Commander, U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Acquisition Center, Research Development and Engineering Center, Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-5000

A -- TARGET ACQUISITION AND GUIDANCE (TAG) SUBSYSTEM DEVELOPMENT DUE 091100 POC Ms. Patsy C. Garrison, Contracting Officer (256) 842-7406 Title: Target Acquisition & Guidance (TAG) Subsystem Development, Technical POC: Mr. David Bittle, AMSAM-RD-PD-SA/ Propulsion & Structures Directorate, (256) 876-9410, WEB: http://www.redstone.army.mil, e-mail; david.bittle@redstone army.mil. Contract POC: Ms. Patsy Garrison, AMSAM-AC-RD-BC/Procurement, (256) 842-7406, e-mail: Garrison-PC@redstone.army.mil. The Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) is seeking sources for the development of a critical subsystem for a Future Combat Vehicle Plug & Fight Modular Firing System. The goal of the Plug & Fight Modular Firing System is to provide a near universal missile launch and control capability to a wide variety of combat vehicles. The Plug & Fight Modular Firing System is intended to give any combat vehicle the capability to effectively utilize anti-tank, air defense, or fire support missiles and rockets or a mixture of these types. The critical subsystem for which sources are sought is the Target Acquisition and Guidance (TAG) System. The goal of the TAG development program is to design, develop, and mature a system of sensors, stabilization, and signal processing that can be utilized as an early prototype unit in a firing demonstration of multiple types of legacy missiles. The TAG will be integrated with a universal missile fire control subsystem and a universal launcher/interface on an interim advanced combat vehicle for this demonstration. The specific legacy missiles are HELLFIRE, JAVELIN, 2.75 inch (including Low Cost Precision Kill (LCPK) version) ROCKETS, and STINGER. If the Compact Kinetic Energy Missile (CKEM) development progresses as expected, this demonstration will include firing a CKEM. This demonstration will take place in early to mid-FY03. The system may then be refurbished and upgraded to further meet the requirements of providing target acquisition and guidance for future missiles (which will likely have longer ranges, increased accuracy, and may involve advanced guidance techniques.) This demonstration will take place in late FY04. AMCOM seeks industry cooperation to accelerate the development and transition of technology to a target acquisition & guidance system applicable to the Plug & Fight Modular Firing System program and subsequently the Future Combat Vehicle (FCV). The TAG subsystem shall be a precision stabilized unit containing both day and night capability to locate and recognize targets, track targets (manually or automatically), guidance for legacy and future missiles, and be capable of driving missile launchers in a follow-up mode. The system shall provide this capability when mounted on a light combat vehicle that can be either stationary or on the move. A Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) sensor that is capable of detecting, recognizing and providing a signal to allow automatically tracking main battle tank targets (of the size and signature of the M1A2), attack helicopters (of the size and signature of the AH-64), ground attack aircraft (of the size and signature of the SUKHOI 25 "Frogfoot") and light combat vehicles (of the size and signature of the LAV III) shall be integrated in the TAG. Detection and recognition shall be accomplished at ranges of 5 km and beyond for all targets. A television sensor, operating in the silicon vidicon band, shall be included that can provide detection and recognition of the targets described above during daylight and good visibility conditions. A laser designator shall be provided that can designate for laser semi-active munitions such as the Laser HELLFIRE and LCPK guided 2.75 inch rocket. The beam divergence on this laser designator unit shall be .13 milli-radians or less. The laser designator shall contain a range-finder mode that allows firing a single pulse of energy (at reduced power from the designator mode) and measuring the range from the TAG to the target. There shall also be a beam projector mode to accommodate a potential beam rider guided missile. There shall be an automatic means for bore-sighting the laser designator (and the laser beam projector) to the FLIR and TV sensors which the gunner can initiate at any time an actual target engagement is not underway. The TAG shall employ Line-of-Sight (LOS) stabilization for all sensors that will enable the target acquisition, target tracking, and missile guidance functions to be performed to the ranges specified in this document. An automatic tracker shall be provided that shall be capable of tracking all the targets described above (one at a time) to the accuracy required to provide missile guidance for the laser semi-active HELLFIRE, LCPK and the CKEM. An electrical output shall be provided that represents the error (magnitude and direction) of the target location with respect to the aiming/bore-sight reticle that will drive the TAG line of sight to remain on the target. The TAG shall contain four (4) stabilized gimbals described as follows: There shall be a two axis inner gimbal system (pitch and yaw) which is stabilized to the requirements for the LOS jitter needed to provide target recognition, tracking and missile guidance accuracy at the specified ranges. This inner gimbal shall stabilize the sensor and laser lines of sight over a narrow angular excursion (approximately 5 degrees from null). There shall be a two axis outer gimbal system whose purpose is to provide the full angular coverage of the lines of sight with respect to the vehicle center line and to provide some degree of isolation of the inner gimbals from the vehicle disturbances. There shall be a measurement made of the angular difference between the centerline of the outer (yaw) gimbal and the centerline of the vehicle turret to provide the error signals to allow driving the vehicle turret to align itself (and subsequently the missile launchers) with the sensor and laser lines of sight. Pending Congressional approval, the Army has budgeted approximately $0.5 M of FY01 funds and $0.5M of FY02 funds for the early prototype phase of the program (leading to the legacy missile firing demonstration). Out-year funding may be available, depending upon the additional challenges that are presented by the future missile target acquisition and guidance requirements. This sources sought synopsis is for informational purposes only and is not considered to be a commitment by the Government. The Government does not intend to make any awards on the basis of this notification or other wise pay for any information submitted. Interested/capable sources are requested to submit technical capability statements and relevant contract/assistance instrument information by 11 September 2000. Of particular interest are the internal technical capabilities of the interested party in the above described subsystem. No additional information is expected to be made available during the 30-day sources sought period for submission of capability statements. Capability statements may not be submitted by fax or by electronic means; any so sent will be disregarded. Send 5 copies of the written statements to the attention of U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, AMSAM-AC-RD-BC/Building 5400,(Ms. Patsy Garrison), Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-5254. This is for information purposes only. The Government intends to issue a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) (DAAH01-00-R-RB06), on or about 28 September 2000 for the design, development, refurbishment and modification of the TAG subsystem as described above. The contract to be awarded will contain a Government option to run through FY 04 (the advanced missile firing demonstration and the mature prototype phase of the TAG sub-system). Posted 08/08/00 (W-SN483826). (0221)

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