The Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles AFB, Calif., has asked for information by Nov. 17 to support concept development of the Air Force’s rapid attack identification, detection, and reporting system—just call it RAIDRS. The RAIDRS block 20 version, formally Spiral 2, will gather data from intelligence and space assets to provide defensive counterspace—from situational awareness through options to respond to threats. SMC expects the preliminary design phase for RB-20 to begin in Fiscal 2009, but, first, there will be concept development awards in mid-2007. (Read more about counterspace in our June 2006 article.)
A top Pentagon tech official called on industry this week to help the military develop “lighter, more efficient” directed energy weapons designed to go on aircraft and conduct special operations missions or down drones—areas where the Air Force’s directed energy efforts have been quiet as of late.