Jane Edwards
The U.S. Air Force has asked industry to submit white papers for a potential four-year, $8.06 million program that seeks to develop, integrate and evaluate platforms and methods designed to update the service branch’s nuclear command, control and communication systems.
The service branch said in a broad agency announcement posted Thursday on FedBizOpps the NC3 program will focus research on beyond line-of-sight communications as well as simulation, modeling and emulation of NC3 systems.
The initiative’s first technical area covers several requirements that include network operations in nuclear scintillation and electromagnetic pulse environments, control of aerial communications in nuclear environments and development of cyber situation awareness platforms to handle nuclear communications systems.
The second technical area aims to develop NC3 models designed for use in nuclear deterrence activities such as force direction and management, situation monitoring and planning as well as support emulation of communication platforms across frequency brands.
The military branch will issue awards to selected offerors in the form of cooperative agreements, contracts and grants.
The Air Force Research Laboratory’s information directorate will accept white papers for the program through Sept. 20, 2020, according to the notice.
