AFRL posts BAA for Controllable Contested Environment program

On February 26, the Air Force Research Laboratory posted a broad agency announcement for the Controllable Contested Environment (CCE) program (BAA NUMBER: BAA RIK-2015-0003). The agency is currently seeking white papers.

The Air Force Research Laboratory – Information Directorate (AFRL/RI) is soliciting white papers under this Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for research, design, development, concept testing, evaluation and experimentation with Command, Control, Communications, Computers & Intelligence (C4I)-related information and communications technologies/techniques supporting the implementation and use of a controllable contested environment (CCE). In particular, this effort seeks to assess advanced communication, networking and RF technologies and concepts.

AFRL’s Stockbridge facility is a 300-acre site that hosts a Controllable Contested Environment (CCE). This environment can be used to create a “real-world RF contested environment” where RF transmissions and receptions can be controlled and measured. Stockbridge also hosts Small Unmanned Aerial System (SUAS) flight operations from two 600 foot runways. This capability enables small payload packages to be flown in support of CCE and related experimentation. Additionally the site hosts microwave and optical line-of sight communication links with reach-back to AFRL/RI in Rome, NY and AFRL/RI’s Newport Test Site located in Newport, NY.

 

The characteristics of today’s electromagnetic environment, communications and networks may limit our combat effectiveness, especially in contested, degraded, operationally limited (CDO), and anti-access area denial (A2/AD) environments. The Stockbridge Controllable Contested Environment may be used to emulate the battlefield environment in cyberspace by hosting a very diverse set of tactical analog and digital communication systems, wired and wireless sensor and C2 networks. The CCE will have the flexibility and adaptability to create this complex RF and Cyber environment. Together the CCE and the SUAS enable the testing of emerging C4I capabilities on mobile platforms in near real-world environments.
This BAA seeks white papers that propose new capabilities that will support the warfighter in an anti-access area denial (A2/AD) and contested spectrum environment. These technologies should focus on information technologies including communications, networking and RF technologies. Enhancement of capabilities of the Stockbridge Controllable Contested Environment (CCE) will be considered of secondary benefit. Potential efforts in this area may include technologies and techniques to control, monitor, configure and analyze the RF and spectrum environment. They may also include assessment, instrumentation and configuration and control of experimental systems. As new warfighter challenges emerge, new tools will be required to improve the usability, adaptability, and functionality of the CCE and SUAS environments.

Full information is available here.

Source: FedBizOpps