USAF Seeks Info on Counter-Drone EW Solutions

The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Force Protection Division, Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Branch (AFLCMC/HBUK) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) (RFI-42125) seeking industry input for counter-small unmanned aircraft systems (C-sUAS) electronic warfare (EW) solutions that can detect and defeat Group 1-3 UAS threats.

For the past several years, the US Air Force has been acquiring various C-sUAS solutions, especially those with electronic attack capabilities, for many of its bases. However, its need for more C-sUAS systems that can provide wider coverage has become apparent with the uptick in drone activity over Air Force bases and other installations in late 2024. Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio briefly closed its airspace in December due to drone activity.

The RFI calls for companies to provide data about their C-sUAS EW solutions with regard to performance metrics such as drone detection and countermeasures ranges, target location accuracy, false alarm rate, operational frequency range, pulse repetition rate, etc. It also asks about EW system architecture, electronic attack techniques, Technology Readiness Level, interfaces with existing C2 systems, and other information.

Concurrent with the C-sUAS EW RFI, the C-sUAS Branch also released a pair of “follow-up” RFIs (i.e., updates to RFIs issued in previous years) seeking information about radar technologies and EO/IR cameras.

The Notice ID is RFI-42125, and the contracting POC is Robert Gill, e-mail [email protected]. Responses are due by May 30. – J. Knowles