Department of the navy (don) 18. 1 Small Business Innovation Research (sbir) Proposal Submission Instructions introduction

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Support the Navy in transitioning the technology for Navy use, including scaling the material production technology to support Navy requirements. PMS 340 will use said material to increase mission capability including carrying greater payloads at greater depth. A minimum production rate of 0.1m3 of material per day is required. The process must produce material with less than ±10% variability in material properties including density, strength, and stiffness. A total of 100 samples from at least 10 blocks of material must be subjected to the following measurements to determine if the material meets Navy requirements. (1) Density measurements of material samples must be conducted by measuring mass of the sample and dividing by the volume calculated from exterior dimensions of the sample. (2) Strength measurements must be conducted in uniaxial compression using a sample with 1:1 aspect ratio at a strain rate between 10-3 and 100 in the lowest strength loading direction. (3) Strength must be calculated as the first fracture event or onset of plastic deformation depending on material type developed. (4) Young’s modulus must be calculated from the slope of the stress strain curve in the elastic region. (5) Bulk modulus must be calculated by measuring the hydrostatic pressure required to decrease the initial volume by 0.5% and dividing the measured pressure by the 0.005. (6) Water infiltration after damage must be measured by removing core samples from the material representing 10% of the original volume, measuring the dry mass of the material after cores are removed, submerging the material (with cores removed) in water for one week at 0.33MPa hydrostatic pressure, removing material from water, blotting exterior with absorbent cloth, allowing to drip dry for one hour, measuring mass, and comparing to dry mass. (7) Creep must be measured by applying a load of 1MPa for 25 hours and determining the permanent plastic deformation induced in the sample after unloading. Testing per SS800-AG-MAN-010/P-9290 System Certification Procedures and Criteria Manual for Deep Submergence Systems will also be required.

If the material developed in this topic has tensile ductility, the company should consider aviation applications. Ductile low-density, high-strength, high-stiffness material would be ideal as a stiffening material in sandwich panels such as wings and core filled geometries such as struts. High performance automobiles will also likely benefit from foam core structures. If the material developed is a ceramic cellular structure with poor tensile ductility, electrical, acoustic, and thermal insulation applications are plentiful. The material will be useful for applications requiring high buoyancy such as unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), submarines, mobility platforms, and buoys. The material may also be useful in energy absorbing applications such as crash mitigation where the material is sacrificed to limit force transmitted from the impact.

REFERENCES:

1. Gibson, Lorna J. “Cellular Solids Structure and Properties – 2nd Edition.” Cambridge University Press, 2001. https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/materials-science-and-engineering/3-054-cellular-solids-structure-properties-and-applications-spring-2015/lecture-notes/

2. Deshpande, Vikram S. “Effective properties of the octet-truss lattice material.” Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids 49 2001: 1747-1769. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-5096(01)00010-2

3. Sanders, Wynn S. “Mechanics of hollow sphere foams.” Materials Science and Engineering A 347 2003: 70-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0921-5093(02)00583-X

4. Ashby, Michael F. “Metal Foams: A Design Guide.” Boston: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2000. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Norman_Fleck/publication/248464569_Metal_Foams_a_Design_Guide/links/5400a7af0cf23d9765a3fe61/Metal-Foams-a-Design-Guide.pdf

5. Kendall, James M. “Metal shell technology based upon hollow jet instability.” Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology 20 1982: 1091-1093. http://dx.doi.org/10.1116/1.571574

KEYWORDS: Syntactic Foam; Additive Manufacturing; Creep; Cellular Material; Buoyancy; Submersible

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Weapons

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare System (PEO IWS) 1.0 – AEGIS Combat System

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 5.4.c.(8) of the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws.

OBJECTIVE: Develop debris-modeling software for Anti-Ship Cruise Missile (ASCM) defense that models debris patterns of interceptor detonation and target destruction to enhance AEGIS combat system (ACS) effectiveness.

DESCRIPTION: ACS engagement utilizes the predicted intercept point (PIP) of the interceptor to the target to recommend weapons engagement sequencing. The detonation of the initial target or the self-detonation of an interceptor can cause a debris field that could affect re-engagements or subsequent engagements. Several models currently in use address functionally different interceptors that do not represent the type of interceptor used in ASCM defense. For example, the debris modeling used for Ballistic Missile Defense models exo-atmospheric environments and threats. The interceptor warhead type and engagement environments (endo-atmospheric vs. exo-atmospheric) result in substantially different modeling characteristics for debris modeling. The Navy needs a debris model that enables combat system and weapon engineers to accurately assess debris impacts on combat system design and operational effectiveness. Additionally, in the test and certification environment, this model is needed to validate the effect of the debris field on the ACS and potentially reduce the number of interceptors and subsequent costs required to validate system performance.

The Navy seeks debris modeling software application for ASCM defense that accurately models Surface to Air missile engagement debris, including warhead, missile body, and target body fragments. The physics-based mathematical debris model should have the capability to model various threat types including generic threat classes for ASCM, small aircraft, helicopters, Unmanned Arial Vehicles (UAV), and large aircraft. Additionally, the debris model should have the capability to define and model various intercept characteristics based on threat type within a collective debris cloud. These characteristics include size, velocity, density, and radar cross section in multiple bands. The debris model should dynamically model the resulting intercept debris based on physical interaction with the environment. This software application will need to integrate with the Combat System Test Bed (CSTB) environment to facilitate more cost-effective testing and certification of Surface to Air missiles and combat systems by reducing the number of interceptors required to validate system performance. The software application will be required to run on LINUX-based hardware and seamlessly interface with all ACS elements to include sensors and radars, track managers, and weapons control systems. AEGIS Baseline 9 and 10 combat system configurations will be the primary focus for integration activities.

The Phase II effort will likely require secure access, and NAVSEA will process the DD254 to support the contractor for personnel and facility certification for secure access. The Phase I effort will not require access to classified information. If need be, data of the same level of complexity as secured data will be provided to support Phase I work.

Work produced in Phase II may become classified. Note: The prospective contractor(s) must be U.S. Owned and Operated with no Foreign Influence as defined by DOD 5220.22-M, National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual, unless acceptable mitigating procedures can and have been implemented and approved by the Defense Security Service (DSS). The selected contractor and/or subcontractor must be able to acquire and maintain a secret level facility and Personnel Security Clearances, in order to perform on advanced phases of this contract as set forth by DSS and NAVSEA in order to gain access to classified information pertaining to the national defense of the United States and its allies; this will be an inherent requirement. The selected company will be required to safeguard classified material IAW DoD 5220.22-M during the advance phases of this contract.

PHASE I: Develop a concept for debris modeling software application for ASCM defense that accurately models Surface to Air Missile intercept debris, including warhead, missile body, and target body fragments. The concept will support the test capabilities identified in the Description section of this document. Feasibility will be established by evaluation of the proposed debris model to incorporate physics-based mathematical models representative of the environment, proximity-based interceptors, and threat models to differentiate between debris and targets. The Phase I Option, if awarded, will include the initial design specifications and capabilities description to build a prototype in Phase II. Develop a Phase II plan.

PHASE II: Based upon the results of Phase I and the Phase II Statement of Work (SOW), design, develop, and deliver a prototype of the debris modeling software application. The prototype will demonstrate the capability to model debris from engagements within the CSTB, which represents the combat system test environment. The debris software application must be able to execute in the operational environment of the combat system as described in the Description. The software will be evaluated against Government-provided debris field data and Phase I validation approaches. The demonstration will take place at a Government- or company-provided facility. The company will provide software design descriptions (SDDs) and test plans and procedures to demonstrate the product meets the attributes described in the Description section of this document. Prepare a Phase III development plan to transition the technology for Navy use and potential commercial use.

It is probable that the work under this effort will be classified under Phase II (see Description section for details).

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Support PEO IWS 1.0 in system integration of the prototype from Phase II. AEGIS Baseline 9 and 10 combat system configurations will be the primary focus for integration activities. The debris model will be fully functional in the AEGIS baseline testing modernization process and integrated into a baselines definition, incorporated into the baselines existing and new threat capabilities, validation testing, and combat system certification.

This technology is uniquely targeted at improvements to a Navy system. Commercial use is not pertinent to this technology. The algorithms produced for the software may have use in the shipping industry where navigating littoral waters could be improved by creating debris possibilities.

REFERENCES:

1. “Naval Weapons.” Jane’s 360, March 2017. http://www.janes.com/defence/weapons/naval-weapons

2. “Air-Launched Weapons.” Jane’s 360, March 2017. http://www.janes.com/defence/weapons/air-launched-weapons

KEYWORDS: Debris Modeling Software; Predicted Intercept Point; Anti-Ship Cruise Missile (ASCM); Self-detonation of an Interceptor; Surface to Air Missile Engagement Debris; Collective Debris Cloud

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Weapons

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: Mk 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS)

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 5.4.c.(8) of the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws.

OBJECTIVE: Develop new ablative materials that extend the life of the Mark 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS).

DESCRIPTION: The Mark 41 VLS is a general-purpose missile launching system capable of supporting air, surface, and underwater engagements. As part of a ship’s total weapon system, the Mark 41 VLS includes the necessary equipment to stow, identify, select, and schedule a mix of Anti-Air Warfare (AAW), Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), and Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW) missiles. The Ship's Weapons Control System provides the interface to the launcher to route the required electrical signals to and from the missile. Missiles are launched perpendicular to the ship’s reference plane from canisters positioned below deck to permit rapid engagement of targets in a 360-degree hemispherical volume. A baseline VLS configuration for the U.S. Navy consists of eight 8-cell modules, which provide a total launch capability of 64 missiles. Missiles used in VLS utilize solid rocket motors with aluminized propellant. Exhaust temperatures are 5,000°F or higher with an exposure time of less than one second (10 seconds in a restrained fire event). The Mark 41 VLS utilizes a ducted exhaust system. In each 8-cell module, missile rocket motor exhaust is routed from the missile canister into a common plenum, through an uptake (chimney) and vented into the atmosphere. Polymeric composite ablative panels line the internal structure of both the plenum and uptake to provide heat protection. Since the rocket motors utilize aluminized propellant, the expended propellant gas contains particles that increase composite erosion. The wear of these panels determines the life of the module structure. Once the surface is worn to a certain thickness, the VLS has to be discarded. New ablative materials that outperform MXB-360 and MKBE-350 in terms of wear during launches are desired without increasing weight greater than 10% above the current 112 pounds per cubic foot (1.8 g/cc), or increasing heat transfer to the module structure. The current ablative thermal conductivity is approximately .50W/m-K. The new materials must cost less than $10 per pound.

Many ablatives in use today are single use items, like re-entry vehicles. Investigation has indicated most research has focused on that type of use. The use of ablatives in Mark 41 VLS is unique in that once the ablative is installed in the launcher module; it is exposed to multiple erosion events from various rocket motors over the course of the launcher life. The ablative is not replaced or repaired in this time. There can be long periods between launches and the lifetime may exceed 20 years.

Replacement ablative systems are desired to increase the launch count to 20 or more. This will include the physical design of the system suitable for use in the Mark 41 VLS launcher. If the ablative solution is in a similar form, with similar machining and bonding characteristics of the current ablative, it is unlikely that direct involvement with the VLS manufacturer will be required. However, the VLS Program Office representative will facilitate coordination between the vendor and VLS manufacturer if the vendor chooses to pursue a teaming arrangement. The company will be expected to provide an analysis of the material behavior in response to representative environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, shock, vibration). The company will also provide insight as to best practices for manufacturing methodology for its chosen material(s), pre-assembly (if applicable), and launcher installation. Providing an improved ablative material for Navy missile launchers will increase the longevity of the launcher while withstanding missile rocket motor launches and restrained fires.

PHASE I: Develop a concept for new ablative materials to extend the life of Mark 41 VLS. The concept will show technical feasibility of new ablative materials for the Mark 41 VLS. Feasibility will be established through modeling and analysis of materials that meet the description parameters. A small-scale (laboratory) material demonstration, at representative temperatures and exposure times, or a strong analytical model showing ablative material improvement will be required. The Phase I Option, if awarded, will include the initial design specifications and capabilities description to build a prototype in Phase II. Develop a Phase II plan.

PHASE II: Based on the results of Phase I modeling and analysis, and the Phase II Statement of Work (SOW), design, develop, and deliver a prototype of a new ablative material for the Mark 41 VLS. The prototype will clearly demonstrate the capability to increase the longevity of the launching system as described in the description. The company will be provided pertinent launcher technical data and have access to a land-based, full-size launcher to support its prototype development. The demonstration will take place at a Government- or company-provided facility. The company will prepare a Phase III development plan to transition the technology for Navy production and potential commercial use.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Assist the Navy in evaluating and transitioning full-scale prototype ablative materials to allow for further experimentation and refinement. This will include a full installation initially on a land-based system, followed by installation on a representative platform (e.g., DDG, CG) or the Navy Self Defense Test Ship. The prototype implementation should be a fully functional ablative material to support future procurement for the Mark 41 VLS.

New ablative materials could be applicable to items or systems implementing ablative materials in the automotive, aircraft, and construction industries.

REFERENCES:

1. "MK 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS) - Proudly Serving Navies the World Over." Lockheed Martin Corporation, 2013. http://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/dam/lockheed/data/ms2/documents/launchers/MK41_VLS_factsheet.pdf

2. Fiore, Eric. "MK 41 Vertical Launching System." DSIAC Journal, Fall 2014, p. 32-34. https://www.dsiac.org/resources/journals/dsiac/fall-2014-volume-1-number-2/promising-future-us-navy-vertical-launching

3. Pike, John. "MK 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS)." FAS Military Analysis Network, 1999. https://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/weaps/mk-41-vls.htm

KEYWORDS: Ablatives; Polymeric Composite; MK41 Vertical Missile Launcher; Aluminized Propellant Gas; Heat Protection from Missile Launch; Composites Erosion

N181-061

TITLE: Integration of Autonomous Unmanned Systems in Theater Undersea Warfare Mission Planning

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Information Systems

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PEO IWS 5.0, Undersea Warfare Systems Program Office

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 5.4.c.(8) of the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws.

OBJECTIVE: Develop a Mission Planning toolset that integrates autonomous unmanned systems (AUSs) with conventional manned platforms for the Theater Undersea Warfare (TUSW) mission planning set.

DESCRIPTION: Summary: AUSs are increasingly used in Navy operational warfare domains to pace the threat. In the antisubmarine warfare (ASW) domain, AUSs such as drones, ocean gliders, and fixed sensor arrays are under development. However, the tools to integrate these AUSs with conventional manned platforms are unavailable. The Navy seeks to enable both AUSs and legacy-manned platforms in coordinated TUSW mission planning. The envisioned solution is an operator toolset enabling comprehensive TUSW Mission Planning that optimizes total force mission performance (effectiveness) over available unmanned and manned systems.

Narrative: AUSs, combined with advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are rapidly becoming the disruptive technology of the early 21st-century. Such systems have varying levels of autonomy, as described in the Autonomy Levels for Unmanned Systems (ALFUS) Framework developed by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Some recent commercial examples are self-driving cars (Google, Tesla), factory automation (ABB, Fanuc), and package-delivery drones (Amazon).

Leveraging advances in AI, along with an explosion of small, low-cost sensors, and exponential improvements to computer processing power and storage, capable AUSs are now being deployed for military use. Applications range from Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) to conducting strikes on terrorist cells. For example, Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) in a range of sizes and shapes have begun to see specialized applications in the maritime environment, such as the Navy’s Littoral Battlespace Sensing-Glides (LBS-G) for making oceanographic measurements.

In the undersea warfare (USW) domain, several independent efforts are developing AUSs for ASW missions, such as the Office of Naval Research’s Persistent Littoral Undersea Surveillance (PLUS) program. One particular application of interest is DARPA’s ASW Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel (ACTUV) known as Sea Hunter. It is an unmanned surface vessel designed to track and trail quiet diesel-electric submarines post-detection from the surface for several months. These AUSs are of great benefit to the Navy; however, the Theater Undersea Warfare Commander (TUSWC) has currently no way of incorporating AUSs into TUSW Mission Planning.

Tactical Decision Aids (TDAs) for operational planning need to incorporate AUS operations into Theater Undersea Warfare (TUSW) Mission Planning. The TUSWC performs mission planning by determining asset allocation, developing mission plans, monitoring execution, assessing performance, and performing dynamic re-planning as required. The envisioned solution is an operator toolset enabling comprehensive TUSW Mission Planning that optimizes total force mission performance (effectiveness) over available unmanned and manned systems. Since there are competing missions other than USW, the planning toolset must take into account resource constraints, including emergent needs that occur during mission execution. Additionally, the adversary gets a vote, introducing risk considerations that must be balanced against the rewards, such as potential costs versus benefits of mission success.