A long-range infrared search and track (IRST) sensor, manned-unmanned teaming capability and a Thales Scorpion helmet-mounted display are on a list of new upgrades by third-party vendors sought by the U.S. Air Force for the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor.
A “Direct to Phase II Open Topic” released on Jan. 11 by Air Force Ventures appears to capitalize on the recent integration of an Open Mission Systems (OMS)-compliant processor on the F-22. The OMS hardware is intended to allow the Air Force to work directly with a multitude of potential suppliers, rather than working through Lockheed as the original equipment manufacturer with a proprietary mission computer.
Air Force Ventures is a government-owned venture capital fund. By releasing the open topic solicitation, Air Force Ventures can sign eligible startups and other companies to Small Business Innovation Research Phase 2 contracts, with awards worth up to $750,000 over a maximum of two years.
A “long-range infrared sensing and object detection” system is one of the items on the Air Force’s shopping list for the F-22, according to the solicitation, adding that novel hardware and software solutions will be evaluated based on the accuracy of sensing at long range.
Although common on European, Russian and Chinese fighters, IRST sensors only recently have gained a foothold in the U.S. market. Lockheed’s Legion Pod is being integrated on the Boeing F-15 and Lockheed F-16 fleets, while the related IRST21 pod is flying on Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets. In certain conditions, the IRST can allow a fighter to detect and track a hostile aircraft at long range without giving away its position by using the radar to transmit energy. It is not clear how the F-22 can integrate an IRST without substantial modifications to accommodate a new sensor that could affect the aircraft’s stealth radar cross section.
The open topic also seeks an “application to use for the monitoring and control of unmanned wingmen” for the F-22. The solution would provide a display that gives the pilots a “god’s eye view of the battlespace,” and affords the ability to send commands to the unmanned wingmen through an unspecified data link. Rather than integrate the display and command system into the aircraft’s existing cockpit systems, the open topic seeks to deliver that capability with a touch-screen tablet.
The Air Force flew the monocle-based Thales Visionix Scorpion helmet-mounted cueing system on the F-22 in 2014, but a follow-on upgrade program never received funding. The open topic revives the Air Force’s active interest in the concept, seeking an integrator to present aircraft data on the Scorpion monocle. The display would include threats, battlespace lines, aircraft state information, weapon status and navigation data.
Related Content
