Capabilities

Aviation Systems

Degraded Visual Environment (DVE): Develop the ability to provide aircrews with situational awareness to avoid mishaps in cases of all-weather brown-out, white-out, and cable/obstacle warning. Preference is for lightweight, integrated, and multi-spectral sensor fusion with minimal A-kit impacts and fitting into existing onboard sensors. The DVE solutions should encompass all aspects of the flight profile to include takeoff, enroute, approach, and landing.

All-weather/All-terrain Engagement: Weapon System Platforms need to have better worldwide ground coverage and/or ability to identify any real-time dynamic obstacles in or on the terrain. Terrain coverage should include worldwide all terrain (sand, snow, water, frozen tundras, etc.) to provide navigational and targetable accuracy/engagement in all-weather types.

First Pass Lethality: In a A2/AD environment, technologies that rapidly pass position, navigation, and timing data to vastly increase munitions accuracy. This should include aircraft transfer alignment studies and improvements to inertial measurement unit drift rates.

Radio Frequency Countermeasures: Radio frequency receivers and countermeasures that could provide significant improvement in threat avoidance and countermeasure capabilities for aircraft.

Infrared Threat Detection and Countermeasures: Light weight systems that can detect IR guided threats and defeat the threat.

Operate in Denied Areas: Technologies to allow SOF platforms to operate in denied airspace (anti-jam GPS, anti-spoof, threat avoidance, electronic warfare systems, LPI/LPD systems, etc.).

Reduced Operator Workload: Cognitive Decision Assessment and Aiding technologies to automate or reduce crew workloads. This should include data fusion to process, filter, and decipher available data to meet crews need.

Platform Modular Design with Open Systems Architecture: Aircraft flight systems segregated from mission systems and use of commercial standards and open systems architecture as opposed to proprietary architectures and standards.

Enhanced Situational Awareness Systems: Enhanced pilot, crewmember, and passenger situational awareness systems for installation on manned aircraft. Mature systems to provide battle space awareness and display capabilities and assessment of pilot, crewmember, and passenger interactions with system(s).

Terrain Awareness/Alerting Systems: Active and passive terrain awareness systems for installation on manned aircraft with integrated anti-jam and anti-spoof technologies.

Aircraft Display Systems: High reliability and compatible systems to potentially complement existing aircraft avionics and/or replace legacy displays. Systems that reduce glint and light escapement for increased survivability. 3D technology to paint digital situational awareness.

Hostile Fire Indicating System (HFIS): Develop a low power multi-spectral sensor suitable for detecting, classifying, and geo-locating various forms of incoming hostile fire to SOF aircraft.

Noise/Optical/IR/RF Signature Management: Develop technologies that provide various signature management capabilities that can be mission packaged or fully integrated onto the airframe.

Curved Transparent Armor: Develop a transparent armor solution that allows for curved surfaces, maintains optical qualities (both before and after ballistic impact), and weighs less than 8 pounds per square foot.

Simulation and Training Systems: Develop an IA compliant, scalable, Virtual Reality Aircraft Simulation and Training Capability. Simulation capability should be scalable to execute missions from low fidelity route rehearsals to high fidelity collective training exercises with multiple devices on a common terrain and SAF Database. Integration of Virtual Reality as the "seeing out the window" solution for 6 Degree of Freedom Flight Simulators.

Advanced Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Vertical Take-Off & Landing (VTOL) capable; Sensor emplacement capable (leave-behind sensor placement and/or vehicle perch); multi-vehicle, single operator capable; obstacle avoidance capable; alternate position, timing, navigation (A-PNT) capable; modular open system approach (MOSA) to integration of third-party software/hardware; cybersecure operation (DoD network connectivity) capable; resistance to impact damage; decreased signature (audible, visual, RF); increased operation times (battery improvements, flight efficiencies, charging hives); autonomous operation capabilities (on-board target library storage/selection, route deviation and target selection considering sensor input).

Aircraft Self Defense Systems: Provide scalable defensive technologies to protect SOF aircraft against the full spectrum of ground-to-air and air-to-air systems.

Modular Aircraft Survivability Equipment Payloads: Equipment suitable for weapon system integration that provides countermeasures against any threat against the electromagnetic spectrum. Equipment must be in the form of a modular payload that maximizes use of existing aircraft interfaces and onboard displays.

Advanced Helmet Mounted Displays: Light weight displays that maximize use of commercially available technology (e.g. Google Glass) to provide symbology for flight, weapons, and sensor imagery to the pilot. Integrates into existing helmets and cockpit configurations.

Biometrics and Forensics

Dustless Latent Fingerprint Collection: Develop innovative low cost and man-portable tactical and laboratory techniques or technology in latent fingerprint collection to include identification, imaging, and collection. Develop a small, portable device to locate and capture latent fingerprints on porous and non-porous surfaces without use of chemical processing, targeted non-destructive detection and collection.

Facial and Iris Tactical Media Triage and Processing: Develop techniques that could package facial images and/or irises from media sources (photographs, videos, etc.) into an Electronic Biometric Transmission Specification format that could be submitted, matched, and stored in an authoritative database.

Identify Explosive and Chemical Materials and Sources: Develop a chemical technology and database that can identify the origin of an identified substance back to a source or geospatial location with a high level of accuracy, preferably using technologies already employed by SOF. Develop affordable technology capable of identifying trace and bulk materials with a high level of confidence. Test for chemistries of interest, such as explosives and narcotics, using mechanical, chemical, electronic, or a combination of mechanical, chemical, and electronic schemes. The output of any device should be in a standard format that would be searchable.

Mobile Document and Media Exploitation (DOMEX) Tools: Cell Phone-based tools for exploiting cell phones, SIM cards, computers, and digital storage devices. Devices should include logical and physical extractions and data analysis capabilities.

Forensic Evidence Detection: Body-worn system to detect, locate, and identify forensic evidence at a distance up to 3 meters. Evidence of interest includes fingerprints, body fluids, and explosives.

Biological and Chemical Identification and Detection (Photography): Photography equipment that can detect and photograph, biologicals and chemicals with limited use of intrusive processing and alternate light sources. Images should meet all requirements for submissions to authoritative databases.

Command, Control, Communications, and Computers (C4)

LPI/LPD, Mobile, Over-the-Horizon Communications and Conformal Antennas: On the move, Low probability of Intercept and Detect (LPI/LPD) communications and conformal antennas and non-sat based systems for SOF Platforms to communicate data, audio, and high-resolution imagery to interoperate with joint/combined forces with a common operating picture.

Small Form Factor Cross Domain Solution: Small form factor, automated, cross domain solution for SOF Platforms to transfer unclassified sensor information to classified networks. Technologies should allow continued growth that facilitates Trusted Systems Network (TSN) data back to the SOF Information Environment (SIE).

Maritime Tethered Data Cable: Technologies that allow autonomous vehicles on a non-RF data back haul to host maritime platform.

Combat Diving Communications: Communications that will enable the individual combat diver to communicate underwater to individuals and platforms. Equipment must minimize any contact with the surface, and have the ability to send and receive text, voice and video.

Edge Computing Devices: Man-packable and low Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) technologies that permit computing devices at the edge that for processing of AI/ML algorithms such as Natural Language Processing, General Information Processing, Video/Graphics Processing without any back-end server connectivity.

Protected, Congested, Contested Communications (PCCC): Technologies that enable SOF to maintain communications while protecting the ability to communicate securely and without detection. The technologies will help overcome challenges in environments full of adjacent, coalition, and civilian congestion to maintain effective communications. Additional mitigation technologies for adversarial efforts to contest SOF communications abilities in tactical environments.

Mobility Communications (MC): Technology that pushes the boundaries for the operator’s ability to maneuver and communicate. Efforts are cross the spectrum from operator to cloud environments and the links in between.

Optimize Throughput (OT): Overall efficiencies and bandwidth gains through technology induced optimization.

Cyberspace Operations

Information Assurance: Information assurance must be maintained throughout seamless, worldwide information enterprise systems that connect joint and coalition forces and other agencies. These enterprise systems must be capable of assuring information systems security while analyzing the networks, identifying and categorizing risk, and resolving potential security vulnerabilities.

Exploitation and Counter-threat: Ability to globally identify, attribute, geo-locate, monitor interdict, and defend against threats to Computer Network Operations and Information Systems. Systems or tools that can autonomously and anonymously counter, defend, deny, incapacitate, confuse, access, influence, monitor, control, manipulate, disrupt, spoof, or utilize adversary’s computer networks and communications systems while protecting SOF systems.

Measure of Effectiveness/Performance Analytical Technologies: Provide defendable and repeatable processes, models, and measurement technologies that allow an autonomous system to learn and for the ability to detect and assess changes in cultural behavior or belief over time along with the associated factors that caused the changes. Including reactions to international stimulus to provide potential warning of future conflict areas and reporting of shifts in reaction to stimulus.

Advanced Computer Forensics Tools: Automated software tools to perform digital forensics on computer systems (desktop, laptop, mobile). Detect changes to the standard configuration, to include the operating system and standard applications, and identify non-standard behavior.

Network Analysis Techniques: Grouping nodes, identifying local patterns, comparing and contrasting networks, groups, and individuals. Analysis of network changes through space and time with change detection techniques.

Tactical Offensive Cyber: Counter adversary cyber effects with offensive cyber capabilities in a person portable package available to small units. Training/tools against cyber-attacks from adversaries in real time, system of components to use against adversaries during combat operations of small units to hunt, infect, and further exploit systems.

Cooperative Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MIMO): Exploit and/or hi-jack existing devices to increase overall performance at the edge during combat, or other operations. Degrade and disrupt surrounding devices to deny adversaries the ability to use them, denial of services/use on individuals/systems, shut down autonomous vehicles, and eavesdrop on hijacked devices. Counter jamming using hi-jacked devices.

Human Performance (HP)/Human Machine Interface (HMI)

Optimal Performance Strategy: Research, apply and/or develop novel approaches that provide rapid and sustainable human performance for austere environments and/or the SOF training calendar.

Pharmaceutical and Nutritional Supplement interactions: Research, apply and/or develop novel approaches to determining what, if any meaningful interactions occur between and among SOF-common medications (OTC or Rx) and commonly ingested and commercially available nutritional supplements and/or neutraceuticals.

Heart Rate Variability (HRV): Research, and/or apply heart rate variability's potential for measuring combined psychological and physical readiness in SOF operators. Emphasis of research should validate or repudiate the use of HRV as an operational performance indicator and discern the use of HRV measurement as an accurate alternative or additive to accepted biomarker and readiness indicators. Additional research opportunities should identify unobtrusive and minimally time-consuming means of measuring HRV on active service personnel without interfering with movement or physical activities.

Nutritional Status: Research and/or apply methods to accurately measure nutritional status in SOF operators. The proposed project should focus on cost effectiveness, accuracy, and end-user compatibility (user friendly) methods or devices for identifying an individual’s nutrient status.

Enhanced Physiological/Diver Performance: Research and develop technologies to maximize the physiological performance of operators, including greater mental acuity, increased endurance, enhanced senses, and tolerance to environmental extremes, without noticeable augmentation and without hampering personnel mobility. Technologies that enhance SOF operators by monitoring physiological data and provide therapeutics when required. Technologies that enhance SOF operators to recover quicker, think quicker, and run faster. Technologies that allow SOF Combat Divers to dive longer/deeper. Technologies to mitigate risk of injury and cognitive thought technologies to include artificial intelligence and cognitive computing. Technologies for human-machine collaborative decision making and autonomous learning systems.

Genetic Predictors of Injuries: Research and develop technologies that will predict SOF operators' propensity for musculoskeletal injuries based on genetic traits.

Rapid Point of Injury/Proximate Diagnostics for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): Research and develop mobile, rapid assessment for TBI among SOF. Develop diagnostic tools (e.g., biomarkers, imaging, etc.) that can diagnose the presence/extent of brain tissue damage following exposure to blast and/or impact injuries in a field environment. Special emphasis should be placed on technologies that can be administered by field medics in austere combat environments.

Advanced Physiologic Wearable Sensors: Research and develop wearable sensors capable of assessing and monitoring physical activity, hydration, fatigue, stress, sleep, and other factors. Special attention should be given to developing predictive algorithms and automated feedback to inform SOF operators when they are functioning at a suboptimal level.

Rapid Microbiome Assessment: Research and develop capability to easily collect and dispose of samples for microbiome assessment. Special attention should be given to providing an operator the ability to have sample digitally tagged and results automatically uploaded into existing SOF Human Performance database.

Force Health Protection and Environmental Medicine -Optimal Acclimatization Strategy: The proposed project must research, apply and/or develop novel approaches that provide rapid and sustainable human acclimatization to include fatigue counter actions, for extremes in temperature, altitude and time-zone change (circadian acclimatization).

Information Operations (IO)

Spectrum Management: Develop capabilities that fuse and correlate battlefield information from a variety of sources and display it in an accurate and shared common operational picture. Capabilities and technologies that can ingest electromagnetic data collected from the battlespace to aid in the real time/near real-time situational awareness and planning of spectrum operations. Technologies that can support command and control of forward deployed Electronic Warfare systems used by the SOF community.

Electronic Warfare - Electromagnetic Support (ES): High bandwidth, fast tuning, high dynamic range with ultra-low receiver technologies that search, intercept, identify, and locate intentional and unintentional electromagnetic energy for the purpose of threat recognition, targeting, planning, and conduct of future operations. Topic area includes the electromagnetic detection, location, and identification of unmanned systems and improvised explosive devices. Low Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP), remote, body worn, man portable, vehicle platforms, and/or expeditionary fixed site systems that conform to industry open standards with modular, scalable, hardware and software solutions. Technologies that are capable of closed loop or open-air integration/synchronization into a family of systems while maintaining interoperability and compatibility with other SOF systems. Capabilities with large dynamic range that are programmable with increased performance and capable of narrow or broad band signals of interest.

Electronic Warfare - Electromagnetic Attack (EA): High bandwidth, high dynamic range with low receiver sensitivity and low latency technologies that attack, neutralize, electromagnetically isolate, and/or destroy the enemy's combat capability and use of the electromagnetic spectrum. Topic area includes the electromagnetic detection and defeat of unmanned systems and improvised explosive devices. Low Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP), remote, body worn, man-portable, vehicle platforms, and/or expeditionary fixed site systems that conform with industry open standards with modular, scalable, hardware and software solutions. Technologies that are capable of closed loop or open-air integration/synchronization into a family of systems while maintaining interoperability and compatibility with SOF systems. Capabilities that are programmable with increased performance and capable of narrow or broad band signals of interest.

Electronic Warfare - Electronic Attack for Counter Improvised Explosive Devices (CIED) Applications: Increased electronic attack and RF detect and defeat of CIED and Counter Unmanned Systems (CUxS) capabilities against emerging threats worldwide in mounted/dismounted configurations. Technologies that can reduce weight, improve performance, decrease input power requirements, decrease thermal loading, and decrease system footprints. Technologies that improve the interoperability of electronic attack systems with other SOF capabilities (i.e., communications, information operations). Antennas that improve performance across a broad spectrum of frequencies operate at higher output powers, while minimizing physical size and appearance.

Electronic Warfare - Electronic Attack for Counter Unmanned Systems (CUxS) Applications: CUxS capabilities, for various configurations (i.e., dismounted, mounted, fixed site), that can detect, track, identify, and/or defeat current and emerging unmanned threats (i.e., UAS [Group 1-3], UGV, USV, UUV). CUxS capability for a range of CONOPs (i.e., passive, low signature, overt, expeditionary, maritime) that can reduce weight, improve performance, decrease operator burden, decrease input power requirements, and decrease system signature and footprint. Technologies that improve the interoperability of CUxS with other SOF capabilities (i.e., communications, other CUxS sensors and effectors).

Electronic Warfare - Electromagnetic Protect (EP): High bandwidth, large dynamic range, low receiver sensitivity, and low latency technologies that protect personnel, facilities, and equipment from any effects of friendly or enemy use of the electromagnetic spectrum that degrade, neutralize, or destroy friendly combat capability. Topic area includes the protection of personnel and capabilities in support of counter unmanned and counter improvised explosive devices. Low SWAP, remote, body worn, man-portable, vehicle platforms, and/or expeditionary fixed site systems that conform with industry open standards with modular, scalable, hardware and software solutions. Technologies that are capable of closed loop or open-air integration/synchronization into a family of systems while maintaining interoperability and compatibility with SOF systems. Capabilities that are programmable with increased performance and capable of narrow or broad band signals of interest.

Electronic Warfare - Directed Energy (DE): Capability that relates to directed energy in support of electronic warfare solutions. Capabilities include the directed energy solutions of concentrated electromagnetic energy, atomic particle beams and/or sub-atomic particle beams.

Electronic Warfare System Sensors and Integrations: Man-portable and/or expeditionary fixed site technologies with low latency/high resolution 2d/3d radar solutions, long range optics w/multiple thermal vision features, automated slew-to-que capabilities, wired/wireless networks and/or mesh networks with self-repairing features for remote sensor nodes, wireless network protocols for system-to-system interconnect that enable LPI or LPD. Focus area also includes data export and the graphical user interface for multi-node family of systems.

Electronic Warfare System Advanced Antennas: Rugged low profile, low visibility, low observable, and/or conformal broad band antenna designs to support high bandwidth ES, EA, and EP capabilities to increase capability and performance. Areas of interest include but not limited to high bandwidth antenna technologies that are electronically beamformed/steered, support Massive Multiple-Input and Multiple-Output (MIMO), multi-element DF/GEO arrays for azimuth and elevation, simultaneous receive and transmit radio heads, small-phased arrays, and capable of high-power output. Antenna technologies to support maritime, ground, and airborne threats to include improvised explosive devices and unmanned systems.

Electronic Warfare System Sub-Assemblies: Advancements in system information assurance and cyber security protocols, real time and secure operating systems, systems backplanes, ultra-wide band RF front ends, system-on-a-chip technologies, low latency, ultra-fast switching, high speed interfaces, low noise amplifiers, high bandwidth linear amplifiers, next generation processors and field programmable gate arrays, and next generation photonic technology designs.

Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), SW Applications: Technologies that leverage AI/ML solutions to support the Information Operations portfolio of EW, MISO, OPSEC, CNO, and MILDEC. Capabilities include threat barrage technique through protocol technique applications for ground, air, and maritime threat detection and defeat, to include but not limited to CIED, CUxS. Other technologies/features include distributed ES, EA, and or EP, receive diversity, transmit diversity, real signal of interest or signal protocol identification and/or classification (shape, null, edge, demodulation), interested in RF signal classification technologies that can perform real time identifications of signals in the surrounding software must be open and capable of importing custom files and/or signal libraries.

Military Information Support Operations (MISO) Modular, Scalable, Open Architecture Solutions: Technologies optimized for IO-MISO that leverages open standards for hardware and software solutions.

Military Information Support Operations (MISO) Advanced Techniques: Advanced multi-media communications techniques including the traditional domains (acoustic, radio, TV, print) and new media resources (sonic projection, scatterable/disposable speakers and media devices, internet, cable, satellite communications, mass cellular broadcasting [including Short Message Service, Multi-media Message Service, and voice], overt and covert holographic imaging [ground, air, space projection and, optical memory], and remotely updateable/trackable electronic paper) and the emerging social networking environment.

Operations Security (OPSEC)

Military Deception (MILDEC)

Computer/Cyber Network Operations (CNO)

Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance

Tagging, Tracking and Locating Devices: Low detectability systems that can provide long duration, small form factor, and low detectability communications for rapid and resilient geolocation of individuals, vehicles, or activities across land, air, sea, and space. Capabilities should support pattern of life analysis, close target reconnaissance with audio and video, technical surveillance, and personnel recovery. New capabilities should survive contested radio frequency environments or operate outside the electromagnetic spectrum, and support over the horizon operations.

Multi-Spectral Systems: Multi-spectral digital electro-optics that have a range and resolution equal to daytime but useful viewing in all environments and lighting conditions. Decrease in latency of ground systems to less than one millisecond from external activity to viewing by Operator. Decrease in latency of ground systems to less than one millisecond from Operator activity to external action. Miniaturization of Visual Augmentation Systems (VAS). Microbolometers or other thermal imagers that equals the performance of cooled thermal sensors but having reduce size, weight, cost, and power consumption of all cooled thermal sensors.

Through-Wall Sensing.

Enhanced Resolution Sensors: Technologies that allow increased standoff distances improved resolution or better concealability over existing sensors.

Flexible Mission Suites: Technologies that allow roll on/roll off capabilities and rapidly reconfigurable mission suites to provide a flexible platform that can meet different mission needs. ISR platform architectures that segregate flight systems from payloads to allow rapid payload swaps without having to recertify the aircraft as flight worthy. Use of commercial standards and open systems architecture to reduce cost and schedule when adding new payloads.

Persistent Surveillance: Long-duration surveillance capabilities that can rapidly disseminate operational information to key elements on the battlefield through a combination of manned and unmanned ISR to flexibly support the dynamic SOF mission set.

Wide Area Surveillance: Disseminate persistent wide area surveillance from the air, from the water, or from the ground by optimizing and incorporating a suite of sensor technologies to identify targets through foliage, thick vegetation, or triple canopy. Object of interest to survey include dismounted opponents, makeshift vehicles and vessels, expedient facilities to transient or hastily built structures of low-signature, non-reflective materials.

Ground Sensor Technologies: Sensors placed at ground level that have the following characteristics: Inconspicuous; Long duration with no intervention or maintenance required; Data transmission over several kilometers through heavy foliage, thick vegetation, mountain passes, or other types of natural and/or man-made environments that block signals and/or Data transmission through heavy overhead foliage or thick vegetation via commercial radio frequency and/or SATCOM systems; Tamper resistant; Capable of sensing ground vibration, human body heat, natural human electrical charges, and other electromagnetic emissions.

Hidden Chamber Detection: Sensors placed at ground level that have the following characteristics: Inconspicuous; Long duration with no intervention or maintenance required; Data transmission over several kilometers through heavy foliage, thick vegetation, mountain passes, or other types of natural and/or man-made environments that block signals and/or Data transmission through heavy overhead foliage or thick vegetation via commercial radio frequency and/or SATCOM systems; Tamper resistant; Capable of sensing ground vibration, human body heat, natural human electrical charges, and other electromagnetic emissions.

3D Modeling: Fuse Full Motion Video (FMV) from multiple sources to improve 3D modeling resolution of fine structures including thin wall and vertical obstructions such as poles and antennas.

Modular, Open, Scalable Architecture SIGINT: Technologies enabling forward operators to re-configure, re-program, re-purpose, and scale SIGINT algorithms across a variety of Software Defined Radios. Open architecture for rapid insertion of hardware and software upgrades that maximizes reuse.

Data Ingest Mechanism for Monitoring and Measuring Information Environment: Develop a data ingest mechanism utilizing natural language processing to identify and refine relevant information in the online environment related to target audiences and web operations. Data should include social media monitoring, scraping, analysis, and reporting.

Advanced Data Management: SOF requires technologies that provide automatic ingestion, metadata tagging, indexing, storage, synchronization, fusion, deduplication, mining, and dissemination of data collected by widely dispersed SOF resources. Data repositories require the ability to run AI/ML algorithms against the data sets to reduce analyst workload and rapidly deliver answers to warfighter problem sets.

Advanced Situational Awareness in All Environments: Develop capabilities that fuse and correlate battlefield information from a variety of sources and display it in an accurate and shared intelligence/common operational picture. This includes fusion of full motion video with other sources of information (Government owned data, Publicly/Commercially Available Information [PAI/CAI]), visually displayed in near real time to significantly improve the opportunities for knowledge management and discovery during operations.

Geospatial Pattern Trends: Analytical technologies showing socio-cultural, economic, and demographic factors.

Ad-hoc Direction Finding: Utilize two or more antennas that exist on an aircraft, boat, or vehicle, to perform radio direction-finding. The solution cannot require a re-arrangement of the antennas into an array or matched sets of antennas. The solution may adaptively re-calibrate to non-ideal arrays through signals of opportunity at known locations in the environment.

Maritime Antenna Stabilizer: Antennas and antenna mounts that stay pointed despite pitching and rolling associated with a 20-foot watercraft. At a minimum, pointing should remain level with the horizon. Ideally, pointing toward a specific bearing should also be maintained.

ISR - Tactical RF Signal Classification: Small devices capable of scanning RF spectrum and reporting classifications of signals found, along with signal related information. Techniques to perform this classification efficiently, using specialized components such as Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), will enable broadband performance in portable, battery-powered applications. The classification categories should be flexible and reprogrammable to adapt to an ever-changing environment.

Irregular Warfare

Tailored Virtual Training for Language and Regional Expertise: Through an immersive environment, provide the ability to enhance and increase effectiveness of language and cultural skills needed to effectively operate in foreign operational environments. Train personnel and develop leaders to operate in support of host nation personnel.

Military Information Support Operations (MISO) Measures of Effectiveness: Planning, preparation, and assessment support for cultural and behavioral modeling, including analysis, theme development and creating measures of effectiveness in operational environments. Provide replicable processes, models, measurement techniques and procedures that allow for the ability to detect changes in cognitions, attitudes, and/or behaviors over time along with the associated factors that are related to or caused the changes, including reporting of shifts in reaction to stimulus.

Military Information Support Operations (MISO) Preparation of the Environment/Persistent Engagement: Tactics, techniques, and procedures and enabling technologies (current or proposed) to allow PSYOP forces to prepare the operational environment during persistent competition.

Technologies to Improve Foreign Capacities: Technologies to measure and assess improve foreign capacities to effectively train, operate, maintain, and sustain their capabilities, within US policy.

Military Information Support Operations (MISO) on Demand Survey Capabilities: Technologies and methodologies that enable rapid, geographically focused data collection (especially cognitions, attitudes, and behaviors during and after execution of MISO) to provide evidence for the effectiveness of MISO. In addition, these tools would incorporate automated analysis, visualization capabilities, and reporting in template and user-customized formats.

Medical

Medical Simulation and Training Technologies: Research, apply and/or develop improved pre-hospital combat casualty training with an emphasis on the SOF pre-hospital providers. Research involves technology based approaches, advanced generation trauma task trainers, and robotic training systems to include validation of system and training metrics/evaluation outcomes compared to currently used models. The effort includes research into best practices and new technologies for improved critical lifesaving skills and a cognitive behavioral approach to maximize training effectiveness. Priority will be given to submissions that result in a working prototype that can be field tested in cooperation with SOF training sites.

Prolonged Field Care: SOF medical personnel require capabilities for far-forward medical care to reduce the mortality and morbidity associated with major battlefield wounds, injuries, diseases, and associated sepsis. Prolonged Field Care should focus on novel treatments that support the ability to manage 3-5 patients across the spectrum of illness to multi system injury for a minimum of 5-7 days. The primary emphasis is to research, apply and/or develop medical techniques, pharmaceuticals, biologics and field sustainable, rapidly deployable medical devices for extended care beyond initial trauma resuscitation, to include austere/forward surgery while operating in disease endemic areas where casualty evacuation is delayed or unavailable.

Damage Control Resuscitation - Global Treatment Strategies and Next Generation Wound Management: Research, apply and/or develop effective treatment strategies that address the following elements: hypotensive resuscitation, optimal fluid(s), uncomplicated shock, non-compressible hemorrhaging, traumatic brain injuries, and austere damage control surgery. These strategies must be optimized for medics in austere, far-forward areas, with minimal logistical or specialty support, who must stabilize and treat patients for extended periods (days, not hours).

Damage Control Resuscitation - Analgesia: The proposed project must research, apply and/or develop effective treatment strategies that address the following elements: hypotensive resuscitation, optimal fluid(s), uncomplicated shock, non-compressible hemorrhaging, traumatic brain injuries, and austere damage control surgery. These strategies must be optimized for medics in austere, far-forward areas, with minimal logistical or specialty support, who must stabilize and treat patients for extended periods (days, not hours).

Damage Control Resuscitation - Far Forward Blood Components, Blood Substitute & Injectable Hemostatics: The proposed project should research novel strategies to increase the ease, efficacy, and safety of blood transfusion (i.e. person to person, pre-hospital blood banking, blood substitutes) forward of normal logistics support; (e.g., evaluating blood for type/cross matching and for the presence of pathogens to include point of injury AB antibody titer). Projects that will be considered also include other blood components such as freeze dried plasma and platelets, cryoprecipitate, fibrinogen, prothrombin complex concentrate and injectable medications to address the coagulopathy of trauma such as Tranexamic acid. A long term objective is a blood substitute that is comparable in size, weight of traditional blood products, and effectively functions like fresh whole blood without requiring refrigeration. Strategies to find the delivery of these prototypes individually or in concert will also be considered. Priority will be given towards projects that are oriented towards final solutions or prototypes that are shelf stable requiring minimal to no refrigeration as well as those that are capable of carrying oxygen.

Damage Control Resuscitation - Austere Surgical Stabilization: Future theatres where SOF personnel will operate will likely be much less medically robust than our past decade of fighting in our current theatres. Rather than sitting at hardened structures waiting on patients, surgical personnel may be increasingly asked to go to the patient. Research should focus on mobility/portability of medical and surgical equipment, with emphasis on equipment with greater capabilities than currently fielded devices, smaller size and weight, low power demands and flexibility in power supplies. Research may also include a human systems approach to define limitations and mitigation strategies of surgical capability in austere environments (i.e. low light, temperature variability, surgery in-flight).

Portable Lab Diagnostics -Occupational and Environmental Health (OEH) Hazards: Develop novel methods and devices for rapid identification and analysis of exposures to OEH hazards. Research must support the development and analysis of hand held field hardened and environmentally stable analytical devices, monitoring devices, dosimetry, assays for rapid on-site identification, and real-time analysis of OEH hazards in air, water, and soil that could pose an acute or chronic health hazard to SOF personnel. Such OEH hazards include toxic industrial chemicals/toxic industrial materials (TICs/TIMs), lead exposures, food borne pathogens, toxins, biological agents, and radiological material exposures.

Force Health Protection and Environmental Medicine - Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE) Rapid Diagnostics, Treatment, and Prophylaxis: The proposed project must research and apply and/or develop novel approaches that will diagnose, treat, and protect human exposure (prophylaxis and/or post contact) to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high yield explosives in near real time.

Force Health Protection and Environmental Medicine - Chelation Solution: The capability submission must research and provide viable protective preventive solutions, such as, but not limited to engineering controls, to prevent acute lead exposure in training environments (Live Fire CQB/Breaching Training Environments and Shoothouses).

Canine Medicine:
1. Environmental Extremes: Submissions must research and apply and/or develop novel strategies that address acclimatization to acute extremes in temperature, altitude, and/or time zone change (circadian acclimatization), and/or prolonged marine environmental exposure in SOF canines.
2. Sensory Optimization and Protection: Research must be oriented toward innovative methods that enhance or conserve SOF canine olfactory, visual, and/or auditory performance during combat operations.
3. Trauma Resuscitation: Research must support development of innovative techniques/strategies for canine trauma resuscitation (e.g. hypotensive resuscitation, whole blood/blood component replacement, non-compressible hemorrhaging), particularly to address ballistic projectile injuries, in diverse/austere environments that lack immediately available medical evacuation or restorative surgical capacity. Note: Research should minimize or refrain from utilizing canine specific equipment or devices; this will allow treatment from existing trauma kits fielded by SOF medics.
4. Non-Traditional Anesthesia Protocols: Capability submissions must seek to develop novel approaches for routine and emergency/post-traumatic canine field sedation and/or anesthesia in diverse environments and utilizing pharmaceuticals available to SOF Medics.
5. Optimizing Canine Performance and Nutrition: Capability submissions must research and apply and/or develop novel strategies that address optimization of canine performance through improved physical conditioning programs, enhanced nutrition, and genetics research.
6. Pre and Post Trauma Training / Behavioral Issues: Research should address unique approaches to diagnosing and treating SOF-peculiar training and post-traumatic canine behavioral issues, in order to optimize pre-purchase selection and post-purchase training strategies across the enterprise and restore performance in canines with behavioral and/or post-trauma issues.

Mobility

Increased Operational Capacity and Capabilities: Enhancements in manned and unmanned mobility platforms and enabling technologies that maximize the range and speed in offroad terrain, payload, agility, reliability and maintainability of Special Operations Forces while minimizing size, weight, power requirements and signature.

Reduce Signature: Low observability technologies to reduce or confuse detection of SOF manned and unmanned mobility platforms across the full spectrum (visual, acoustic, thermal) are required. Counter-low observability capabilities are also desired.

Advanced Protection: Lightweight and/or active ballistic armor for SOF platforms, to include transparent armor and the dismounted soldier. Ballistic armor systems should provide increased protection over current systems without an increase in weight or reduction in durability at a manageable cost point. The new systems should provide increased crew survivability, critical system survivability, and have low maintenance requirements. Transparent solutions should maintain crew vision/field of view with or without night vision devices. Passive and active systems that reduce detection or prevent target engagement should provide increased survivability at reduced weight.

Advanced Mobility Platforms to Access Sensitive or Denied Areas: Mobility platform or technology insertion to allow SOF platforms to operate undetected, or to be indistinguishable from indigenous vehicles and/or to transit over terrain typically considered impassable.

Extend Longevity of SOF Mobility Platforms: SOF vehicles are deteriorating at an unacceptable rate while in training or in actual operations. Better materials, coatings, or technologies are needed for SOF Vehicles, equipment, and systems to withstand the effects of harsh environments, corrosion, stress, and fatigue. These improvements should reduce operating costs and have little to no environmental impact.

Dynamic Ride Mitigation: Current maritime craft and ground mobility vehicles expose their occupants and equipment to short- and long-term effects from exposure to impact, shock, and vibration. A technology or combination of technologies is needed to reduce the impact, shock, and vibration to occupants and the stress on the platform across a variety of speeds and terrain. Additionally, a system integrated into combatant craft that displays the levels of shock, vibration, and impact being applied to the craft while underway is desired. System should allow for data collection throughout voyage; display a green, yellow, and red status to crew; and be IA compliant for historic data collection.

Combat Diving Propulsion: Underwater propulsion systems that can propel an individual or team of combat divers.

Maritime Domain Awareness: Technologies supporting passive detection of platforms operating in the maritime domain utilizing existing signals already in the environment to identify contacts and obstructions.

Enhanced Situational Awareness Systems: Enhanced crew situational awareness systems for installation on manned combatant craft. System should have a passive and active capability that provides complete maritime domain awareness of the area surrounding the platform. System should be able to detect air, land and sea threats and populate on the crafts display system.

Hostile Fire Indicating System (HFIS): A passive low power multi-spectral sensor suitable for detecting, classifying, and geo-locating various forms of incoming hostile fire or targeting radars to maritime combatant craft and ground platforms.

At Sea Launch and Recovery: Develop capabilities to launch and recover Combatant Craft Medium and Heavy at sea via crane. Develop capabilities to launch and recover NSW submersibles to include the Dry Combat Submersible. Develop systems that allows for deployment from vessels other than Amphibious Ships with a Well Deck.

Counter UAS:Counter UAS system for Naval Special Warfare Combatant Craft to detect, track, identify, and defeat UAS at altitude and distance to permit effective engagement.

Advanced Unmanned Surface Systems: Expeditionary, maritime, platform agnostic, and scalable unmanned surface systems with advanced capabilities that include open system architecture, modular payloads (plug and play), RF and tethered encrypted digital data link, navigation, collision avoidance, system performance and system status information dissemination, signature management, and integrated material matrix structures that provide increased survivability. Scalable systems should be man-portable, 6' or less, two-man lift, 30lb payload. Vessel launched systems should be 6' or greater, no larger than 14', launch able from Combatant Craft Medium and Heavy, 400lb payload.

Unmanned Undersea Vehicle Technologies: Technologies to enhance the MK18 MOD1 UUV to include increased endurance; innovative/novel sensors and payloads; command, control, and communications to include real-time communications with NSW manned submersibles, combat divers, and surface craft; autonomy; and reduced signatures.

Self-Healing Vehicle Technology: Sensor or component technology wherein an Operator can know with some amount of certainty to proactively replace a vehicle component that is nearing the end of its life span such that unplanned maintenance or failure during a mission is reduced.

Vehicle/Sensor Fusion: Integration of advanced capability within the SOF vehicle that enhances the vehicle Operator local situational awareness without adding an increased mental load to the crew.

Counter Low Observability: Integration of technology that enables SOF vehicular units to detect and identify an enemy’s low observable ground platforms.

Long-Range, Unmanned Resupply Delivery Platform: Unmanned resupply to SOF in contested environments at distances of 300 KM or greater. Resupply platforms must be low signature, capable of delivery during hours of limited visibility and must not produce a recovery requirement of resupply platform. Resupply considerations must include delivery platforms capable of delivery across and through ocean, air, land, and space.

Power and Energy

Advanced Power Systems Technologies for Improved Battery and Other Energy Storage Device Capabilities for Use by Special Operations Forces (SOF) Undersea Vehicles: Provide a safe and reliable, air independent power system capable of being used on multiple SOF Undersea Manned mobility platforms and unmanned undersea vehicles with growth potential for broader vehicle applications (e.g. USMC HMMWV). The system must be capable of preventing, controlling and halting thermal propagation, conflagration and explosion, testable to DoD and US Navy high energy safety and environmental standards (MIL-STD-810G, NAVSEA S9310-AQ-SAF-010, NAVSEA SG270-BV-SAF-010 apply). The system requires a specific energy in excess of 130 Wh/kg and energy density in excess of 200Wh/l. The system must have a standard form factor permitting assembly into a larger form usable across a variety of undersea platforms (Seal Delivery Vehicle (SDV), Dry Submersible Technology Demonstrator (S351), and the Shallow Water Combat Submersible (SWCS)) and unmanned undersea vehicles (MK18 Mod 1 UUV). The system software must be able to function across multiple platforms and must be testable to Joint and DoD standards (DoD Joint Software Systems Safety Engineering Handbook, DoD Directive 8500.1).

Novel Advanced Power Sources for SOF Dismounts: Small, lightweight, and portable capability to efficiently scavenge power from known sources and efficiently convert to transportable batteries. New fuel and power sources should reduce size, weight, volume, recharge time and logistics burden associated with currently available fuel and power sources as well as require longer discharge time over current battery technologies.

Small/Lightweight/Man pack Advanced Power for SOF Dismounts: Provide a small, lightweight man packable power generation and management capability for dismounted ST and SOF medical support operations in a global environment.

Novel advanced Power Sources for SOF Dismounts and Small Units (12 or less): Provide novel renewable power technologies (e.g., solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric, other) for powering small unit encampments.

Design Solutions that Incorporate Advanced Power Technologies and Provide: Centrally wearable power on dismount; Intelligent and highly efficient power and distribution management; Automatic power charging/recharging capability; Seamless integration for all powered subsystems; Novel power systems.

Wireless Power Transmission for Dismounts: Provide a small, lightweight wireless power transmission capability to recharge powered or stored devices without cables or physical contact.

Hybrid Propulsion Systems: Propulsion systems that combine powering technologies (e.g., turbines, electric, etc.) to provide enhanced capabilities for SOF maritime combatant craft. Desired enhancements include, but are not limited to improved range/speed/payload, allowances for novel designs, craft layouts, and engine packaging options and low-noise operation or modes.

Soldier Systems

Capability to Carry Heavier External Loads, Carry Loads Farther Without Fatigue and/or Carry External Loads During Sustained Run or Sprint, without impairing marksmanship or other skilled dexterity tasks.

Develop Enhanced Ability to Overcome a Wide Variety of Vertical and Low Obstacles.

Technologies that Provide Advanced Adaptive Environmental Individual Protection from Cold, Heat, Altitude and CBRNE to include unsafe RF operational environments and adversary directed energy systems: Ability to maintain individual core and extremity (hands and feet) temperature against extreme environments during SOF operations is desired. Solutions should be lightweight, not interfere with typical worn or carried equipment and employ active/passive heating or cooling techniques.

Develop Enhanced Ability to Overcome a Wide Variety of Vertical and Low Obstacles.

Enhanced Capability to Detect, Locate and Identify Personnel at Long Range, Day/Night:

Advancements in Imager and Laser Technology in "Out of Band" Wavelengths: Technologies that improve performance of lasers and imagers in the Short, Mid and Long Wave Infrared wavelengths (SWIR/MWIR/LWIR).

Combat Identification: SOF personnel on the ground require a small, lightweight body worn multi-spectral combat identification device for various mission scenarios in order to provide friendly identification while avoiding enemy detection.

Concealment and Signature Management, Reduction, and Suppression: Advanced technologies capable of reducing the probability of detection of a SOF operator when viewed through visual augmentation systems or other current and emerging threat sensors. Technologies should enable the SOF operator to remain undetected before and during an engagement as well as prevent the enemy from locating or targeting the operator once the operator actively engaged.

Improved Moving Target Engagement: Technologies that enhance or improve air to ground moving target engagement.

Advanced Energetics: Energetic technologies to include small arms propellants, explosive charges, explosive warhead fills, enhanced blast, thermo baric and/or incendiary components that increase destructive energy while remaining insensitive munitions compliant.

Virtual Training: Technologies that provide the capability to conduct mission training/preparation/rehearsal in an immersive 3D environment. The virtual training system should be able to adapt to the individual skill level to hone and maintain critical skill sets such as weapons training using current weapon systems. Scenarios can be revised or updated on the "fly" by the instructor.

Advanced Protection: Advanced body armor (body-worn and head protection) that provides superior armor capability through the increased enhancements to ballistic protection and body coverage, while reducing the weight, thickness, and thermal load. Possess the ability to defeat armor piercing ammunition to include reducing the strike energy to a survivable level. Advanced non-destructive inspection techniques for body armor and ballistic helmets. Novel eyewear capabilities to defeat visible and IR lasers.

Combat Diving Navigation: Equipment that can provide precise position of individual combat diver while underwater. Equipment must minimize any contact with the surface. Hardware should be modular to allow for standard charging and uploading /downloading of diver data. Commonality of hardware software is preferred.

Combat Diving Marine Environmental Protection: Equipment that will allow the combat diver to extend underwater mission duration in extreme environments.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technologies: Technologies that support EOD's response to ground and maritime Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives (CBRNE) threats and hazards. Capability focus areas include low swap detection, identification, localization, access, neutralization, and disablement of threats and/or components in support of EOD render safe operations. Technologies include but not limited meters, detectors, 2D and 3D X-ray capability compatible with X-Ray Tool Kit (XTK) imaging software, digital flexible imaging X-ray exceeding performance of rigid DR panels (compatible with broad range of generators and compatible with XTK), automated X-ray image object recognition with open software for addition of new component libraries, low swap-high resolution video/fiber scopes, high resolution/color night vision/fusion goggles, precision aiming solutions, extended range/mesh network remote fire devices, advancements in low swap thermal imaging, and general and/or precise disruption tools and techniques.

Automated X-ray Component Recognition Software: Software tools that provide automated identification of components within a Digital X-ray image. Software must be capable of importing custom component libraries.

Video Imaging Inspection Technologies: Small handheld high resolution Video Imaging Inspection technologies. Inspection tool must be able to penetrate small diameter openings, operate in low light/no light surroundings and have an articulating head.

Exploiting optical channels for effects: Patterns of light used to cause effects on targets/optical sensors with no specialized hardware/equipment. Control and effect optical systems (vehicles, CCTV, UASs), cloak faces from facial recognition systems, autonomous target detection/classification/interaction, and disable visual based navigation/targeting systems to prevent attack.

Weapons and Electronic Attack

Precision Guided Small Arms Munitions: Small unit organic munitions capable of delivering highly accurate kinetic effects on stationary, moving, soft targets, or the interior of hardened targets at ranges beyond crew served weapons effective range. Precision Guided Munitions for Naval Special Warfare Combatant Craft as well as ground, RW, VTOL, FW platforms to engage high value targets at stand-off and over-the-horizon distances.

Counter-Personnel Weapons with Selective Increase in Severity of Non-Lethal Force: Integrated, scalable/selectable affects weapons with a tunable destructive or less than lethal non-destructive potential that can provide this capability across a broad variety of SOF missions while limiting or eliminating collateral damage and casualties.

Disable Material, Vessel, Vehicle so that it Becomes Neutralized: Capability to neutralize targets at stand-off range so as not to harm operators. Desired effects range from simple STOP commands to full incapacitation for extended periods of time and are effective against ground vehicles, maritime vessels, and unmanned systems

Enhanced Warheads: Improve the effects of small Common Launch Tube (CLT) compatible warheads.

Direct Fire Support Weapons: Technologies that provide lightweight, direct fire support weapons with enhanced blast, optimized fragmentation (magnitude, shape, and density of fragmentation cloud), combined effects, multi-option and or smart fuses.

Scalable Defensive Weapons Capability:Provide scalable defensive capabilities to protect ground mobility vehicles and SOF Maritime platforms against the full spectrum of ground -to-ground, surface-to-surface, air-to-ground, and air-to-surface threat systems.

Deny Area/Deny Access:Clear buildings and facility of all personnel with or without entry to those facilities. Deliver scalable effects to clear perimeters of all personnel for SOF to operate in. Hail and warn non-combatants with the objective to determine hostile intent.

Defensive Measures (Detection, PPE, etc.) for SOF

Frequency Generation:Application of induced vibrational energy to a target to generate an operational effect. Would apply to infrastructure (seismic event generation in a small, localized area or structure), maritime environment (induced noise or cavitation through ship/boat hulls, signal interception of tsunami warning systems to generate false warnings).