The U.S. Navy has asked industry to submit ideas for the development of new electro-optic and infrared systems that can help defend naval ships from optically guided missile threats.
The Office of Naval Research issued a presolicitation on April 23 to provide information on the military branch’s plan to build the Combined EO/IR Surveillance and Response System in collaboration with technology firms.
The branch wants the platform to employ a shipboard panoramic EO/IR cueing and surveillance system and a multispectral EO/IR countermeasure for advanced threats.
SPECSS would be used to detect and track anti-ship missiles as well as send target cues to the MEIRCAT system, according to the naval research office.
The Navy aims for the MEIRCAT technology to re-acquire, assess and engage multiple targets.
ONR said it could issue more than one cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the CESARS program by fiscal 2016.