Aeronautical Systems Center, Weapons, Air Base and Range Product Support Organization, 102 West D Avenue, Suite 300, Eglin AFB FL 32542-6808

16 -- NEXT GENERATION AERIAL TARGET (NGAT) POC Denise Green, Contract Specialist, 904/882-4400, Ext 237 LtCol E.T. Sanders, Chief Aerial Targets, 904/882-9384, Ext 200 Jaciel Robbins, Contracting Officer, 904/882-4400, Ext 236. 17.The Weapons, Air Base, and Range Product Support Office, Aerial Targets Directorate is contemplating the acquisition of a Next Generation Aerial Target (NGAT) program to develop a tri-service follow-on replacement for the QF-4 Full Scale Aerial Target (FSAT) which is planned to complete production in the 2003 timeframe. The NGAT will need to be operational starting in 2003 with a planned minimum operational period of ten (10) years. Historically, out-of-service but still flyable U.S. fighter aircraft have been used to satisfy the services' FSAT needs, however, other alternatives are being considered as NGAT candidates, e.g., a new augmented sub-scale target, augmented commercially available mid-scale airframe(s), and foreign fighter aircraft readily available on the world market. If economically feasible, a mixed inventory of target types/classes may be selected to fulfill the composite NGAT requirement. The NGAT's planned use is to support testing of air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles and aircraft fire control systems by simulating critical characteristics of a wide range of postulated threat aircraft systems. The NGAT shall be capable of high altitude, supersonic, and all-attitude, high ''g'' maneuvering flight. NGAT performance and signature (visual, radar, and infrared) must be representative of fighter-type threat aircraft. The NGAT shall be capable of presenting an operationally representative threat environment through employment of onboard payloads (mounted internally or externally on pylons) such as chaff, flares, electronic countermeasures (ECM), and other enhancement systems such as the Drone Radar Cross-section (RCS) Electronic Enhancement Mechanism (DREEM) which will be used to make the target more threat representative and/or to enhance target survivability. Additionally, the NGAT must be capable of towing aerial targets such as the Navy Standard Tow Target System (NSTTS) and high altitude, supersonic launch (50,000 ft MSL, Mach 1.5) of sub-scale target(s) such as the AQM-37C. The NGAT system must include a non-cooperative (i.e., no companion element required in the missile) vector scoring system and a flight termination system. The NGAT will be controlled using the Next Generation Target Control System (NGTCS), currently in development, which will enable it to operate at any location given there is a ground control site (fixed, transportable, deployable or mobile) and target launch and recovery capabilities. The total payloads suite listing (by nomenclature) and source(s) for the program system elements (Government- or contractor-furnished) is currently undetermined, however, the contractor shall have total system integration responsibility for the NGAT system. Fixed wing candidates must be capable of full envelope manned operations (relative to NULLO, remote control operations) for chase, sub-scale target launch, and missile test profile proofing missions. For manned operations, the target must be capable of on-board pilot control and fully remote control. The target must be easily and economically convertible to the NULLO, unmanned/remote control flight configuration. The NGAT program shall develop and deliver a target simulation model, near- and far-range digital radar target model, and an infrared signature target model. This presolicitation notice is for information/ planning purposes only and shall not be considered a Request for Information (RFI), an Invitation for Bid (IFB), or a Request for Proposal (RFP). All interested companies who have demonstrated and have capabilities on past or present aerial target Government contracts are invited to submit a response. Your response shall be a short feedback of the feasibility, as you see it, of the contemplated acquisition of a Next Generation Aerial Target (NGAT) development. This announcement shall not be considered as a commitment by the Government. If any response(s) is (are) received, acknowledgment of receipt will not be made nor will evaluation of any information provided be given at this time. The Government anticipates publication of a sources sought synopsis with response requested within 180 days when a validated listing of requirements is finalized. (0107)

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