Point Break

Background and Problem Statement:

The Department of War (DoW) currently relies on Radio Frequency (RF) communications that are easily susceptible to degradation and disruption from low-cost proliferated jamming threats. Laser communication (lasercom) technology offers high data rate, low probability of intercept, and detection communications that are critical in contested domains. As the DoW builds out a force design that baselines laser communications, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is seeking to accelerate the insertion of this technology into contested air and space domains.

Desired Solutions and Key Objectives:

DIU is soliciting solutions for the following lines of effort (LOEs):

1. LOE 1: Development and demonstration of multi-waveform lasercom optical communication terminals (OCTs) and orchestration capable of enabling seamless data transport across different waveform and network boundaries. The OCTs will be low Size, Weight and Power (SWaP) and utilize a multi-chip package (MCP) capable of multi-waveform lasercom.
2. LOE 2: Demonstration of a reliable and high throughput optical communications between a commercially owned and operated proliferated Low Earth Orbit (pLEO) constellation and an airborne lasercom terminal in flight.

Vendors have the opportunity to provide a solution to one or both LOEs.

LOE 1 Key Objectives Include:

• 18-Months: Multi-Waveform Modem Validation: Government validation of in-fiber waveform compatibility testing as well as fiber-based atmospheric mitigation performance testing for multi-waveform lasercom.
• 24-Months: Multi-Waveform Integration into OCT: Government validation of atmospheric mitigation performance testing for multi-waveform lasercom through free space terminal testing of pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT) sequence and waveform quality metrics.
• 36-Months: On-Orbit Demonstration: Execute an on-orbit demonstration, proving full capability including PAT sequence, data transfer, and link termination for more than one waveform.

LOE 1 Key Solution Attributes:

Potential solutions must describe and substantiate their capabilities in the following areas. These attributes will be considered key performance differentiators:

• Interoperability: The types and quantities of waveform standards. This includes waveform and PAT sequence.
• Space Heritage: Past performance delivering OCTs with space flight heritage. Units should be at TRL 6 or higher prior to Authority to Proceed (ATP).
• Data Rate and Range: The data rates associated with LEO, MEO, and GEO ranges.
• SWaP: The OCT size, weight, and power characteristics.
• Orbit and Lifespan: The OCT design life for a given orbit.
• Atmospheric Penetration: The ability to deliver reliable data transport through the atmospheric channel.
• Recurring Engineering (RE) Cost: The recurring production cost of the multi-waveform capable OCT.

LOE 1 Waveform Priorities:

• Primary Waveform: JLIS/OIC2 v4.1
• Secondary Waveforms: Select at least one of the following secondary waveforms: OpenZR+, LCRD, SDA 3.2, SDA 4.0
  • Preferred Secondary Waveforms: LCRD, OpenZR+
  • Additional waveforms under consideration: SDA 3.2, SDA 4.0

LOE 2 Key Objectives Include:

• Airborne Demonstration Within 18 Months: Demonstrate successful PAT sequence, stable link maintenance, and link reacquisition during live flight between multiple commercial pLEO satellites and an airborne terminal within 18 months of ATP.

LOE 2 Key Solution Attributes:

Potential solutions must describe and substantiate their capabilities in the following areas. These attributes will be considered key performance differentiators, and will be separated by groups of airborne terminal providers and commercial pLEO coverage providers.

• Airborne Terminal Provider:
  • Flight Heritage: Company has proven flight heritage for airborne lasercom terminals prior to ATP.
  • SWaP: OCT size, weight, and power characteristics.
  • Recurring Cost: OCT production level cost.
  • Terminal Design: Airborne terminal must operate behind a flat or conformal window and not protrude into the airstream.
• pLEO Constellation Provider:
  • Coverage: Instantaneous number of satellites available for links assuming an airborne elevation angle of (a) 40 degrees and (b) 25 degrees, prior to ATP.
  • Recurring Cost: Subscription cost for providing capability as a service.

LOE 2 Key Technical Attributes:

The following characteristics represent the key technical attributes:

• Link Acquisition Time: The time elapsed from initial pointing command to data exchange between the pLEO terminal and the airborne terminal.
• Link Duration: The continuous interval over which the optical link maintains throughput during a single pass.
• Re-Acquisition Time: The elapsed time to re-establish a compliant link after a temporary loss of lock.
• Data Rate and Range: The data rates associated with an airborne-to-pLEO link.
• Turbulence Mitigation: Technique(s) to mitigate fading channels, with associated power penalty and latency impacts.

The following items represent enhanced capabilities that provide added value to the mission. While not mandatory for initial award, solutions that incorporate these features may be evaluated for their ability to provide increased capability:

• Airborne Terminal Provider:
  • Hybrid Terminal Roadmap: A plan for upgrading the design of the airborne terminal to make it capable of integrating multiple optical heads and a modem to support multi-waveform lasercom.
• pLEO Constellation Provider:
  • Global Lasercom Coverage:  Programmatic and technical roadmap to demonstrate seamless global lasercom coverage and simulate make-before-break architecture supporting lossless handover in a pLEO architecture by 2030.
  • Dynamic Scheduling: Demonstrate/demonstration of successful dynamic scheduling between a pLEO constellation and an aircraft on a non-predetermined flight path, to include recovery following unexpected link drops of several minutes.