TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Ground/Sea Vehicles, Sensors

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA 264-Joint Multi-Mission Electro-optical System (JMMES)-ACAT IV; PMA-290

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b.(7) of the solicitation.

OBJECTIVE: Develop a very light weight towing system to enclose, deploy, and tow the AN/ASQ-233 magnetometer from manned and unmanned small rotary wing and fixed wing aircraft.

DESCRIPTION: Current state of the art towing reels, tow cables, and tow bodies designed for the AN/ASQ-233 magnetometer are too large, too heavy and too unstable for use by small rotary wing and fixed wing manned and unmanned aircraft. These aircraft are constrained in available payload weight and their ability to handle large aerodynamic forces. A novel approach is sought for a light-weight, small, very stable, non-magnetic tow vehicle, non-magnetic tow cable, and reeling machine.

The system should consist of a non-magnetic, stable tow vehicle; non-magnetic tow cable; and light weight reeling machine that can deploy and tow the MAD sensor at speeds between 50 - 350 knots from small rotary wing and fixed wing manned and unmanned air vehicles (UAVs). The solution technology must be stable in 3-axes to � � degrees while being towed, and not add more than 10 pounds to the AN/ASQ-233 magnetometer/sensor package. One of the key mechanical requirements that is very difficult to achieve with current technology is a very light weight < 40 pounds for the entire system (tow body, tow cable, reeling machine) while meeting the aerodynamic qualities above.

PHASE I: Develop a towing system conceptual design and demonstrate feasibility to meet these requirements for use on small rotary wing and fixed wing manned and unmanned air vehicles.

PHASE II: Design and demonstrate a prototype light weight towing system and test stability in a wind tunnel environment.

PHASE III: Build an engineering development model of the light-weight towing system. Obtain flight clearance for use on NAVAIR R&D aircraft and test in conjunction with the Joint Multi Mission Electro-Optical System (JMMES) program on SH60R, SH60S, and the Fire Scout. Transition technology to the fleet.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: High performance towed magnetometers find application in geological survey systems used for mineral, water, oil, and treasure hunting surveys.

REFERENCES:
1. SH-60 LAMPS MK III Seahawk, http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/sh-60.htm

2. Air Anti-Submarine Warfare ASW Sensors, http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/asw3.htm

3. Underwater Detection and tracking Systems, Chapter 9, http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/navy/docs/fun/part09.htm

KEYWORDS: Magnetometers; MAD; ASW; Fire Scout; Tow body; Tow cable

TPOC: (301)757-5735
2nd TPOC: (301)342-2022

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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