The Office of Naval Research is interested in receiving proposals for technologies that support the development of a mobile, high throughput networking infrastructure for Naval forces. This effort is in response to the need for a mobile communications capability that can be used to supplement or to replace the current satellite infrastructure on which our Naval forces rely. It is the intent of this capability that Naval forces be able to complete all tactical missions including platform-to-platform communications, ISR and reachback using this infrastructure either with or without the use of satellites.

The Airborne Communications Suite includes high throughput air-to-air communications links, wideband air-to-surface/surface-to-air communications links, and high throughput SATCOM links. The high throughput air-to-air links are anticipated to be millimeter wave (MMW) links (above 19 GHz) using physical and link layer protocols that are to be defined within this effort. The air-to-surface and surface-to air links are anticipated to be line-of-sight Ku band links that are capable of operating in the same bands as current Ku-band Tactical Common Data Links (TCDL), in adjacent or extended frequencies. It is the intention that these links provide enhanced data rate and range performance over current TCDL, support networking of platforms, and employ nonproprietary waveforms that can either be high throughput, jam-resistant, or support low probability of detection. Further, it is intended that the system supporting these new waveforms operating in Ku-band be able to revert to legacy TCDL (Ethernet over Generic Framing Protocol) at 10.7 Mbps and 45 Mbps. For the air to air link compatibility with the Multifunction Advanced Data Link (MADL) is also desirable. New physical, link and network layer protocols proposed for use on these links may be recommended by the Navy for inclusion in next generation TCDL data link formats.



The High Performance HF-UHF Communications Package is intended to improve performance of communications in frequencies below 2 GHz by the introduction of higher bandwidth transmissions, advanced modulation and coding techniques, jam resistance, improved networking techniques and protocols, and implementation of surrogate satellite capabilities. Technologies developed may also be used to support higher throughput waveforms at frequencies above 2 GHz. Products supporting this capability are used on aircraft as well as surface ships and ground nodes.



Technologies of Interest



Systems Design and Integration. The conceptual implementation shows wideband long range links at MMW as well as at Ku band. These links are envisioned to require fast switching directional antennas to support networking. Ranges on the order of 200-500 nmi, depending on the aircraft altitude and type are needed. Data rates supported are on the order of 10’s of Mbps to ~200 Mbps depending on range. Data rates, transmit power, waveforms, and error correction codes will be varied depending on link conditions and ranges, in order to improve reliability. The system must support both voice and data and forwarding of information depending on data type and assigned precedence (which may vary with time). Innovative ways to use the HF through UHF spectrum to increase bandwidth and improve interference resistance, considering legacy shipboard and airborne RF distribution systems, are desirable.



The government will lead an IPT, which will include radio, RF and antenna manufacturers as well as government laboratories, to develop the design of the complete system and to ensure that components developed can be integrated effectively.



Apertures and Phased Arrays for Millimeter Wave, Ku band and SATCOM. It is envisioned that links at both MMW and Ku band will be directional in nature to support long ranges, and will require fast switching to support networking. Phased array apertures are the preferred solution for LOS links as they use electronic steering. SATCOM apertures are needed to support wideband links at ~10s of Mbps from airborne platforms to military satellite constellations such as Wideband Global Satellite (WGS). SATCOM and LOS apertures for aircraft should present low surface expression relative to the skin of the aircraft and should be light weight. Surface ship LOS apertures need to be large enough to support four simultaneous TCDL links at a receive data rate of 135 Mbps and a transmit data rate of 45 Mbps for ranges up to 150 nmi. Cost considerations are important and low cost architectures and aperture designs that provide a low cost are required.



UHF Surrogate Satellite Technologies. New architectures, designs and RF technologies are needed for the development of low cost, low power, light weight transponders suitable for use as “surrogate satellite” devices for supporting Naval communications needs in the UHF band. Designs should be compatible with both legacy Navy UHF airborne and shipboard systems, and should be expandable to support multiple narrowband and wideband (bandwidth TBD) UHF signals.



Radio System Technologies for 2 GHz and above. New modular software defined digital radio architectures and designs are needed to support link performance improvements using high throughput waveforms in all frequency bands. Commonality of basic hardware and software design for ship, air and ground platforms is required. Software/firmware efforts will develop libraries of core modules openly available to government users that can be easily applied for new applications without the need to rewrite code. Radios will be composed of separate analog RF modules and digital signal processing modules that connect with well defined open interfaces and may have varying processing capabilities. As an example, conversion of signals to and from analog could be accomplished with individual “daughter” boards that attach to separate FPGA signal processing boards selected for a given bandwidth/processing speed and cost (e.g., low bandwidth-low speed/low cost, high bandwidth-higher speed/higher cost). Hardware/software designs will have well defined open standard interfaces such as Gigabit Ethernet for data, control, and loading of software. Processing and analog hardware will be easily upgradable as new components become available, minimizing the need to change the footprint and cabling on naval platforms. Communications security (for data) is provided external to the radio. Operation of hardware at data rates up to and including 135 Mbps is needed. Consideration should be given to the government’s ability to use the devices produced for applications not related to communications, such as RADAR and Electronic Warfare.



Radio and System Software Modules. Software modules are needed for use in programmable radio and system control software libraries. Modules needed include but are not limited to: 1) Modulators and demodulators for modulations such as BPSK, QPSK, OQPSK, 8PSK, 16APSK, 16QAM, and other commonly used waveforms; 2) spread spectrum schemes; 3) carrier and timing recovery schemes; 4) Optimal combining schemes allowing coherent receive signal combining from two physically displaced apertures 5) error correction codes; 6) commonly used channel access schemes; 7) equalizers. Modulation at rates up to and including 135 Mbps is required. Modules related to system operation, such as aperture control, and acquisition and tracking of nodes are also desired. Radio modules will be written so that they can be implemented and evaluated in a MATLAB/SIMULINK environment. Generation of functional code for use on FPGAs from these same MATLAB/SIMULINK models is required. Open designs that can be modified to suit the government’s future needs are needed. Proprietary software designs must be fully documented to enable use with other open modules and will only be accepted at the government’s discretion.



Digital/RF Distribution Systems. Shipboard communications systems and potentially airborne systems that will take advantage of coherent combining of signals from receiving apertures are of interest. Signal processing is envisioned to take place below decks and will necessitate development of new digital/RF system architectures to preclude the need for routing RF signals throughout the ship. These new digital/RF shipboard signal distribution systems will permit the navy to take advantage of commercially available fiber optic transmission technologies.



Low Cost Components. The Navy will consider the development of microwave components that are at a Technology Readiness Level of 3-4 and have the potential to be mass produced at low cost in order to facilitate the implementation of phased arrays in the bands of interest. These components include but are not limited to: low noise amplifiers, phase shifters, efficient power amplifiers and filters. Component developed under this will be available to all DOD users. Additionally, the Navy will consider the development of custom ASICs that provide digital processing functions such as modulation, demodulation and error correction coding and can be easily employed to replace functions currently performed in FPGAs. Any ASIC designed under such development would be required to be available to any qualified radio vendor for purchase. The objectives of an ASIC component development are to lower system cost and improve the commonality of signal processing techniques.



Network Design. The majority of network design at ISO/OSI Layers 2 and above will be accomplished within other ONR programs, but must be compatible with hardware and software developments in this effort in order to provide reliable performance in the presence of interference, or with intermittent connectivity. Developments of interest include but are not limited to definition of discovery mechanisms and pointing and tracking of other nodes in the system using multiple antennas. Integration of these developments with radio, software/firmware, and aperture developments, as well as integration with networking developments at higher ISO/OSI Layers is essential.



Other Considerations



Low Cost Architectures and Designs. Although the primary consideration in this effort is implementation of a mobile interference resistant wireless networking infrastructure, low cost of acquisition and ownership are also critically important. As noted, the Navy is considering the development of key aperture and signal processing components with the intent of making these components available for developers in order to keep cost of acquisition low. Where possible and when available, developers should consider use of any modified COTS or GOTS in their developments as well as any design decisions that may allow reduction of production costs. Additionally, the use of systems and subsystems that are being manufactured in significant volumes for other DoD and non-DoD applications are of interest as a means to reduce acquisition costs to the Navy.



Open Architecture Designs. Consistent with the desire to reduce overall lifecycle costs while improving flexibility, development efforts undertaken as part of this BAA shall be open for use within the government. As such, the Navy will generally require “Unlimited Rights” or “Government Purpose Rights” as defined by DFARS on all technical data and designs resulting from these development efforts. Items covered will include technical descriptions of architectures, designs, component functionality and functioning, software and firmware and programming guides and toolkits, algorithms, simulations, interfaces and interface descriptions, and performance of components and of the system as a whole. System components that have software, such as system or antenna controllers, complete documentation will be provided to the government describing how the items are to be programmed for interfacing with other major components. For components that require significant low level programming, such as radios or signal processors, software development kits will need to be provided to permit the government to program all functions and to understand the expected performance. Delivery of source code is mandatory for all software/firmware developments.



Submission of proprietary designs of selected system level components is not encouraged. However, such designs may be accepted at the government’s discretion, provided that functionality, performance and interfaces are adequately defined to permit integration with other system level components, and that the acceptance of the designs is in the best interests of the government.



With regard to any restrictions on the conduct or outcome of work funded under this BAA, ONR will follow the guidance on and definition of "contracted fundamental research" as provided in the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology and Logistics) Memorandum of 26 June 2008. As defined therein; the definition of "contracted fundamental research", in a DoD contractual context, includes [research performed under] grants and contracts that are (a) funded by Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Budget Activity 1 (Basic Research), whether performed by universities or industry or (b) funded by Budget Activity 2 (Applied Research) and performed on-campus at a university. Advanced technology development is funded through Budget Activity 3. In conformance with the USD(AT&L) guidance and National Security Decision Directive 189, ONR will place no restriction on the conduct or reporting of unclassified fundamental research, except as otherwise required by statue, regulation or Executive Order. Normally, fundamental research is awarded under grants with universities and under contracts with industry. Advanced technology development is normally awarded under contracts and may require restrictions during the conduct of the research and DoD pre-publication review of research results due to subject matter sensitivity. Under this BAA most, if not all, of the research is anticipated to be advanced technology development and not contracted fundamental research.



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