On April 14, the United States (U.S.) Army, Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC), Command, Control, Computers, Communications, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center (C5ISR) Center SPACE and TERRESTRIAL COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTORATE (S&TCD) opened a new white paper call for Wideband Global Satellite Communications (SATCOM) (WGS) Ka-Band Satellite Surrogate Payload for High Altitude Platforms. White papers are due by 3:00 p.m. Eastern on April 30.
This call for white papers (WP) is being issued under Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) BAA-18-R-STCD, which was published on FedBizOpps.gov on 20 June 2018, and last updated on 12 March 2020. Respondents must refer to the solicitation document entitled BAA-18-R-STCD _ 20180620 BAA Final Rev9 (12March20), and it must be read in conjunction with this call for WP’s. All instructions set forth in the BAA-18-R-STCD solicitation document apply to this call.
The Space and Terrestrial Communications Directorate (S&TCD) is issuing this call for WP’s in association with Topic #S1828. To be eligible for consideration and possible contract award, the technology or methodology shall be either basic research, applied research, advanced technology development not for a specific system/hardware, or demonstration and validation.
The Army relies on Ka and Ku Band SATCOM for beyond line of sight (BLOS) communications between Division, Brigade, Battalion and Company echelons. The Army needs a viable alternative to operate in a day without SATCOM, where satellite communications are denied through electronic or kinetic attack. Viable Primary Alternate Contingency and Emergency plan alternatives are needed to continue to fight. Command, Control, Computers, Communications, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR), Long Range Precision Fires, Next Generation Combat Vehicle, Soldier Lethality, Future Vertical Lift, all depend on BLOS communications.
The United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC), C5ISR Center, S&TCD is seeking to develop a low cost Ka Band payload that can be elevated to 80-100Kft on a high altitude balloon platform. This would be considered a high altitude balloon satellite surrogate, which restores denied WGS tactical communications rapidly between Division, Brigade, Battalion, and Company echelons. Overall, CCDC C5ISR Center, S&TCD envisions a combination of multiple products, in which some are already mature, that deliver novel satellite surrogate system capabilities.
Full information is available here.
Source: SAM
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