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February 15, 2021 | International, Aerospace
What Might DARPA’s Longshot Fighter Drone Be Armed With?
It appears that the new drone will come with an upgraded, or perhaps new, advanced air-to-air missile.
by Kris Osborn
The prospect of new drone-fired air-to-air weapons, such as those being introduced in DARPA's LongShot effort, raise impactful tactical questions regarding the nature of air warfare moving into future decades.
The DARPA program is invested in engineering a new kind of aerial attack drone configured such that it can integrate a new generation of air-to-air weapons potentially changing or at least impacting existing aerial warfare paradigms. The Pentagon's DARPA just awarded LongShot development deals to Northrop Grumman, Lockheed and General Atomics to explore concepts, computer modeling and design options for a new air-attack platform.
“Current air superiority concepts rely on advanced manned fighter aircraft to provide a penetrating counter air capability to effectively deliver weapons. It is envisioned that LongShot will increase the survivability of manned platforms by allowing them to be at standoff ranges far away from enemy threats, while an air-launched LongShot UAV efficiently closes the gap to take more effective missile shots,” DARPA writes in a statement on the program.
What kinds of technologies and air-attack systems are likely to characterize future warfare in the skies? Clearly the intent of the DARPA program, which is early on and primarily in a conceptual phase, is to break existing technical barriers and architect weapons which advance the attack envelope well beyond simply upgrading existing weapons. This sets the bar quite high, given that the current state of upgraded air-to-air weapons is increasingly more advanced. The AIM-9X, for example, has been upgraded to accommodate what's called “off-boresight” targeting wherein a missile can engage a target to the side or even behind the aircraft it launches from. Off boresight capable AIM-9X missiles are now arming F-35s, bringing a new ability to fire course-changing air-to-air weapons at angles beyond direct line-of-sight.
Weapons upgrades to the F-22 as well, brought to fruition through a Lockheed software upgrade called 3.2b, brings new upgrades to the AIM-9X and AIM-120D. Raytheon data explains that a Block 2 AIM-9X variant also adds a redesigned fuze, new datalink to support beyond visual range engagements, improved electronics and a digital ignition safety device.
Another part of the weapons upgrade includes engineering the F-22 to fire the AIM-120D, a beyond visual range Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), designed for all weather day-and-night attacks. It is a “fire and forget” missile with active transmit radar guidance, Raytheon data states. The AIM-120D is built with upgrades to previous AMRAAM missiles by increasing attack range, improving seeker guidance GPS navigation, inertial measurement units and a two-way data link, Raytheon statements explain.
Air-to-Air weapons are also being upgraded with new “countermeasures” to, among other things, enable guidance systems to stay locked on target even in a “jamming” environment. For example, adversaries are increasingly engineering electronic warfare weapons intended to find and “jam” radio frequency or infrared targeting technologies used in air-to-air weapons. Technical efforts to “counter” the countermeasures with frequency-hopping adaptations can enable electronically guided weapons to sustain a precision trajectory despite enemy jamming attempts.
These kinds of innovations might, at least initially, be providing a technical baseline from which new weapons can be envisioned, developed and ultimately engineered. The new air-to-air weapons intended for LongShot will most likely not only be much longer range but also operate with hardened guidance systems, flexible flight trajectories, advanced countermeasures, a wider range of fuze options and newer kinds of explosives as well.
Kris Osborn is the defense editor for the National Interest. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a Highly Qualified Expert with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.
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January 15, 2021 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security
Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - January 14, 2021
NAVY DoD Marine Constructors JV, Napa, California (N62473-21-D-1403); The Dutra Group, San Rafael, California (N62473-21-D-1404); Granite-Healy Tibbitts JV, Watsonville, California (N62473-21-D-1405); Manson Construction Co., Seattle, Washington (N62473-21-D-1406); Marathon Construction Corp.,* Lakeside, California (N62473-21-D-1407); R.E. Staite Engineering Inc.,* San Diego, California (N62473-21-D-1408); Reyes Construction Inc., Pomona, California (N62473-21-D-1409); and TNT Constructors, Bremerton, Washington (N62473-21-D-1410), are each awarded a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple-award construction contract for new construction, repair and renovation of waterfront facilities at various government installations located in the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Southwest area of responsibility. These eight businesses may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. No task orders are being issued at this time. The maximum dollar value, including the base period and one option year for all eight contracts combined, is $750,000,000. The work to be performed provides for new construction, repair and renovation of waterfront structures and dredging within the North American Industry Classification System Code 237990 by design-build or design-bid-build. Types of projects may include, but are not limited to, dredging and disposal, piers, wharves, quay walls, bulkheads, relieving platforms, cellular structures, dry docks/caissons, break waters, fixed moorings, docks and marinas, pile driving, primary and secondary fender systems, sheet piles and sea walls. The solicitation's requirement for two or more awards to be reserved for highly qualified small businesses was met by the awards to Marathon Construction Corp. and R.E. Staite Engineering Inc. Future task orders will be primarily funded by operation and maintenance (Navy); Navy working capital; and military construction (Navy) funds. Work will be performed at various government installations in states including, but not limited to, California (90%); Arizona (6%); Nevada (1%); Utah (1%); Colorado (1%); and New Mexico (1%), and will be completed by December 2026. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $5,000 will be obligated to each awardee at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the beta.SAM.gov contract opportunities website, with 15 proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. TechFlow Mission Support LLC, doing business as EMI Services, Idaho Falls, Idaho, is awarded a maximum value $128,970,744 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for base operation support services at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland; Webster Field, St. Inigoes, Maryland; Solomons Annex, Solomons, Maryland; and Point Lookout, St. Mary's County, Maryland. Work will be performed in St. Mary's County, Maryland (92%); and Calvert County, Maryland (8%), and is expected to be complete by March 2029. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $13,269,831 for recurring work will be obligated under the initial task order at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The base operation support services to be performed include general information; management and administration; airfield facilities; and facilities support, including facility management, facility investment, integrated solid waste management, swimming pool services, special event support, utilities management, wastewater management, water services and environmental services. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with seven proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N62470-21-D-0002). The MIL Corp., Bowie, Maryland, is awarded an $80,864,126 cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-reimbursable, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides for systems engineering services for assigned Global Radio Frequency Intelligence Networks related technologies and systems in support of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Webster Outlying Field Integrated Command, Control and Intel Division. Work will be performed in Saint Inigoes, Maryland, and is expected to be completed in April 2026. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual task orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposal; one offer was received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00421-21-D-0010). Kay and Associates Inc., Buffalo Grove, Illinois, is awarded a $69,515,496 cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost reimbursable modification (P00012) to previously awarded contract N00421-17-C-0044. This modification exercises an option to procure maintenance and support services for F/A-18 aircraft and associated equipment in support of the government of Kuwait. Work will be performed in Kuwait, and is expected to be completed in January 2022. Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount $69,515,496 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Teledyne Brown Engineering Inc., Huntsville, Alabama, is awarded a $39,211,704 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract N00024-19-C-6402 to exercise options for the production of MK11 shallow water combat submersibles. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Alabama, and is expected to be completed by September 2024. Foreign Military Sales (country name withheld per international agreement) funding in the amount of $39,211,704 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. Raytheon Co., Keyport, Washington, is awarded a $16,095,857 modification to previously-awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity requirements contract N61331-17-D-0001 to exercise options for maintenance and support for the AN/AQS-20 sonar mine detecting set. Work will be performed in Portsmouth, Rhode Island (65%); Keyport, Washington (30%); and Panama City, Florida (5%), and is expected to be completed by January 2022. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual task orders as they are issued. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division, Panama City, Florida, is the contracting activity. Heffler Contracting Group,* El Cajon, California, is awarded a maximum value $15,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity contract for specialty trade work, additions, alterations and repairs at various facilities located at Travis Air Force Base, California. No task orders are being issued at time of award. The work to be performed will be primarily design-bid-build (fully designed) task orders or task orders with minimal design effort (e.g. shop drawings). Projects may include, but are not limited to, specialty trade work. The work performed may include new work, additions, alterations, maintenance and repairs. Future task orders will be primarily funded by operation and maintenance (Navy) funds. Work will be performed at Travis Air Force Base, California, and is expected to be completed by January 2026. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,000 will be obligated at time of award in order to meet the minimum guarantee and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the beta.SAM.gov website, with nine proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N62473-21-D-1018). Agile-Bot II LLC,* Reston, Virginia, is awarded a $14,075,424 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for advanced cyber support services in support of the Marine Corps Cyberspace Operations Group. This one-year contract includes four one-year option periods which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $72,996,224. All work will be performed in Quantico, Virginia. The period of performance of the base period is from Jan. 14, 2021, through Jan. 13, 2022. If all options are exercised, the period of performance would extend through Jan. 13, 2026. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $2,991,443 will be obligated at the time of award. This contract was competitively procured via request for proposal N66001-18-R-0011 published on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the NAVWAR e-Commerce Central website. Five offers were received and one was selected for award. The Naval Information Warfare Center, Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-21-C-0043). Electrical Equipment Co.,* Norfolk, Virginia, is awarded a $10,976,873 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides for the delivery of up to a maximum quantity of 620 XVR16 and 380 XVR19 Versa Module Eurocard Single Board computers; four annual XVR19 Open Linux software development kit maintenance licenses; and 120 RES-3000 Ethernet Switch System components for multiple AN/UPX-24(V) Interrogator Set and AN/UPX-46(V) Interrogator System projects in support of Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division, Combat Integration and Identification Systems. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Virginia, and is expected to be completed in January 2026. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposal; one offer was received. The Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (N68335-21-D-0047). MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY L3Harris Technologies Inc., Fort Wayne, Indiana, is being awarded a firm-fixed-price prototype award with a total value of $121,634,954 through the Missile Defense Agency's authority under 10 U.S. Code § 2371b. This prototype award was competitively solicited among awardees of the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor Phase IIa effort, which was competitively awarded as a Prototype Other Transaction pursuant to 10 U.S. Code § 2371b. Four proposals were received. Under this award, the performer will provide the Missile Defense Agency's Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor program with an on-orbit prototype demonstration, culminating with launch and early orbit testing. The work will be performed in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with an estimated completion date of July 14, 2023. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $25,000,000 will be obligated at the time of award. These funds will expire at the end of the 2021 fiscal year. Missile Defense Agency, Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, is the contracting activity (HQ0857-20-9-0001). DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY Raytheon Co., Integrated Defense Systems, Tewksbury, Massachusetts, has been awarded a $17,949,424 modification (P00003) to previously awarded System of Systems Enhanced Small Unit (SESU) contract HR0011-20-C-0008. This modification brings the cumulative face value of the contract from $5,162,120 to $23,111,544. Work will be performed in Tewksbury, Massachusetts (39%); Tucson, Arizona (36%); Woburn, Massachusetts (13%); and Clifton, New Jersey (12%), with an estimated completion date of October 2022. Fiscal 2021 research and development funds in the amount of $2,000,000 are being obligated at time of award. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity. *Small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2473002/source/GovDelivery/