A -- FALCON - Force Application and Launch from CONUS

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the Air Force are jointly sponsoring the FALCON program to develop technologies and demonstrate capabilities that will enable transformational changes in global, time critical strike missions. This announcement provides a high-level overview of the program, provides information on release of a draft solicitation to be followed by a final solicitation within the next sixty (60) days, and provides notification of an Industry Day related to the program. The Government?s vision of an ultimate prompt global reach capability (circa 2025 and beyond) is engendered in a reusable Hypersonic Cruise Vehicle (HCV). This autonomous aircraft would be capable of taking off from a conventional military runway and striking targets 9,000 nautical miles distant in less than two hours. It could carry a 12,000-pound payload consisting of Common Aero Vehicles (CAVs), cruise missiles, small diameter bombs or other munitions. The Government is interested in innovative HCV concepts that utilize novel technologies that mitigate heat load and extend range. Such innovative concepts could enable effective global reach missions and potentially provide the first stage of a two-stage access to space vehicle. A much nearer term prompt, global strike capability is needed however. This near-term operational capability is embodied in the CAV munitions delivery system integrated with a low-cost, operationally responsive, Small Launch Vehicle (SLV). CAV is an unpowered, maneuverable, hypersonic glide vehicle capable of carrying approximately 1,000 pounds in munitions or other payload. SLV, a low-cost, responsive launch system is capable of boosting a CAV to its requisite insertion conditions (e.g. geo-location, altitude, velocity, and attitude). Taken together, the CAV/SLV system will enable this nearer-term global reach capability. The SLV will serve a two-fold function in that it will also provide a low-cost, responsive launch capability for placing small satellites into Sun Synchronous Orbit. The goal of the joint DARPA/Air Force FALCON program is to develop and validate, in-flight, technologies that will enable both near-term and far-term capability to execute time-critical, prompt global strike missions. The fundamental underpinnings of the technical approach to be taken in the FALCON program is the recognition that a common set of technologies can be matured in an evolutionary manner that will provide a near-term (approximately 2010) operational capability for prompt global strike from CONUS while also enabling future development of a reusable HCV for the far-term (approximately 2025). This common set of key technologies includes: efficient aerodynamic shaping for high lift to drag, lightweight and durable high temperature materials, thermal management techniques including active cooling and trajectory shaping (such as periodic flight), target update and weapons separation. These technologies will be matured to flight readiness, integrated into a system design and demonstrated in a series of flight-tests. Flight tests will be conducted in a progressive manner and will provide an evolutionary forum for developing responsive concepts of operation and a low-cost launch infrastructure. DARPA plans to release a draft Solicitation for Phase I of the FALCON Technology Demonstration program on or about June 20, 2003. The draft will describe the goals and objectives of this three (3) Phase effort. The planned three phases are generally described as follows: Phase I ? System Definition, approximately 6 months, multiple sources; Phase II ? Design and Development, approximately 36 months, downselect ? up to two sources; Phase III ? Weapon System Demonstrations, approximately 30 months, single source. Questions and comments are invited from potential offerors on all aspects of the draft solicitation, including the program plan, objectives, proposal instructions, and acquisition approach. The Government is not requesting proposals in response to this draft solicitation, does not intend to award a contract or agreement on the basis of this draft solicitation and does not intend to pay for any information received regarding this solicitation. The DARPA web page (WWW.DARPA.MIL) will host the draft solicitation and all information pertaining to it. Prospective offerors are invited to submit questions/comments through the email link provided at this web page. An Industry Day is anticipated to be held on or about July 8, 2003 from 8:30 to 12:30 at Mary Mount University in Arlington, VA. This meeting is intended to convey an overview of the program and solicitation to Industry. Attendance at the event will be limited to five (5) representatives per company. The meeting will be unclassified. Access to the meeting is limited to U.S. citizens, individuals with a green card or resident aliens. Prior registration for Industry Day is required for all attendees. Further details for Industry Day including directions, procedures for registration, and scheduling one-on-one meetings following Industry Day will be posted on the DARPA web page on or about June 20, 2003. No other announcements will be issued prior to release of the final program solicitation. Points of Contact: Dr. Steven H. Walker, Program Manager, Phone +1 (555) 000-0000, Fax +1 (555) 000-0000, Email contact@example.gov ? Mr. James B. Troutman, Contracting Officer, Phone +1 (555) 000-0000, Fax +1 (555) 000-0000, Email contact@example.gov.