commercial Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) providers prioritize high-resolution imagery for applications demanding detailed ground sampling, primarily done in the X-band. This focus caters to markets like agriculture, urban planning, and disaster response. The Navy has a unique need for wide-area maritime surveillance, particularly in the open ocean, for tasks like search and rescue, tracking surface vessels, and monitoring illegal activities. The Navy also has urgent operational requirements for improved maritime domain awareness and more efficient resource allocation. Currently other methods are being used to perform these tasks; however, utilizing SAR would increase capabilities at a lower cost while providing better services for accomplishing the desired tracking methods. The Navy seeks a solution to utilize advancements in commercial space technology by utilizing dual-band SAR. Currently there is not a way for the Navy to utilize these services.
Dual-band approaches offer substantial benefits across various sectors. Dual-band routers and mobile devices can operate on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies, providing greater bandwidth and network capacity within telecommunications. This technology allows devices to switch to less congested frequencies, improving network performance and reliability in areas with high Wi-Fi density. Dual-band approaches can be used to monitor various environmental parameters, such as soil moisture, snow cover, and water quality, allowing for more accurate land cover classification and identification of specific features like vegetation types or mineral deposits. Within the medical field, dual-band imaging techniques can provide more detailed information about tissue composition and bone density, improving diagnostic capabilities for conditions like osteoporosis. Additionally, this approach can be used to enhance target detection and identification by combining data from different frequencies.
The solution sought will add to the current capabilities of searching, tracking, and monitoring to include dual-band SAR systems.
The system will incorporate a secondary band like S-band or C-band alongside the existing X-band capabilities. The system will increase area coverage and use lower frequency bands (S-band or C-band) that have wider beamwidths, enabling larger swaths of ocean to be imaged in a single pass. The increase in area coverage provided by a multi-band approach is not directly quantifiable with a single number as it is highly dependent on the specific bands used, the sensor technology, the platform, and the application. Rather than a percentage increase, it is more accurate to discuss the types of coverage improvements that multi-band approaches offer, such as wider swath width, increased temporal coverage, and coverage in different domains. The benefits will be realized through the synergistic combination of different bands, each contributing unique information and capabilities.
The system must also have improved target detection through utilizing multiple frequencies that will allow for comprehensive target characterization. Different bands interact differently with various materials and sea states, enabling better discrimination among vessels, ice, and ocean features.
The dual-band SAR will provide enhanced environmental monitoring by providing valuable data for oceanographic applications, such as wave height and direction estimation, current monitoring, oil spill detection, flood monitoring, land cover classification, and sea ice monitoring.
Dual-Band performance validation will be accomplished through:
1. Frequency Band Coverage: Verification of operation within the specified frequency bands. Data will include spectral analysis in each band.
2. Simultaneous Operation: Demonstration of concurrent and independent operation in both frequency bands. Data will include recordings of simultaneous signal reception and processing in each band. Interference Mitigation: Assessment of the system's ability to mitigate interference between the two bands and from external sources. Data will include measurements under various interference conditions in each band.
Area Coverage Enhancement will be shown through:
1. Field of View (FOV) Measurement: Quantification of the increased FOV achieved by the dual-band approach compared to a single-band baseline system. Data will include geometric measurements and visualizations of the detectable area.
2. Detection Range: Determination of the maximum detection range in each band and in dual-band mode. Data will include plots of detection probability versus range for various target types and environmental conditions.
3. Target Tracking Accuracy: Evaluation of the system's ability to accurately track targets within the expanded FOV. Data will include measurements of target position error and tracking stability.
4. Open Ocean Search and Tracking Performance will be shown through: Simulated Search Scenarios: Testing of the prototype in simulated open ocean environments with representative targets and clutter. Data will include detection and tracking performance metrics for various scenarios.
5. Environmental Impact Assessment: Evaluation of the system's performance under varying environmental conditions. Data will include performance metrics under different environmental parameters.
Prototype Robustness and Reliability will be shown through:
1. System Stability: Assessment of the system's stability and reliability during extended operation. Data will include continuous operation logs and failure rate analysis.
2. Power Consumption: Measurement of the system's power consumption under various operating conditions.
Navy Requirements Compliance will be shown through:
Work produced in Phase II may become classified. Note: The prospective contractor(s) must be U.S. owned and operated with no foreign influence as defined by 32 U.S.C. § 2004.20 et seq., National Industrial Security Program Executive Agent and Operating Manual, unless acceptable mitigating procedures can and have been implemented and approved by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) formerly Defense Security Service (DSS). The selected contractor must be able to acquire and maintain a secret level facility and Personnel Security Clearances. This will allow contractor personnel to perform on advanced phases of this project as set forth by DCSA and NAVSEA in order to gain access to classified information pertaining to the national defense of the United States and its allies; this will be an inherent requirement. The selected company will be required to safeguard classified material during the advanced phases of this contract IAW the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM), which can be found at Title 32, Part 2004.20 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
PHASE I: Develop a concept for a dual-band SAR and demonstrate through modeling and analysis that it feasibly meets the parameters in the Description. The Phase I Option, if exercised, will include the initial design specifications and capability to build a prototype solution in Phase II.
PHASE II: Develop a prototype dual-band SAR based on the results of Phase I. Demonstrate that the prototype meets parameters of the Description. Support Government testing at a Government-provided facility to determine the capability meets the performance goals of Navy. Deliver the prototype to the Navy.
It is probable that the work under this effort will be classified under Phase II (see the Description for details).
PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Support the Navy in transitioning the technology to Navy use, which will include scaling up production and integrating with existing Navy systems.
Integrate the dual-band SAR system with Navy systems by collaborating with the Commercial Space Program Office (CSPO), integrating dual-band SAR data into workflows, creating software and algorithms that allow for effective processing and target detection, and provide personnel with training and support for interpreting data.
The objective is to secure long-term contracts with the Navy to provide ongoing access to dual-band SAR data/services with the benefit of marketing the technology to other government agencies in the future.
To obtain successful commercialization and production, the performer will refine and optimize the prototype based on the Navy’s testing and feedback from Phase II and set up manufacturing processes to produce the dual-band SAR system(s) at scale. This is valuable for applications like airport security, border surveillance, and traffic monitoring. The underlying principle is that using two or more frequency bands allows systems to leverage the unique characteristics of each band, enhancing performance, reliability, and overall capabilities.
REFERENCES:
KEYWORDS: Multi-band approach; Synthetic Aperture Radar; Open Ocean Search; Ocean Surveillance; Track Targets from space; Emitting Tracking Methods
TPOC 1: Lauren Jones
(202) 781-0451
lauren.l.jones8.civ@us.navy.milTPOC 2: Art Whittaker
(202) 781-2111
arthur.r.whittaker2.civ@us.navy.mil
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