AFRL posts BAA for electronic intelligence collection, processing, and exploitation

On July 24, the Air Force Research Laboratory issued an initial broad agency announcement (BAA) for electronic intelligence (ELINT) collection, processing, and exploitation (BAA AFRL-RIK-2015-0013).   The agency recommends that interested parties submit white papers by September 1 for FY16 funding.

The overall technical objectives of this BAA are to employ existing and emerging technologies to develop and demonstrate automated, real-time signal detection, processing, exploitation, and reporting capabilities of existing and emerging Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) signals in support of ground and airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms. Technology applications include, but are not limited to: (1) the enhancement of ELINT signal processing software and hardware to address the increased complexity and volume of the ELINT battlespace; (2) the enhancement of collection system efficiency for single and multi-platform collection optimization and management; (3) the development of technology for the detection and exploitation of emerging ELINT signals and systems, and (4) the enhancement of effectiveness of databases that use existing multi-source, multi-platform, real-time collection systems.

Detailed scope and definition of problems are as follows:

(1) ELINT emitter detection, identification, geolocation, and tracking: Battlefield management depends heavily on ELINT assets to provide current threat analysis and assessment for successful war-fighting planning and resource management: a need for real-time detection, identification, geolocation, tracking, and reporting is required to prosecute existing and emerging ELINT systems that employ short-up-time tactics in Anti-Access Area Denial (A2AD) regions;

(2) Automated signal collection, identification and first level processing: emerging ELINT systems employ advanced modulation, Low Probability of Intercept (LPI) signals that dictate the need for automated, dynamic collection using both on-board / off-board assets;

(3) Enhanced digital ELINT processing: Environment complexity, as well as advanced collection hardware technology, demands growth in the digital ELINT processing arena; and

(4) Multi-sensor/multi-processor collection management: Networked SIGINT sensors extend the sensor virtual collection space, thus significantly enhancing the potential to collect emerging signals. Therefore, network centric collection management should be investigated to include but not be limited to multi-platform signal correlation and multi-int sensor cueing.

Full information is available here.

Source: FedBizOpps