SBIR / STTR #26.BX

USSF SBIR: Scalable Wide-Field-of-View Electro-Optical Payloads for GEO Space Domain Awareness

The U.S. Space Force, under the Department of the Air Force, is seeking innovative small business solutions for scalable wide-field-of-view (WFOV) electro-optical payloads to enhance Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) space domain awareness (SDA). - Government Buyer: - Department of the Air Force (DAF), U.S. Space Force, Space Systems Command (SSC), Space Reconnaissance and Surveillance Branch (SYZ), and Space Access Portfolio Acquisition Executive office - Products/Services Requested: - Research, feasibility studies, and prototype development of WFOV electro-optical payloads for persistent GEO surveillance - Phase I: Feasibility study and conceptual design (part number DAF26BX02NV500) - Phase II: Prototype design, fabrication, integration, and testing of flight-traceable engineering models - Phase III: Technology maturation, manufacturability, scalability, and operational integration for flight qualification - Quantities: - One feasibility study and prototype development effort per topic in Phase I - Unique/Notable Requirements: - Solutions must support autonomous wide-area search, dynamic tasking, and integration with existing SDA systems (e.g., SILENTBARKER mission) - Emphasis on manufacturability, scalability, and resilience for space-based surveillance - Open to small businesses under the SBIR program; maximum Phase I award of $150,000 for 3-6 months - Follow-on opportunities for Phase II and III with increased funding and technical maturity - No specific OEMs or vendors named; focus is on innovative, commercially derived solutions - Compliance with SBIR eligibility, cybersecurity, and programmatic requirements - Place of Performance: - Work to be performed at or in coordination with U.S. Space Force, Space Systems Command, and related federal offices

Description

This solicitation seeks the development of a tunable multifrequency patch antenna for use in cannon and missile-based Precision Guided Munitions (PGM) to support Multi Global Navigation Satellite Systems (M-GNSS) Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) signals and Signals of Opportunity (SoOp). The antenna must operate across continuous frequencies from UHF to X-band and be suitable for contested Electronic Warfare environments. Phase I involves modeling and simulation to demonstrate expected antenna performance, with a cost limit of up to $300,000 and a 1-6 month period. Subsequent phases include prototype fabrication, testing, and potential applications in military and civil sectors.

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