SPECIAL NOTICE
A -- RFI - MILLIMETER WAVE FOR ARMY TACTICAL COMMUNICATIONS - RFI-18-R-mmWave
- Notice Date
- 7/2/2018
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 541715
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Army, Army Contracting Command, ACC - APG (W56KGU) Division A, 6565 Surveillance Loop, Building 6001, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, 21005-1846, United States
- ZIP Code
- 21005-1846
- Solicitation Number
- RFI-18-R-mmWave
- Archive Date
- 9/15/2018
- Point of Contact
- Andrew.M.Pilone, Phone: 4438614639, Johanna Hersch,
- E-Mail Address
-
andrew.m.pilone.civ@mail.mil, johanna.t.hersch.civ@mail.mil
(andrew.m.pilone.civ@mail.mil, johanna.t.hersch.civ@mail.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- RFI document in MS Word format The US Army Communications Electronics Research & Development Engineering Center (CERDEC) Space & Terrestrial Communications Directorate (S&TCD) is constantly looking for new technologies that can help alleviate the congested RF spectrum. The need of enhancing higher throughputs, being reliable and secured is crucial for the new generation of wireless networks. Having larger bandwidths compare to traditional and legacy networks will increase the capability of having real time situational awareness with high definition (HD) uncompressed video. The highly directional links that need to be implemented in order to overcome the large path loss at mm wave frequencies make this technology very attractive for low probability of intercept (LPI) and low probability of detection (LPD). The use of mmWave communication systems for terrestrial applications by the US Army is in its infancy and these frequencies create unique challenges for on the move applications. A tracking system is needed to be able to keep the link between radios when implemented in a vehicular convoy configuration. Another unique challenge is to be able of maintain communications when line of sight (LOS) is not available. The new radio technology will need to be able to characterize mmWave wireless channel models for different weather tactical scenarios (desert, tropical, snow, urban, metropolitan). A main, long term goal will be the utilization of this new technology to support air to ground and air to air communication links. Traditional legacy systems have limited bandwidths and frequency allocation is becoming an issue. In order to meet the Army's growing needs it has become crucial to move to higher frequencies to support multiple users and avoid interference. The electromagnetic spectrum has become more attractive for commercial applications around 60 GHz mmWave communications such as 5G and Wireless Gigabit Alliance (WiGIG) as well as 38 and 70 GHz regions for fixed service wireless backhaul. At mm wavelengths, spectrum is abundant compared to that at frequencies below 10 GHz, which are typically in use by tactical networks as well as commercial cellular and WLANs. Unlicensed spectrum in the 60 GHz region offers up to 100 times more spectrum than is available in the Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) bands or Wi-Fi or 4G at carrier frequencies below 6 GHz. Unlicensed spectrum in the 28, 38 and 72 GHz bands alone totals more than 20 GHz. More available spectrum makes it possible to achieve higher data rates using comparable modulation techniques to those currently in use. Improvements in modulation and signal processing techniques at mmWave frequencies can only offer further improvements in throughput as well as enhancing LPI/LPD and AJ capabilities. The US Army is looking to be at the cutting edge by moving to higher mmWave frequencies where new techniques will be required. Specifically, traditional antennas may not be suitable. To combat this issue, innovative solutions for mmWave technologies around 28 GHz and 72 GHz are attractive to the US Army. Such solutions may include the use of new transistor technologies, such as GaN, to increase the range of communications. Similarly, highly directional phased arrays capable of beam steering may be needed in order to overcome the high loss at such frequencies. CERDEC is interested in receiving information from companies that have experience in the design, development, and/or implementation of millimeter wave (mmWave) systems for application to the tactical battlespace and/or technologies, techniques, and components to support the development of such a system for on the move applications. CERDEC S&TCD plans to use this information to support the Non-Traditional Waveforms (NTW) program, which was initiated in fiscal year 2018 (FY18). The purpose of NTW is to research and develop non-traditional waveforms and technologies for resilient communications in anti-access and area denial (A2/AD) environments by providing anti-jam (AJ) and low probability of intercept/low probability of detection (LPI/LPD) capabilities. NTW is a multiple product program with one product dedicated to mmWave technology. The objective of the CERDEC's mmWave program is to research, develop, and adapt cost effective communication systems for use in A2/AD environments via novel waveforms and techniques that operate in the mmWave frequency band. The mmWave product will identify and develop optimized techniques for mmWave communication systems that can operate in contested (presence of intentional RF interference) and congested (limited available frequency spectrum) environments with challenging and dynamic realistic mmWave channel conditions for on-the-move (OTM) conditions. An effective low cost tracking mechanism for the radio links is crucial for the communication system to support on the move applications. There are several potential application areas for mmWave technology for OTM applications. To enable this mmWave technology the system will need to support communication distances from 1 km - 8 km OTM while providing AJ, LPI/LPD, and interference suppression capabilities in contested and congested environments as well as maintaining data rates greater than or equal to 100 Mbps. Additional applications may be considered as well such as air/ground manned/unmanned teaming (MUM-T), which will require nodes to move at higher velocities. Desired attributes for the mmWave system include: 1. Provides anti-jam communications in austere electronic warfare (EW) environments and suppresses interference 2. Provides LPI/LPD and adaptive power control 3. Uses spectrum resources efficiently 4. Communication link has to work without any interruptions or interference on a vehicular convoy configuration for 360 degrees coverage. 5. Non line of sight communications is desirable. 6. The mmWave system should be electromagnetically compatible without legacy systems interference. 7. AES 256 bit Encryption desired. CERDEC S&TCD is also seeking information related to other directional networking approaches for similar applications to include state of the art architectures, waveforms, algorithms, models, technologies and components (to include directional antennas, hardware, and software). Additionally, information is sought on spread spectrum, MIMO, space-time adaptive processing, space adaptive processing, interference mitigation, and components that can support the development of mmWave tactical communication systems.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/notices/100a90d532018fadf1cd7013157cbec3)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, 21005, United States
- Zip Code: 21005
- Record
- SN04977180-W 20180704/180702231055-100a90d532018fadf1cd7013157cbec3 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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