Software Defined Antenna for Interceptor-to-Interceptor Communications

This Department of Defense SBIR solicitation (Topic MDA26BZ04-NV003) seeks the development of a low-cost, software-defined circular-band (ring-shaped) flight antenna to enable secure, near-omnidirectional missile-to-missile communications. Designed for high-speed endo-atmospheric and exo-atmospheric hypersonic environments, the antenna must support a 10-inch missile diameter, minimize size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C), and achieve a transmission range of 250 km. The technology must operate within the S+ to Ka frequency bands and provide quasi-isotropic coverage with multi-beam transmit/receive steering capabilities. To maintain secure communications in contested spectrums, the system must integrate frequency hopping, band switching, and modulation manipulation within meshed High Assurance Internet Protocol Encryptors (HAIPE) "Zero Trust" networks. The project structure is broken down into three phases: - Phase I: Focuses on innovative designs, modeling, and testing for harsh flight survivability. - Phase II: Involves refining requirements with an interceptor system integrator and developing/testing a functional prototype using Software Defined Radio (SDR) assets. - Phase III: Focuses on dual-use commercialization, validating interoperability, range, and latency via a communication link established between two representative missile platforms. This topic is restricted under International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), requiring disclosures for any proposed foreign national participation. The projected Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) requirement is Level 1.