TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Air Platform

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA 261 H-53 Heavy Lift Helicopters

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 section 5.4.c.(8) of 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: Investigate and develop a robust, Electro-Optic/Infrared (EO/IR) signature modeling capability that integrates rotorcraft full-body, asymmetric plume, downwash, and laser radar signature effects based on existing, widely-used, and validated air vehicle signature model(s).

DESCRIPTION: While several existing, widely-used EO/IR signature models address air vehicles, none address rotorcraft downwash, plume, or laser radar effects with sufficient fidelity to allow accurate analyses of IR or laser system detection and ranging.� Such analyses are critical to support rotorcraft survivability assessments and mission and test planning efforts.� Innovative approaches are sought to integrate new computational methods and tools with an existing base model (such as, but not limited to, those models listed in references [2], [3], [4], and [5]) to generate a single rotorcraft EO/IR signature modeling solution that incorporates body, engine, environmental, and asymmetric plume effects.� Responsive proposals will integrate the desired rotorcraft signature prediction and modeling capability into an existing base signature model chosen by the proposer based on that model�s accuracy, applicability, prior validation, and breadth of the existing User community.� Respondents should consider impacts to these factors when selecting a base model to which they will add innovations under this effort.

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 DOD 5220.22-M, National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual, unless acceptable mitigating procedures can and have been implemented and approved by the Defense Security Service (DSS). The selected contractor and/or subcontractor must be able to acquire and maintain a secret level facility and Personnel Security Clearances, in order to perform on advanced phases of this contract as set forth by DSS and NAVAIR 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 IAW DoD 5220.22-M during the advance phases of this contract.

PHASE I: Design and determine the feasibility of incorporating accurate, robust rotorcraft plume/downwash modeling into the validated, widely-used, EO/IR signature model identified and selected in the respondent�s proposal.� The Phase I effort will include prototype plans to be developed under Phase II.

PHASE II: Develop, demonstrate, and verify a prototype modeling capability that incorporates accurate, robust Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) and rotorcraft plume/downwash effects into the validated, widely-used, EO/IR signature model advanced in Phase I.

It is probable that the work under this effort will be classified under Phase II (see Description section for details).

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Perform validation of the new LIDAR and rotorcraft downwash EO/IR signature prediction capability against existing Government-furnished test data for a military rotorcraft.� Coordinate with the Process Owner/Configuration Control Authority (CCA) for the validated, widely-used, EO/IR signature model advanced in Phase II (the base model).� Transition the rotorcraft-unique IR and LIDAR signature modeling tools, training materials, and/or signature prediction services to the base model User community and/or the original base model CCA.� The model capability could be used for thermal analysis and design of commercial aircraft and remote aerial sensing.

REFERENCES:

1. Conant, J. & LeCompte, M. �Chapter 6: Signature Prediction and Modeling.�� The Infrared & Electro-Optical Systems Handbook, 1993, Vol. 4 - Electro-Optical Systems Design, Analysis, and Testing, ed. by Michael C. Dudzik, Environmental Research Institute of Michigan, SPIE Optical Engineering Press, Bellingham WA. http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a364024.pdf

2. Crow, D. Coker, C. & Keen, W. �Fast line-of-sight imagery for target and exhaust-plume signatures (FLITES) scene generation program.� Technologies for Synthetic Environments: Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing XI. Edited by Murrer, Robert Lee, Jr. Proceedings of the SPIE, 2006, Volume 6208-18, pp. 62080J. https://www.tib.eu/en/search/id/BLCP%3ACN060748638/Fast-line-of-sight-imagery-for-target-and-exhaust/

3. Crow, D. & Coker, C.� �Composite hardbody and missile plume (CHAMP 2001) IR scene generation program.� Proc. SPIE 4366, Technologies for Synthetic Environments: Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing VI, 31 August 2001, 320; doi:10.1117/12.438080. http://proceedings.spiedigitallibrary.org/proceeding.aspx?articleid=948312

4. Listing of JANNAF-sponsored Signature Models: https://www.jannaf.org/products/codes

5. Niple, Edward R. �General scattered light (GSL) model for advanced radiance calculations.� Proc. SPIE 2469, Targets and Backgrounds: Characterization and Representation, 2 June 1995, 197; doi:10.1117/12.210591

KEYWORDS: Rotorcraft; Infrared Signature Model; Lidar Signature; Rotorcraft Plume; Plume Impingement; Downwash