The Department of Defense, through the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), is seeking proposals for the development of a Radar Innovation Testbed under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The objective is to create a low-cost, transportable open-air Radio Frequency (RF) testbed specifically designed for testing next-generation radar technologies, particularly the AN/TPY-2 radar system, which is critical for integrating and evaluating advanced components such as digital beamforming and gallium nitride (GaN) modules. This initiative is vital for enhancing military capabilities against advanced threats, as existing testbeds are inadequate for demonstrating new hardware technologies. Interested parties must submit their applications by October 16, 2024, with further details available on the official SBIR website.

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Integrated Sensing and Cyber; Hypersonics 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 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: Develop, construct, integrate and test an open-air Radio Frequency (RF) testbed for emerging radar technologies with a focus on Next Generation AN/TPY-2. DESCRIPTION: An innovative, low-cost, transportable, subscale, open-air RF Next Generation AN/TPY-2 Radar Innovation Testbed that could accommodate a range of technical components and be relocated to take advantage of future testing opportunities. This testbed is needed because no existing AN/TPY-2 radar can be used to demonstrate and reduce the risks of next generation hardware technologies such as RF digital aperture (digital transmit & receive beamforming), advanced gallium nitride (GaN) transmit/receive modules, and Electronic Protection (EP) augmentations. Previous technology insertions such as the GaN Transmit/Receive Integrated Multichannel Module (TRIMM) have been constrained by a lack of an AN/TPY-2 testbed. This testbed is needed to integrate and test independent technologies such as the Advanced Waveform Generator and digital front-end components such as advanced Digital Receiver/Exciter (DREX) designs. This testbed is also a pathfinder for a low-cost, rapidly-deployable AN/TPY-2 derivative that would expand capabilities against advanced threats. To aid in minimizing cost and maximizing transportability, we anticipate using a CONEX ("Container, express") form-factor box to host the testbed with the digital RF aperture at one end. PHASE I: • In coordination with the Government and the AN/TPY-2 Prime Contractor, develop requirements, sizing analyses, preliminary designs and costs for an open-air Radar Innovation Testbed that includes: • An open-air Radio Frequency (RF) test fixture architecture that accommodates, as a minimum, a single AN/TPY-2 digital subarray; but the testbed infrastructure should be scalable to support a fully populated 5.6 m^2 digital RF aperture in a CONEX form-factor box. • Testbed infrastructure, prime power, cooling, processing throughput and memory, data recording, and controls & displays. • Provisions for supporting built-in test and performance monitoring. • Prepare an Interface Control Document (ICD) & user guide for integrating components. This documentation should be sufficiently detailed and transparent to support Model Based Systems Engineering representation. Note: The digital interface to the RF/digital aperture components under test, associated prime power and cooling needs, and the external digital interfaces for data recording and controls & displays would be Government Furnished Information (GFI). PHASE II: Acquire the components and construct the Innovation Testbed. Note: RF/digital components for demonstration would be GFE. • Collaboratively develop an initial test plan. • Prepare an updated ICD and user guide for integrating components into the testbed. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Continue testing next-generation components and techniques. Fill-out the RF/digital aperture and demonstrate military utilities such as secondary functional roles and enhanced electronic protection techniques. REFERENCES: 1. "GaN-based Components for Transmit/Receive Modules in Active Electronically Scanned Arrays", Mike Harris, Robert Howard and Tracy Wallace, GTRI, CS MANTECH Conference, May 13th - 16th, 2013, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA https://csmantech.org/wp-content/acfrcwduploads/field_5e8cddf5ddd10/post_2542/030.pdf 2. CONEX diagrams: https://www.americanconex.com/shipping-container-drawings/ 3. MATLAB Tech Talks: Why Digital Beamforming is Useful for Radar https://www.mathworks.com/videos/why-digital-beamforming-is-useful-for-radar-1672814788501.html KEYWORDS: Radar; digital beamforming; gallium nitride (GaN) transmit/receive modules

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