Commander, U.S. Army Missile Command, Research Development and Engineering Center, Procurement Office, Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-5275

A -- OPTICAL CONTROL OF MILLIMETER AND MICROWAVE ANTENNAS SOL 95X098 DUE 050195 POC (RDPC) Harold Smith, AMSMI-RD-PC-HA, Contracting Officer, 205/876- 0908, Synopsis Number R098-95. The Department of the Army is seeking ideas from academia and industry on the potential application of Optical Control of Millimeter and Microwave Antennas to improved effectiveness of Army Missile systems through programs of cooperative research with academia, industry, and government. The decline in the military budget requires that all alternatives be explored for pooling resources in achieving national defense objectives. The prospect of utilizing small, low power, low cost optical devices to shape and steer millimeter antenna beams opens up the potential for utilizing this technology for ground-based and airborne fire control sensors, missile seekers, and unmanned aerial vehicle communication and guidance relays. Conventional methods of electronic methods of electronic steering require a large number of cumbersome and expensive phase shifters. For this reason, the technology has been slow in transitioning into anything but large scale, expensive system applications. The advances in photonics over the past two decades may now make it possible in the near future to replace the cumbersome microwave phase shifters and feed networks with smaller, lighter weight photonics components to perform both beam forming and shaping (including the formation of multiple beams) and beam steering, (while consuming less power). Two architecture are emerging: the phase shifter approach for applications where the bandwidth requirements are 2 percent less, and true time delay (frequency independent) approach for wide bandwidth applications. The true time delay method is required in broad bandwidth applications to avoid the problem of beam squint as the frequency is shifted. Potential coupling of optical control of millimeter and microwave Antennas with the evolutionary trend in multispectral sensing may offer potential enhancements in missile systems for all combat capability categories that may include; (a) improving target acquisition; (b) hardening the seeker against countermeasures; (c) improving target aimpoint selection; (d) enhancing the capability to attack low signature targets; (e) reducing the logistics burden; (f) enhancing air defense suppression capabilities. The potential for providing multi-mission capability is also to be sought, and the possibility of exploiting the concept of horizontal technology integration explored. Through these efforts in cooperative research, the RDEC seeks to (a) develop interservice and international partnerships; (b) leverage industry IR&D program; (c) capitalize on available commercial technology where feasible; (d) exploit the multimission capabilities and the concept or horizontal technology integration; and (e) be alert to the potential of technology insertion opportunities. Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRDSs) and Bailment Agreements are two mechanisms through which government and industry may engage in cooperative research. Entering into such agreements does not imply that future contracting opportunities will be available, however. The extensive resources that the RDEC can bring to such a partnership in research includes a top flight scientific and engineering technical staff with research experience millimeter and microwave technology, a wide range of laboratory and field test facilities that may be utilized in this research. Responses should be directed to Commander, U.S. Army Missile Command, ATTN: AMSMI-RD-PC-HA (Mr. Harold Smith), Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-5275. (0100)

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