Low-Cost/Affordable Fire Control Radar Request for Information (RFI)

This document is a Vendor Questions and Answers (Q&A) release from the Department of the Air Force (DAF) AFLCMC/C3BM regarding a Request for Information (RFI) for a ground-based Fire Control Radar (FCR). The primary purpose of this RFI is to gather capability details for a low-cost, ground-based FCR designed to counter cruise missiles and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Groups 1 through 5. The Air Force defines the target unit cost for this "low-cost" objective as less than $10 million. Key technical requirements and system preferences include: - **System Architecture:** Strictly ground-based deployment. - **Coverage:** Mandatory 360-degree coverage and engagement capabilities, which must support simultaneous target engagement using two or more distinct types of kinetic effectors. - **Design Flexibility:** Rotating radar systems with stop-and-stare capabilities are acceptable, provided vendors address the impact on life cycle costs, reliability, and sustainment. - **Integration:** The preferred configuration is to keep the FCR separate from the effector, though alternative integration methods with trade-off details are welcomed. - **Capabilities:** The program office is not seeking ballistic missile defense capabilities at this time; instead, vendors must detail maximum detection, tracking, and engagement ranges per target type to assist with defense design planning.

The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) C3BM Directorate at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to conduct market research for a low-cost, affordable Fire Control Radar (FCR). This RFI seeks to identify industry partners capable of providing an FCR solution to defend United States Air Force assets against various threats. Respondents must detail how their systems address thirteen critical baseline attributes, including track range, accuracy, update rate, simultaneous track capacity, surveillance volume, and identification and kill assessment. Submissions must also cover system resilience, command and control (C2) integration, manpower requirements, size, weight, and power (SWAP), transportability, mobility, and an estimated bounding price point. Additionally, the Government is interested in how designs balance trade-space attributes such as low-power operation, system autonomy, and effector interoperability. The anticipated NAICS code for this effort is 334511. Responses are limited to 10 pages or less in PDF format (Times New Roman 12-point font) and must be unclassified. All submissions must be sent electronically to the Primary Contracting Officer, Heather Bakker, and Secondary Contracting Officer, Chris Core, by August 7, 2026, at 1700 EST. This notice is strictly for market research and planning purposes; it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a commitment to issue a future contract.