AFRL updates MASINT-X BAA

By Loren Blinde August 7, 2018

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On August 6, the Air Force Research Laboratory posted a broad agency announcement for Measurement and Signatures Intelligence Exploitation (MASINT-X) (BAA NUMBER: FA8750-17-S-7005). For FY 20 funding, the agency recommends that white papers be submitted by September 13, 2019.

This announcement is for an Open, 2 Step BAA which is open and effective until 30 Sep 2020. Only white papers are due at this time.

The technical objectives of this BAA are to research innovative, disruptive technologies and methods in Measurement and Signatures Intelligence Exploitation (MASINT-X). The MASINT-X BAA seeks significant advances in the exploitation and reporting of six MASINT sub-disciplines.

The six MASINT sub-disciplines of interest to this solicitation include:

Electro-Optical– Technologies for the detection and exploitation of relevant phenomena by electro-optical sensors to include laser intelligence (LASINT), Overhead Non-imaging Infrared (ONIR), Thermal IR (TIR), and spectroscopy.

Radar– Technologies to include Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Inverse SAR, Line of Sight (LOS), Over the Horizon (OTH), and bi-static radar.

Materials – Technologies to collect, characterize and identify materials, point of origin by remote or close-in means to include nuclear materials, biological threats to include the identification of infectious agents of military importance. Investigations may include improvements in the dissemination of intelligence information to medical personnel through improvements in bioinformatics and data management systems.

Radio Frequency– Seek technology to collect, process, and exploit signals intelligence from Ultra-Wideband (UWB), Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP), High Power Microwave (HPM), Unintended RF Emissions (URE or RINT) threats.

Geophysical– Seek new capabilities for persistent surveillance of areas of interest using seismic, magnetic, acoustic, hydro-acoustic or multi-disciplinary approaches.

Cyber-Physical– Develop a sub-discipline of MASINT to collect intelligence exploiting the cyber-domain and its interaction with cyber-physical devices such as those available in critical infrastructure or crowd-sourced sensor applications. This capability will exploit the density of devices in the aggregate to complement the other MASINT sub-disciplines. Cyber-Physical MASINT may have the target source(s) overlapping with other sub-disciplines but the data is only available as a result of collection by a comprehensive cyber-physical network or unique secondary effects on digital systems.

The innovative MASINT-X technology supporting the sub-disciplines above may require the planning and conducting of field tests to demonstrate the advancement in the specific technology. These field tests includes preparing test plans; acquiring, transporting, deploying, and operating all equipment; operating and measuring ground truth sources; evaluating and monitoring test execution; and documenting all test results.

The MASINT-X capabilities will be required to interface and report to operational systems such as (but not limited to) Distributed Common Ground Systems (DCGS), Defense Information & Intelligence Enterprise (DI2E), IC Information Technology Enterprise (ICITE) and Multimedia Analysis & Archive System (MAAS). The goal of interfacing with these operational systems is twofold; first, provide a more cohesive and complete situational awareness and assessment of enemy activities for on-going US missions, and second, provide surgical cueing for MASINT-X opportunities. Automated knowledge-based tools and decision aids will provide a more effective exploitation of MASINT with its complementary multi-source sensor and intelligence data for improved Situational Awareness. The development of tools and techniques that equip the operational analyst in providing timely and highly accurate signature characterization of signals and objects leading to threat analysis is increasingly critical to MASINT domain issues.