Description

Modular Kinetic Lethal Drone Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Aerial Loitering Munition (ALM) PROBLEM STATEMENT The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) through NSWC Crane is seeking to develop and assess emergent prototype loitering munitions, with a focus on Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) Aerial Loitering Munitions (ALM) that are safely recoverable, reusable, and feature a Modular Lethal Payload (MLP). More specifically, the goal is to identify solutions that are low-cost, first-person-view (FPV) unmanned aerial systems (UAS) that can deliver precision kinetic effects. PROPOSED SOLUTION The goal of the Modular Kinetic Lethal Drone (MKLD) is to enable the rapid fielding of a low-cost, scalable, small-unit strike capability. The solution must be an NDAA-compliant platform capable of being paired with a compatible ground control station (GCS). In conjunction with FPV, the solution must be Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK/AI) compliant. This effort will support the continued development, testing, and operational evaluation of the Modular Kinetic Lethal drone FPV kinetic drone system to meet USSOCOM's need for a recoverable, reusable VTOL ALM with a modular payload system. The development should be focused on three integrated lines of work: Autonomy and Development: To reduce operator workload and improve performance in contested environments. High-Voltage (HV) Electronic Safe & Arm Device (ESAD) Integration : To improve the safety margin and reliability of kinetic payload employment. Fielding Test Systems: To deliver fielding-ready test articles for government-led operational evaluation. A solution brief's Technical Merit and Relevance will be based on the ability to meet the primary attributes and the cumulative evaluation of the secondary solution attributes/capabilities: Primary Attributes: Size/Range – The MKLD shall meet the requirements of Echelon 0: Nano systems will weigh less than 5 pounds and have a kinetic range of 1 kilometer (km) threshold (T) and 3km (O); Micro systems will weigh between 5-10 pounds and have a kinetic range of 5km (T) and 10km (O); and Mega systems will weigh between 11-55 pounds and have a kinetic range of 10km (T) and 20km (O). Payload– platforms shall be able to carry full payloads to engage targets at ranges of at least 1km and fly at full payload for at least (15) minutes. Payloads expected to weigh between 150g-3600g. Power – the MKLD shall have the ability to swap batteries rapidly in the field with no tools Communication – Communication equipment shall be operated in the approved DoW bandwidth for UAS and experience no lost comms within the threshold distance >80% of mission time Operating Temperature – MKLD should be capable of operating from -10℃ to +40℃ per MIL-STD-810H Method 503.7 Technology Readiness Level (TRL) – MKLD must be either TRL-6 or TRL-7 Precision – MKLD weaponized payloads shall have Circular Error of Probability (CEP) <1.5m Secondary Attributes: Training – Vendor shou…

Classification

Contracting Office

Contacts