N092-133 TITLE: EW Countermeasures Against Passive MMW Sensors

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Sensors, Electronics, Battlespace

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PEO IWS 2.0 Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program, ACAT II

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: Research and develop a MMW emissions model that can be used, in conjunction with a MMW wave sensor or model of such a sensor to identify the critical parameters of an object, specifically of a ship on the ocean surface, so as to establish a basis for the development of countermeasure techniques against passive MMW wave sensors, i.e., detection and imaging systems.

DESCRIPTION: In Ocean environments, passive MMW sensors operate by detecting differences in power of the black body radiation emitted by the ship and its background, i.e., the ocean. The objective of this topic is to develop technologies that will support the development of countermeasures against these sensors. It is envisioned that for this SBIR the proposal would cover the modeling and simulation of a simplified ship MMW emission model based on its material construction and environmental conditions. This, in conjunction with a typical passive MMW sensor model, would form the basic tool set required to develop the desired countermeasure. For instance, camouflage panting has been used to obscure the optical images of ships for a long time. Perhaps camouflage paints that have particular MMW emissions can be used to obscure the MMW image. Some basic research that could be applied to this purpose has been done (see reference 1). The US Navy requires advancements in this technology area to maintain naval supremacy.

PHASE I: The awardee shall research and develop or acquire a basic model and simulation of the MMW emission of a simplified ship based on its material construction and environmental conditions. This is to be integrated with a representative passive MMW sensor model. This model must identify and contain the parameters that control the sensors ability to detect the ship.

PHASE II: The awardee shall further develop the basic tool set and demonstration the viability of this model to represent the actual physical conditions that would be experienced in an actual scenario. Based on this simulation, the awardee shall develop concepts to reduce the ships detectability. The awardee shall also evaluate their practicality and suggest implementation strategies. Documentation shall be of a level of detail to support follow-on development efforts that can transition to potential acquisition programs.

PHASE III: The awardee shall develop the techniques to maturity levels that support transition to acquisition programs that are expected to result in capabilities fielded for Fleet use. The contractor may need access to classified information during this phase.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Possible application to Coast Guard and law enforcement agencies.

REFERENCES:
1. Millimeter-wave brightness temperatures of military vehicles (Proceedings Paper) Author(s): Joseph Nemarich; Thomas W. Cassidy; R. Shiner; Hiroshi H. Agravante; David Dixon; Philip Moffa; Bill H. Quon; Larry Yujiri; R. Dahlstrom.

2. PASSIVE MILLIMETER WAVE IMAGING WITHSUPER-RESOLUTION: Application to Aviation safety in extremely poor visibility, Dr. Isaiah M. Blankson, Research &Technology Directorate NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH Presented at Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, University of Minnesota: May 5, 2001.

3. High Sensitivity W-band Radiometer Sensors in Volume By Dan Ammar Chief Technology Officer, Xytrans.

KEYWORDS: Electronic Warfare; millimeter wave; Black Body Radiation; Countermeasures

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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