In an effort to satisfy emerging U.S. warfighter requirements, the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Program Executive Office for Missiles and Space, Project Manager Joint Attack Munition Systems is seeking industry information on a new Short Range Precision Strike System (SRPSS).
According to service descriptions, “The weapon system should provide the capability for precision engagements by U.S. Special Operations Force (SOF) users against enemy forces. The entire system is required to be man-portable, thus it is strongly desired that it weigh less than 65 pounds and be smaller than 48x6x6 inches including all cables, power source, fire control and any other required accessories. The system is required to be used both day and night in all weather conditions in order to engage enemy personnel in the open, light structures, and vehicles. The enemy vehicles could be stationary or moving commercial SUVs, pick-ups, or sedans.”
In terms of system guidance, the system, at a minimum, is envisioned with a Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation System (GPS/INS) and Semi-Active Laser (SAL) terminal homing guidance system. It is also seen as “desirable” for the potential SRPSS to include additional guidance modes, such as millimeter wave radar, synthetic aperture radar, imaging infrared or Light-Detection and Ranging (LIDAR).
“System is required to be capable of static or moving employment [from friendly vehicles on the move],” the sources sought announcement reads. “The SRPSS should be capable of engaging at a threshold maximum range of not-less-than six (6) kilometers and an objective maximum range of not-less-than fifteen (15) kilometers, and have the ability to be used in direct fire at a minimum range of not-greater-than 100 meters if needed; intent of the engagement is a K-kill [catastrophic kill].”
Although the current sources sought is directly related to ground-to-ground engagements, descriptions add that “it is highly desirable that the system be compatible with UAVs and rotary wing aircraft.”
Interested industry responses are to include an overall system description, with operational concept(s) and engagement capabilities. The description will include engagement time, minimum and maximum ranges, rate of fire, the potential for rapid/ripple-fire, off-axis launch capability, impact accuracy and collateral damage mitigation.
Additional elements of the responses will include: Lethality against the intended targets (include predicted strike geometry and information on warhead fuze); human factors considerations for weapons/ordnance handling and employment; cost estimates (estimated design prototype unit costs for firing-demonstration test articles, and estimated low rate initial production unit costs for munition/launcher/fire control/harnesses for an assumed buy quantity of 100, 250, and 500 munitions and associated launchers/fire control/harnesses); and assessed technology readiness level (TRL)/manufacturing readiness level of the product.
In terms of schedule, the announcement adds, “If the Government awarded a contract as a result of a formal solicitation, it would be desirable that SRPSS offerings be available for technical demonstration firings within 12 months of the date of contract award.”