Modular Aerial Communications Relay Payload

11 APRIL 2024: Q&A Published.

REVISED 2 April 2024: Open to both large and small business. THere is no Small Business Set-Aside. The U.S. Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) C5ISR Center, Engineering and Systems Integration (ESI) Directorate is interested to receive information from companies or organizations for aerial drone platforms that can integrate tactical radios to enable Non-Line of Sight range extension.

The C5ISR Center is interested in both tethered and untethered aerial drone platforms that could support communication payloads for aerial relay use cases. The aerial drone platform must be able to support at-the-quick-halt and/or on-the-move following of a vehicle platform while minimizing Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP).

The C5ISR Center is interested in collision avoidance capabilities for the aerial platform during on-the-move operation addressing physical obstructions, objects, and transient environmental conditions (e.g. wind gusts). While the drone platform is on-the-move the system must maintain the ability to follow a ground vehicle platform at tactical speeds and in a non-planned designated route.

Additionally, the drone must have the capability to support take-off and landing from a stationary and on-the-move ground vehicle. The C5ISR Center has focused interest in multiple size UAS platforms as well as companies who have developed firmware algorithms that support autonomous operation of a drone. Section II of this document that addresses Technical Information specifies questions that pertain to the drone platform as well as autonomous operation of a drone platform itself.