The Department of Defense (DoD) is asking for industry input on a potential acquisition of technology that will enhance the U.S. Army’s blue-force tracker system through the use of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite tech, according to a new request for information (RFI) from DoD.
The Army is asking industry to provide insight by Dec. 22 on current and near-term future LEO satellite capabilities to help modernize the tracking system, which pinpoints the locations of friendly troops.
“The Government is requesting interested sources to provide White Papers which demonstrate the capability of current and future LEO constellation and the satellite transceivers/antennas necessary to utilize them that may provide a solution for the next generation of Blue Force Tracking systems,” stated the RFI.
The current blue-force tracking system has been in place since 2002.
As part of this market research, the Army said it is pursuing improved communications capabilities within the tactical sphere as well as at the enterprise level to maintain a tactical lead on the battlefield.
The RFI asks interested industry stakeholders to provide information in key areas including:
- Reliance on Global Positioning System (GPS) or other position, navigation, or timing capability for the user terminals or anywhere else within the constellation/ground station;
- Whether the user terminal performs beam forming, beam steering, and similar capabilities;
- Whether the user terminal solution is tailor-made for a specific satellite constellation or intended to support multiple constellations; and
- The maximum number of devices that can be operating on any one beam or geographic area.
