Airborne Direction Finding Systems

Niwc Atlantic, under the Department of Defense, is conducting market research through a sources-sought Request for Information (RFI_Airborne_Direction_Finding_Systems_062926) to identify vendors capable of providing an airborne Direction Finding (DF) system. The system is intended for the Joint Threat Warning System (JTWS) and United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) to geolocate threat emitters in contested radio frequency environments, specifically for integration on MC-130J and AC-130J aircraft. The government is seeking solutions that cover a frequency range from HF to SHF, utilize a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA), and are ruggedized to MIL-STD specifications. Key technical requirements include detailed antenna performance data, specific SWaP-C characteristics to reduce weight and power consumption, and compatibility with software defined radios via Ethernet and RF ports. This RFI is for planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation or a binding contract. Interested parties must provide non-binding Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) costs for 10, 50, and 100 units, along with evidence of Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) and Manufacturing Readiness Levels (MRL). Initial integration is planned for a government test facility, with production installations at Sierra Nevada Corporation and airworthiness authority managed by Wright Patterson and Warner Robbins AFBs. The government intends to leverage Other Transaction Authority (OTA) or a Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) for future procurement. Responses are due by September 8, 2026, and should be submitted to the primary point of contact, Adam W. Christopher.