TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Materials/Processes, Weapons

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA-272, Advanced Tactical Aircraft Protection Systems, ALE-47 CMDS

OBJECTIVE: Design and develop a reliable, maintainable, and safe dispenser retaining system with positive locking indications for the U.S. Navy configuration (round expendables) AN/ALE-47 dispenser assembly that allows for efficient removal and replacement of the on-aircraft magazine.

DESCRIPTION: The AN/ALE-47 Countermeasures Dispenser System (CMDS) is flown on almost all U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps aircraft. It provides an integrated, reprogrammable, computer controlled system to dispense expendables/decoys to enhance aircraft survivability. The AN/ALE-47 CMDS has an unsafe fastening system that does not allow for the most efficient removal and replacement of the magazine. The current four-bolt retaining/fastening system experiences wear to the bolt and receptacles due to repeated removal and replacement. This condition results in the inability of the fastening system to retain the magazine into the dispenser housing through all aspects of flight and vibration. Current inspection criteria for the bolts and receptacles are limited to a visual inspection, which is subjective and does not provide specific pass/fail criteria. Additionally, current fastener space is limited by magazine design to accommodate thirty expendables.

Innovative fasteners are required that function under vibration and stress situations and give the installer positive indication of "LOCK." Additionally, the fasteners should be capable of rapid and repeated installation and removal to allow for replenishment on a flight-ready aircraft. Since limited changes to the airframe and AN/ALE-47 components are highly desirable, the fastening system should use the current magazine and housing envelope dimensions. AN/ALE-47 system drawings and Critical Item Development Specifications are available and can be provided in electronic format via SITIS.

The design must include specific and measurable provisions to test and/or check the fastening system to preclude use of fasteners with excessive wear.

PHASE I: Determine the feasibility of designing and developing an AN/ALE-47 CMDS fastening system that meets system specifications. Validate the approach analytically.

PHASE II: Design, develop and demonstrate AN/ALE-47 fastening technology prototype hardware that will meet all vibration specifications and flight profiles.

PHASE III: Prepare fastening system samples for qualification testing. Assist in transitioning the technology to operating forces and depots.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Innovative fasteners developed under this SBIR can be used in aviation and other industries, such as automotive and marine, where vibration and fastening are essential to safety and proper operation.

REFERENCES:
1. AN/ALE-47 CMDS Dispenser Assembly drawings (available via SITIS)

2. Critical Item Development Specification: Dispenser Housing, Countermeasures, Chaff-Flare (available via SITIS)

3. Critical Item Development Specification: Magazine/Breechplate Assembly, Countermeasures, Chaff-Flare (available via SITIS)

KEYWORDS: Countermeasure Dispenser Set (CMDS); Expendable; Fasteners; Retainers; Lock Screws; Retaining Bolts

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

DoD Notice:   Between July 20 and August 16, 2010, you may talk directly with the Topic Authors to ask technical questions about the topics. Their contact information is listed above. For reasons of competitive fairness, direct communication between proposers and topic authors is not allowed starting August 17, when DoD begins accepting proposals for this solicitation.

However, proposers may still submit written questions about solicitation topics through the DoD's SBIR/STTR Interactive Topic Information System (SITIS), in which the questioner and respondent remain anonymous and all questions and answers are posted electronically for general viewing until the solicitation closes. All proposers are advised to monitor SITIS (10.3 Q&A) during the solicitation period for questions and answers, and other significant information, relevant to the SBIR 10.3 topic under which they are proposing.

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