Jane Edwards
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has asked industry to provide information on novel technology platforms designed to counter small unmanned aerial systems.
A request for information posted Wednesday on FedBizOpps says DARPA is interested in modular and scalable platforms that work to identify and target small drones and could complement systems that are still in the development phase under the agency’s Mobile Force Protection program.
DARPA said Friday the MFP program seeks novel tech platforms in the areas of sensing and neutralization that work to detect and destroy small UAS at a distance of at least 1 kilometer and can be integrated with tactical ground vehicles.
The agency will accept short white papers in response to the RFI through Oct. 2 and plans to select up to 20 submissions for participation in the MFP technology day to be held on Nov. 8 in Arlington, Virginia.
DARPA collaborates with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security’s science and technology directorate on the MFP program.
The RFI was posted a month after the agency awarded contracts to teams led by Dynetics, Saab’s defense and security business and SRC to develop counter-sUAS technologies under the program’s initial phase.
