The VULTURE Air Vehicle Program is an exploratory development program with the overall goal to develop and demonstrate the ability to deliver and maintain an airborne payload on station for an uninterrupted period exceeding 5 years using a heavier-than-air platform system. It is envisioned that this program will, at a minimum, develop and demonstrate advanced reliability technologies for air vehicles. Other advanced technologies may also be developed and demonstrated depending upon the nature of the architectures proposed by Offerors. The Government is not interested in approaches that use either radioactive energy sources or employs any form of buoyant flight for this application.

The VULTURE Air Vehicle Program will research and develop technologies and systems which will enable the Military to deliver and maintain a 1000 lb, 5 kW airborne payload for an uninterrupted period exceeding 5 years with a 99+% on station probability. The architectures selected and the specific approaches taken by the Offerors will determine the range of technical areas that are developed, including, but not limited to, environmental energy collection, high specific energy storage, extremely efficient propulsion systems, precision robotic refueling, autonomous materiel transfer, extremely efficient vehicle structural design, and mitigation of environmentally-induced loads.



The key technology development objectives include: 1) identification of robust system architectures that meet the program goals; 2) identification of efficient systems that allow the program vision to be achieved; and 3) identification and reduction of both major and minor system and subsystem technology risks.



It is anticipated the program will be divided into three phases: 1) conceptual system definition with a supporting formal reliability and mission success analysis, exiting with a System Readiness Review and an option for continuation task; 2) risk reduction development and testing phase to include a Preliminary and Critical Design of a prototype ending with the flight test of a scaled version of the system; and 3) fabrication, assembly and flight test evaluation encompassing an operational demonstration using the design payload.



The initial dissemination of information on this initiative will be the VULTURE Program Industry Day on June 7, 2007. The goals of this meeting are threefold: 1) to familiarize participants with DARPA's interest in Long Endurance Aircraft technology, 2) to identify potential Offerors and promote understanding of the BAA proposal requirements, and 3) to promote discussion of synergistic capabilities among potential program participants. It is our desire to facilitate the formation of strong teams and business relationships in order to develop comprehensive, quality responses to any potential DARPA solicitation.



The Industry Day will be held Thursday, June 7, 2007, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm at The Westin Arlington Gateway, Fitzgerald Ballroom (2nd Floor), 801 N. Glebe Road Arlington, VA US 22203 (http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1513).



Pre-registration is required NO LATER THAN 3:00 PM EDST on May 31, 2007 for attendance. The Industry Day will be unclassified and is limited to three representatives per organization. Attendance is not required to propose to any potential solicitation on this topic. Check-in for the Industry Day begins at 8:00 AM, followed by the morning session beginning at 8:30 AM. This session will include the introduction of the DARPA VULTURE Program vision and philosophy, objectives and goals, and invited presentations addressing state-of-the-art foundation technologies. After lunch, the afternoon session will cover acquisition and program schedules, and contract vehicle details.



REGISTRATION INFORMATION: If interested in attending the Industry Day, please send an e-mail, with the Subject line "VULTURE Industry Day Request for Information", to Jake Decoto at Decotoj@centratechnology.com. In reply to your email, you will receive information detailing the registration process, proof of citizenship or permanent resident alien coordination, and logistics of the Industry Day.



Registration is restricted to US citizens and Permanent Resident representing US companies only. Proof of Citizenship or Permanent Resident Status must be provided at least 5 business days prior to this meeting to Jake Decoto at Decotoj@centratechnology.com. Additionally, Permanent Resident must complete DARPA Form 60, "U.S. Permanent Resident and Foreign National Visit Request" (found here, http://www.darpa.mil/sio/documents/DARPA60.pdf) and this completed form must be provided to: sid_international_security@darpa.mil (or fax to 703-696-7475). There will be no exceptions!



INVITED INFORMATION: Attendees may handout background materials of potential technology that may be applicable at the Industry Day during the networking session at the end of the Government briefings. All materials submitted for handout and presented at the VULTURE Industry Day must be unclassified and approved in advance by the organization that funded the research. It is the presenters' responsibility for producing copies and to ensure that the material has been approved for public release by the organization that funded the research.



Inquiries of an administrative nature should be sent to Mr. Decoto at Decotoj@centratechnology.com. (703-276-7702x146)



Technical Point of Contact: Dr. Wade Pulliam, DARPA Program Manager, email: Wade.pulliam@darpa.mil