Potential Application of Very Large Array (VLA) over Transmission Infrastructure

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has issued a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) solicitation, topic MDA26BZ04-NV004, seeking proposals to apply Very Large Array (VLA) techniques to existing transmission and power infrastructure. The objective is to add resilient layers to the Missile Defense System by transforming current utility grids into sensing arrays capable of detecting and tracking unknown sources and anomalies. This project requires a projected Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Level 1 and is restricted under International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). The development is structured in three phases: - **Phase I** focuses on feasibility studies, identifying optimization challenges, and creating a roadmap to achieve Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 with minimal infrastructure modifications. - **Phase II** requires demonstrating real-time electric and magnetic field mapping from ground to endo-atmosphere, leveraging biology-inspired neuromorphic data processing to enable coherent reception and transmission across geographically distributed nodes. - **Phase III** involves engineering, manufacturing development, and system-level testing in a realistic environment to verify revolutionary sensing capabilities. Interested offerors can contact the Technical Points of Contact, Brandon Becker (brandon.s.becker@mda.mil) or Robert Donath (robert.donath@mda.mil), for further technical inquiries.