| CROWS |
Synopsis:
Added: May 12, 2016 8:54 am
INTRODUCTION:
The U.S. Army Contracting Command (ACC) - New Jersey, in support of the Armament Research, Development, and Engineering Center (ARDEC), is conducting a market survey to understand industry capability to provide a radar capable of generating fire-control quality data, enabling the kinetic defeat of small aerial targets. This requires tracking small Radar Cross Section (RCS) aerial targets and kinetic rounds (e.g. bullets). The radar would be vehicle mounted, small, lightweight, affordable, and be suitable for stationary and on-the-move operations.As a result of issuing this Request for Information (RFI), the Government expects to receive white papers describing proposed concepts and technologies. The RFI responses should identify radar designs that will support the ARDEC system concept and include a credible development path, with estimates provided on costs and timeline.
SYSTEM OVERVIEW:
ARDEC has developed a system of systems concept to address low flying, small RCS aerial threats in support of maneuver forces. This system is comprised of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) detection and tracking sensors being networked to defeat mechanisms such as the Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS).A component of this overarching concept, and the subject of this RFI, is a tactical fire control radar. Initially, ARDEC is seeking a tactical fire control radar capable of:
- Detecting and tracking Group 1 UAS.
- Capable of integration onto a vehicle-mounted CROWS.
Other UAS categories and other threats are of interest, but are not the focus of this RFI. The tactical fire control radar will provide target engagement data to an on-board fire control system for a weapon system, as well as track outgoing projectiles for purposes of increasing the accuracy of the on-board weapon. It is envisioned that the system will ultimately have a full, on-the-move capability. In the near-term, the system may operate in a stationary configuration.
REQUIREMENTS:
ARDEC envisions an incremental, evolutionary approach to system development, culminating in a system that has 360 degree azimuth coverage and on-the-move capability. Initial efforts will focus on a near-term demonstration of specific parameters. Requirements for the near-term demonstrator and the long-term capability are listed below.Near-Term Demonstrator:
Threshold Requirements
- Ability to simultaneously search to a range of 3km, track one or more hovering and/or maneuvering Group 1 UAS, and track outbound projectiles used for engagement.
- Update rate and accuracy measurements in search mode should be sufficient to initiate track at 1.5km.
- Track Group 1 UAS threat at range of 50m to 1.5km with accuracy requirements ≤750 microradian angular accuracy, ≤1m range accuracy, and ≥20Hz update rate.
- Must be able to track an outbound .50 caliber round for the purpose of increasing accuracy. For modelling and performance prediction purposes, the .50 caliber munition can be treated as having the RCS of a 1.5cm conducting sphere.
- Must detect and track both rotary and fixed wing Group 1 UAS. Group 1 is defined as <20lbs 100="" a="" above="" and="" are="" at="" class.="" feet="" ground="" in="" knots.="" level="" li="" lift-off="" of="" operating="" raven="" representative="" rq-11="" speed="" the="" this="" to="" u.s.="" uass="" up="" wasp="" with="">
- Angular radar coverage should be +/- 45 degree azimuth (aligned on weapon boresight) with an elevation coverage of -20 to 60 degrees. Weapon boresight can be directed to any fixed azimuth position across 360 degrees, at the discretion of the operator.
- Must be able to accept real-time search-quality external cues.
- Must communicate target data to an external system in real-time.
- System must be integrated onto a vehicle-mounted CROWS. The radar front-end receive and transmit antenna assembly must be integrated onto the CROWS, with or without the radar signal/data processor, which may be installed elsewhere in or on the vehicle. The CROWS common interface can support up to approximately 65lb weight and 29in maximum width.
- Must be operable on Stryker power.
- Must be air cooled.
Objective Requirements (Objectives exceeding thresholds noted in Bold font)
- Ability to simultaneously search to a range of 5.5km, track 10 Group 1 UAS, and track outbound projectiles used for engagement.
- Track Group 1 UAS threat at a range of 50m to 2.5km with accuracy requirements ≤400 microradian angular accuracy, ≤1m range accuracy, and ≥20Hz update rate.
- Angular radar coverage should be +/- 45 degree azimuth (aligned on weapon boresight) with an elevation coverage of -20 to 90 degrees.
- Demonstrate ability for the system to operate on-the-move. This capability can be demonstrated in a tiered approach, initially search on the move, and ultimately track-while-search.
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