The Department of Defense, specifically the Navy, is seeking innovative solutions through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program for the development of an Indirect Laser Detection and Characterization Device. This initiative aims to create a compact, self-powered optical sensing system capable of detecting, classifying, and tracking high-energy laser (HEL) threats in various environments, thereby providing early warning and enabling defensive countermeasures. The urgency of this project stems from the increasing threat posed by HEL weapons, which require advanced detection capabilities to protect personnel and platforms effectively. Interested parties should note that the solicitation is set to open on April 23, 2025, with a closing date of May 21, 2025, and further details can be found at the official SBIR website.

## Description

Due to the rapidly escalating threat that HELs present to the Armed Forces of the United States, it is desirable to have a reliable early warning system for &quot;tip off&quot; alert to lasers being used for sensing or damaging personnel or platforms. This SBIR topic seeks to augment personnel, either stationary or mobile, or in a tiered capability with a unique optical sensor capable of sensing, warning, identifying, and potentially enabling the automatic use of countermeasures to address threats. The capability also may offer measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT) when mounted on remotely operated or autonomous vehicles. Dual sensing sensors, both in visible &amp; near infrared (VIS/NIR), and Short-wave infrared (SWIR) are near term potentials that should be realized, however additional sensing capabilities in the mid-wave and long wave infrared (MWIR/LWIR) wavelengths are also of high interest areas for potential innovation, but believed to be beyond threshold requirements for a man-wearable or man portable system and near-term solution for the initial architecture. HEL weapons represent a new and disruptive threat to Armed Forces worldwide. The operational attributes of this class of weapon present a unique detection and defense problem. There is a need for advanced sensing to support initial detection (&quot;tipoff&quot;), as well as triggering defensive protective action as well as enabling defensive counter-targeting or countermeasures that inhibit laser weapon effectiveness. A unique attribute of laser weapons is the ability to be silent and potentially invisible to the human eye, resulting in an ability to counter forces from many potential directions, vastly complicating entry or mission capabilities. The potential damage to sensing technologies are problems that increase the potential for mission failure. To be useful, a cost-effective, low false-alarm rate, distributed, early-warning sensing architecture that utilizes &ldquo;off axis&rdquo; sensing through coherent light atmospheric scattering of visible, near infrared, short wave infrared, mid-wave infrared, and long-wave infrared is required to provide &quot;tipoff&quot; to alert Armed Forces of and characterize (targeting, sensing, damaging, or lethal) incoming laser threats. The attributes of such an architecture include, but are not limited to: (a) a passive sensor with off axis (non-direct illumination) laser classification capability that includes wavelength, pulse repetition frequency, waveform and pulse duration, (b) a capability to store and retrieve a time stamped datagram that includes wavelength, pulse repetition frequency, waveform and pulse duration, (c) a capability to relay communications using standard server like networking queries (e.g., Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) or User Datagram Protocol (UDP) remote services), (d) a wide field of view (threshold: 120 (+/-60) deg horizontal, -20 to +90 deg vertical; objective: 190 (+/- 95) degree horizontal, -20 to +120 vertical), (e) Long sensing duration (threshold: 24 hours; objective: 72 hours) per charge, (f) Replaceable batteries (e.g., 18650) and externally powered (objective: Universal Serial Bus Type-C (USB-C) connector), (g) a cost-effective and covert platform, (h) small, compact (less than 500cc&rsquo;s, 30 cubic inches), lightweight (less than 500 grams), with ability to be single man portable or wearable,(i) Waterproof (IP67), (j) Operating Temperature of -40 to +65&deg;C , (k) Sensor Array (SA) metrics for discrimination, image capture, and determination characteristics include, but are not limited to: (1) Dual sensing sensors, format: 1024 x 1024 (visible &amp; near infrared (NIR)), and 256 vertical x 512 horizontal (Short-wave infrared (SWIR), (2) Sensing range of 50 meters off-axis (perpendicular) with detection and classification from either a blue, green or red (405, 532 or 880nm) or a NIR/SWIR (1064 or 1660nm) - 50 milliwatt high energy laser source in a clear, unobstructed viewing path with quiescent, non-turbulent atmospheric conditions, (3) Sensing time and characterization of no more than 0.5 seconds, (4) Sensor scanning frequency of no less than 60hz (threshold), and (5) Sensor false alarm rate of no more than 1 per million, including solar rejection. Work produced in Phase II may become classified. Note: The prospective contractor(s) must be U.S. owned and operated with no foreign influence as defined by 32 U.S.C. &sect; 2004.20 et seq., National Industrial Security Program Executive Agent and Operating Manual, unless acceptable mitigating procedures can and have been implemented and approved by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) formerly Defense Security Service (DSS). The selected contractor must be able to acquire and maintain a secret level facility and Personnel Security Clearances. This will allow contractor personnel to perform on advanced phases of this project as set forth by DCSA and ONR in order to gain access to classified information pertaining to the national defense of the United States and its allies; this will be an inherent requirement. The selected company will be required to safeguard classified material during the advanced phases of this contract IAW the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM), which can be found at Title 32, Part 2004.20 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

## Objective

Design, develop, and demonstrate critical components and elements for a robust, compact, self-powered (rechargeable batteries), advanced optical sensing system for the detection, classification, and tracking of the HEL in a cluttered environment to provide early cueing of self-defense systems in either a man worn, deployed on a vehicle with tiered fixed/mobile networking, and utilizing both unmanned and manned platform concepts. Due to the rapidly escalating threat that high energy lasers present to Armed Forces of the United States, it is desirable to have reliable early warning system for &quot;tip off&quot; alert to lasers being used for sensing or damaging personnel or platforms. This SBIR topic seeks to augment personnel, either a stationary or mobile, or in a tiered capability with a unique optical sensor capable of sensing, warning, identifying, and potentially enabling the automatic use of countermeasures to address threats. The capability also may offer measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT) when mounted on remotely operated or autonomous vehicles.

## Phase I

Define sensor requirements in terms of power, volume, weight, noise limitations, motion limitations, and so forth. Identify specific configuration(s) to be included, and develop the strategy and design of integration and scale of the device and attachments. Define a prototype design, operation within a system construct to include the requirements of low detectability, software, and communications to allow the integration of a cooperative, networked sensor array, in either wired or wireless networks. Reach a demonstratable benchtop device with a prototype design and manufacture plan to be implemented under Phase II.

## Phase II

Develop a prototype device that can perceive, identify, and characterize a laser in an off-axis sensing and perform data collection. Further develop a prototype and demonstrate the prototype or unmanned platform. Perform ground- or sea-based trials data collection of individual vehicles in terms of feature identification performance, operational agility, and accuracy. Perform limited field and/or sea trial to collect test data analysis when mounted on ground-based or airborne platforms. It is probable that the work under this effort will be classified under Phase II (see Description section for details).

## Phase III: Dual Use Applications

Complete final testing and perform necessary integration and transition for use in counter-laser surveillance and monitoring operations with appropriate current platforms and agencies and future combat systems under development. Commercially, this product could be used to enable remote laboratory safety systems, and enable satellite monitoring or laser-based communications.

Indirect Laser Detection and Characterization Device

SBIR Opportunity Analysis

SBIR Documents

Related SBIR/STTR Opportunities

Opportunity Snapshot

Key Dates