The Department of Defense, specifically the U.S. Space Force (USSF), is seeking innovative solutions through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program for the development of a real-time detection and tracking system for high-velocity atmospheric transits. The objective is to create a hardware and/or software tool capable of detecting, tracking, and predicting the trajectory of objects transiting the upper atmosphere at altitudes of 200–400 km, particularly those traveling at suborbital or space-capable velocities. This initiative addresses critical gaps in Space Domain Awareness (SDA) as emerging threats, such as hypersonic glide vehicles and suborbital missiles, challenge existing detection systems. Interested parties must submit proposals by August 20, 2025, with the opportunity to advance directly to Phase II of the program, and further details can be found at the provided source link.

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Emerging Threat Reduction 

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 3.5 of the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws. 

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this effort is to develop a real-time hardware and/or software tool capable of detecting, tracking, and predicting the trajectory of high-speed objects transiting the upper atmosphere (200–400 km altitude) at suborbital or “space-capable” velocities. The system must automatically determine time, location, and vector data, and provide impact predictions for Earth-bound objects. The solution should integrate with existing Space Domain Awareness (SDA) toolchains and support automated alerting, data dissemination via public application interface (APIs), and contribution to the Unified Data Library (UDL). 

DESCRIPTION: As space operations evolve and adversaries adopt non-traditional propulsion methods and exotic orbital behaviors, the need for enhanced SDA is increasingly critical. Emerging threats—including hypersonic glide vehicles, suborbital missiles, and high-altitude platforms such as surveillance balloons—pose a significant challenge to current detection and command-and-control systems. To address this capability gap, U.S. Space Force (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC) SDA Tools, Applications, and Processing (TAP) Lab is seeking hardware and/or software-based solutions that can automatically and in real time detect, track, and predict the trajectory of objects transiting the upper atmosphere (200–400 km altitude) at space-capable velocities—defined as speeds above traditional aircraft but below orbital velocity. The proposed solution must: 

- Detect time, location, and vector of objects in near real-time. 
 - Predict impact point and time for Earth-bound trajectories. 
 - Leverage data driven solutions such as Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) (other state of the art) that are capable of processing data at high rates (edge computing). 
 - Seamlessly integrate into SDA Tap Lab and USSF toolchains via secure APIs. 
 - Be capable of publishing data to the UDL and optionally via a public-facing API for broader operational use. 

This request includes six key technical subtasks: 
 1. Ingest and process data from ionospheric, geomagnetic, or similar sensor sources. 
 2. Detect atmospheric disturbances indicative of object ingress/egress. 
 3. Localize events within the 200–400 km altitude range. 
 4. Correlate multiple detections into a single transiting object event. 
 5. Generate object tracks, including time, position, and velocity vector. 
 6. Predict the final location and time of impact. 

Potential data sources may include: 
 - Ionospheric sensors (e.g., Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN)), 
 - Geomagnetic sensors (e.g., United States Geological Survey (USGS) Geomagnetism Program), 
 - Web-accessible Software Defined Radio (SDR) platforms. 

Innovative techniques such as ionospheric anomaly analysis, Global Positioning System (GPS) signal interference, and localized telemetry disruption are encouraged. Outputs should be operator-meaningful and enhance unclassified tipping and queuing workflows. The solution must meet all development, operational, and cybersecurity requirements necessary for deployment on classified systems. 

PHASE I: This topic is intended for technology proven ready to move directly into Phase II. Therefore, Phase I awards will not be made for this topic. The applicant is required to provide detail and documentation in the Direct-to-Phase-II (D2P2) proposal which demonstrates accomplishment of a “Phase I-type” effort, including a feasibility study. This includes determining, insofar as possible, the scientific and technical merit and feasibility of ideas appearing to have commercial potential. It must have validated the product-mission fit between the proposed solution and a potential U.S. Air Force (USAF) and/or USSF stakeholder. The applicant should have defined a clear, immediately actionable plan with the proposed solution and the U.S. Department of Air Force (DAF) customer and end-user. The feasibility study should have: 

1. Clearly identified the potential stakeholders of the adapted solution for solving the USAF and/or USSF need(s). 
 2. Described the pathway to integrating with DAF operations, to include how the applicant plans to accomplish core technology development, navigate applicable regulatory processes, and integrate with other relevant systems and/or processes. 
 3. Describe if and how the solution can be used by other U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) or Governmental customers. 

PHASE II: The goal of the Phase II effort is to develop and deploy a real-time hardware and/or software capability that can detect, track, and predict the path of high-velocity objects transiting through the upper atmosphere (200–400 km altitude) at space-capable velocities. The solution must identify the time, location, and vector of these objects, and—if Earth-bound—predict impact time and location. This will include but is not limited to data-driven approaches capable of handling large data volumes, real-time data ingestion, and efficiency in data processing time. This capability will enhance USSF’s SDA by addressing existing sensor and detection gaps associated with non-traditional propulsion methods and exotic orbits. Key objectives include: 

- Improve and operationalize a prototype developed in the Phase I-type feasibility study. 
 - Refine detection algorithms using ionospheric, geomagnetic, and SDR-based data inputs. 
 - Expand the system’s ability to associate and localize multiple disturbances into a single object event. 
 - Enhance model evaluation metrics, such as detection accuracy, latency, and false alarm rate. 
 - Integrate predictive modeling to estimate Earth-bound object impact locations and time windows. 
 - Collaborate with SSC SDA TAP Lab to ensure solution usability and mission alignment. 

Expected Deliverables May Include:  
- A deployable hardware and/or software prototype capable of processing real-time sensor data from sources such as SuperDARN, USGS, and web-accessible SDRs. 
 - Detecting and tracking objects traveling at suborbital (“space-capable”) speeds. 
 - Generating a complete track: time, location, and velocity vector. 
 - Predicting the Earth impact point for relevant objects. 
 - A validated integration API compatible with existing SDA toolchains. 
 - Data publishing capability to the UDL. 
 - Operator-focused interface or output format to support unclassified tipping and queuing. 
 - System documentation including architecture and design, integration instructions, and cybersecurity compliance package for classified system use.  

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: The Phase III effort will focus on scaling and operationalizing the software system developed in Phase II to support the comprehensive analysis of all launch and high-velocity atmospheric events, not limited to suborbital or “space-capable” transits. The system will be enhanced to provide automated, real-time alerts and impact predictions, improving strategic responsiveness, and overall space domain awareness for U.S. military operations. This may involve the development of advanced notification systems capable of disseminating critical information to relevant stakeholders in real-time or near-real-time and facilitate prompt decision-making and responsiveness. The final solution should not involve heuristic methodology but should be founded on data-driven decisions using large volumes of data in real-time. Key Phase III efforts may include: 

- Integration of broader data sources and advanced analytics to improve detection reliability and precision. 
 - Deployment of real-time notification systems capable of distributing alerts to relevant stakeholders for faster decision-making and response. 
 - Optimization for operational environments, including cybersecurity, scalability, and classified system deployment. 

This capability directly supports national security objectives by enabling early warning, characterization, and attribution of unconventional space or atmospheric activities. The core technology developed through this effort has strong dual-use applicability: 

- Commercial satellite operators can leverage the system to monitor threats to on-orbit assets from suborbital events or debris. 
 - Spaceport operators can use it for enhanced launch safety and atmospheric situational awareness. 
 - Civil agencies (e.g., National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)) may integrate the tool into broader space traffic management and launch event tracking frameworks. 
 - Academic and research institutions may use the system to study upper atmospheric dynamics or support scientific missions. 

By offering a modular, API-accessible, and extensible platform, the solution can serve both defense and commercial markets, maximizing its operational utility and economic impact. 

REFERENCES: 

1. P.Hu, X. Zhang, M. Li, Y. Zu, L. Shi, "TSOM: Small Object Motion Detection Neural Network Inspired by Avain Visual Circuit," March 2024. https://arxiv.org/abs/2404.00855.  

KEYWORDS: Tracking; transiting; upper atmosphere; evade detection; concealment; space domain awareness; SDA; edge computing; Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML)

Real-Time Detection and Tracking of High-Velocity Atmospheric Transits

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