The Air Force is interested in using remotely piloted aircraft fitted with radar receivers in concert with E-3 AWACS aircraft for enhanced air surveillance capability, according to a recent Air Force Research Lab notice to industry. Under this concept, the RPA would carry S-band receivers that are integrated into their airframes’ load-bearing structures. Together, the RPA and AWACS would create a bi-static network that would “significantly increase the AWACS stand-off distance, coverage, and electronic protection,” states the notice. AFRL is interested in industry feedback to help it assemble a program for demonstrating both the integration of the RPA and conformal load-bearing antenna structures and the performance of the bi-static RPA-AWACS network, according to the Oct. 19 notice. ARFL has requested industry response by Nov. 3. (See also FlightGlobal’s Dew Line blog entry.)
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.