Pentagon Wants Ideas for Flying Aircraft Carrier

DroneSource: CNN Tech – cnn.com

By Brad Lendon

  • Pentagon wants aerial platform to carry drones
  • Defense Advanced Research Products Agency is seeking proposals
  • Pentagon wants to use existing aircraft to launch and recover drones

Got an idea on how to make a flying aircraft carrier? The Defense Department wants to know about it.

The Defense Advanced Research Products Agency has a request out for ideas on how to develop an airborne platform that could both launch and recover other aircraft.

But before you start looking for schematics of the Starship Enterprise (NCC-1701) or Battlestar Galactica, or how you might levitate the USS Nimitz, think a little smaller, like B-1, B-52 or C-130.

A U.S. Air Force MQ-1 Predator UAV assigned to the California Air National Guard's 163rd Reconnaissance Wing flies near the Southern California Logistics Airport in Victorville, California, on January 7, 2012. Source: cnn.com

A U.S. Air Force MQ-1 Predator UAV assigned to the California Air National Guard’s 163rd Reconnaissance Wing flies near the Southern California Logistics Airport in Victorville, California, on January 7, 2012.
Source: cnn.com

DARPA wants ideas on how to turn those aircraft currently in the Pentagon inventory into platforms that could carry Unmanned Aerial Systems, what most folks call drones, close to their targets. The drones could then go about their business — bombing, missile strikes, reconnaissance, etc. — then fly back to the mother ship and head for home.

This plan could add to the range of the drones and open up new missions they cannot now undertake because of their limited range, DARPA says.

As you consider your ideas, DARPA says you have to keep the cost low and they’d like something they could demonstrate within four years. And don’t get long-winded. Your proposal should fit on eight, standard 8.5- x 11-inch pages in 11-point type.

And if you’re worried your big plans will fall into the hands of your competitors, don’t. DARPA promises all ideas will stay inside the Pentagon.

The deadline is November 26. Now get to work.

Source: CNN Tech – cnn.com

Source: Federal Business Opportunities – fbo.gov

DARPA-SN-15-06 Request for Information (RFI) on Distributed Airborne Capabilities

Solicitation Number: DARPA-SN-15-06

Agency: Other Defense Agencies
Office: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Location: Contracts Management Office

Notice Type: Special Notice

Synopsis:

Added: Nov 07, 2014 2:45 pm

DARPA is interested in exploring the feasibility of small UAS airborne launch and recovery approaches for providing distributed airborne capabilities from existing air platforms. The agency envisions a large aircraft that, with minimal modification, could launch and recover multiple small unmanned systems from a standoff distance. It is postulated that there is a useful trade space in terms of launch platforms; recovery platforms; recovery techniques; the number of UAS employed; the size (and cost) of the UAS; UAS speed, range, and endurance; UAS propulsion; UAS survivability; payload types; and operational concepts.

This RFI seeks information on concept feasibility, unique and enabling platform technologies, system architectures, concepts of operation, modeling and simulation, potential demonstration platforms and approaches, and reusable low-cost delivery vehicle (UAS) platform concepts. DARPA is primarily interested in platform-related technologies and concepts. This RFI also seeks rough order of magnitude (ROM) cost and schedule information to assist in planning a potential future DARPA program in this area.

DARPA-SN-15-06

Type: Other (Draft RFPs/RFIs, Responses to Questions, etc..)

Posted Date: November 7, 2014

DARPA-SN-15-06.pdf (45.15 Kb)

Description: DARPA-SN-15-06 Request for Information (RFI) on Distributed Airborne Capabilities

Contracting Office Address:

675 North Randolph Street
Arlington, Virginia 22203-2114
United States

Primary Point of Contact.: RFI Coordinator DARPA-SN-15-06@darpa.mil

Source: Federal Business Opportunities – fbo.gov

This entry was posted in New technology, News and tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply