Remote ID & Marking

Thursday, 11 February 2010 11:05

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The Air Armament Center Capabilities Integration Directorate Division AAC/XR is requesting information and/or innovative concepts for developing an airborne capability to remotely mark vehicles for identification purposes. A near-term technology is sought for fast implementation; therefore, mature technologies are preferred. Respondent information will be used by the government to determine the most promising approaches to standoff (line of sight) tagging, sensing and tracking of the tag, and the art of the possible in meeting desired qualities described below. Responses to this RFI will be used by the Government to determine corporate interest in demonstrating such systems. From the responses to this RFI, the Air Force will determine the feasibility of hosting demonstrations at Eglin Air Force Base in late summer 2010 and developing a possible acquisition strategy.

Innovative technologies are sought such as hyperspectral and laser or a combination of both for tagging, sensing and tracking to satisfy the following criteria:

1. Effectiveness: Tags should be readily applied day or night to a variety of commercial or other targeted vehicles, moving and/or stationary and from a host aircraft at a distance of approx. 5 km or greater, and be easily recognized from similar distances.

2. Persistence: Tags should be capable of being sensed and tracked for at least a few hours duration, with a goal of a few days.

3. Inconspicuous: An ideal tag will be unobservable to the unaided eye, but readily detected with a sensor from an airborne platform similar to the one tagging or from a ground sensor.

4. Unique ID: An ideal tag will allow the user to distinguish among multiple similar vehicles with tags, i.e. a different identifiable tag for each.

5. Date/Time: An ideal tag will include a time stamp and/or expiration feature which will allow some idea of the age of a tag under observation, to allow the observer to easily recognize and disregard an old tag which has outlived its usefulness.

6. Platform Compatibility: The tagging system must be compatible with carriage on relatively slow-moving (propeller-driven) aircraft or UAV's. Ideally the tagging system could be easily integrated into the current sensor suite of the platform. Respondents should provide some estimate of the size, volume and weight of proposed systems. Consideration should be given as to how the system would be integrated should it affect the air/flightworthiness and safety of the airframe.

7. Maturity: Any level of maturity will be considered; however, please indicate if the system is available within the next few months for a tower demonstration. Indicate when the technology would be available for military use.

Additionally, the following information is requested (if available) to enable the government to better evaluate the maturity and effectiveness of the proposed tagging technology:

1. Weather: Provide tagging sensing and tracking capabilities in an all weather environment and identify atmospheric restrictions in rain, fog, and cloud cover.

2. Military Utility: Any weaponization analysis/studies of the tagging technology and potential concepts of employment to show performance, effectiveness, and military utility.

3. Reliability/Maintainability: Any data on tagging technology reliability and maintainability issues and their potential solutions. ♦

Remote ID & Marking

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