Electronic Warfare Test (EWT) Universal Large-format high-Temperature Rapid Array (ULTRA) Prototype Project

On 08 September 2022, in accordance with 10 U.S. Code § 4022, the Army Contracting Command – Orlando has awarded an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) via the Training and Readiness Accelerator (TReX) for the Electronic Warfare Test (EWT) Topic: Universal Large-format high-Temperature Rapid Array (ULTRA) prototype project.

A Request for White Paper for these efforts was issued through TReX on 17 February 2022, which resulted in the submittal of 3 responses. As a result of the competition, the prototype project was awarded to National Security Technology Accelerator as the managing prime and to Santa Barbra Infrared located in Santa Barbara, CA as the performing vendor.  The total value of this prototype project, if all milestones and options are exercised, is $11,765,832.75.

The Department of Defense (DoD) Test Resources Management Center (TRMC) Test and Evaluation (T&E)/Science and Technology (S&T) Program desires to invest in innovative technologies that revolutionize or accelerate testing capabilities and development of T&E. The Universal, Large-format, high-Temperature, Rapid Array (ULTRA) InfraRed Scene Projector (IRSP) Prototype effort is being established to push the technology beyond its current capabilities so that the next generation of weapon seekers will be able to operate more effectively through advancements in the technology.

TRMC’s overarching strategy is to create a new translation technology capability through an iterative technology research and demonstration approach, utilizing Other Transactions (OTs) This prototype project is directly relevant to enhancing the mission effectiveness of the TRMC community. Current state-of-the-art in thermally emissive, IR array technology is capable of achieving systems with a 1024 x 1024 format with effective temperatures of 1000K that can be driven at 200 frames per second. The next generation of weapon seekers will have larger pixel formats and operate at higher frame rates. In addition to large formats and high frame rates, the IR scene projectors (IRSP) needed to test these seekers must also be capable of high effective temperatures over broad emission bands. An advanced IR projector system is needed with broadband emissions (emissions at all wavelengths in each waveband) in Mid-Wave Infrared (MWIR)  (1-5 _m) and Long-Wave Infrared (LWIR)  (8-12 _m) bands and with emitting array characteristics given below. The system must also be cryogenically compatible, produce “flickerless” emissions, and run asynchronously with the sensor-under-test (i.e. no synch with sensor). Another key component for this effort will be the development of the real-time processing electronics to distribute the incoming digital scene across multiple projector modules, perform latency correcting I-J offset (horizontal and vertical shift of rows to correct for latency effects), apply Non-Uniformity correction (NUC) and provide precision drive currents to the emitter elements.

The purpose of this effort is to go beyond the current Infrared (IR) array technology of 1024 x 1024 format with a temperature range of 1000K driven at 200 frames per second (FPS) through larger pixel formats, higher frame rates, and the ability to operate at higher effective temperatures.

Upon successful completion of this prototype effort, the Government anticipates that a follow-on production effort may be awarded via either contract or transaction, without the use of competitive procedures if the participants in this transaction successfully complete the prototype project as awarded. Successful completion will occur when the prototypes have been validated and are accepted by the Government. Further, the government reserves the right to determine part, or all of the prototype project is successfully completed if the vendor shows a particularly favorable or unexpected result justifying the transition to production.

Note: Should the selected vendors fail to demonstrate progress or be unsuccessful in the accomplishment of the goals of this prototyping effort, the Government reserves the right to return to the results of this competition and award additional Other Transaction Agreements to one or more of the vendors that responded to the initial Request for Solutions, as appropriate within the scope and evaluated results of the competition.