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Joint Aerial Layer Network High Capacity Backbone Antennas

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Air Force
Contract: FA8750-13-C-0151
Agency Tracking Number: F121-038-0364
Amount: $749,805.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: AF121-038
Solicitation Number: 2012.1
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2012
Award Year: 2013
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2013-07-30
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2015-07-29
Small Business Information
5340 Airport Blvd.
Boulder, CO -
United States
DUNS: 125961123
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: Yes
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Arian Lalezari
 Senior RF Engineer
 (303) 449-5211
 alalezari@firstrf.com
Business Contact
 Jeanne Hill-Jurik
Title: Contracts Manager
Phone: (303) 449-5211
Email: jhill-jurik@firstrf.com
Research Institution
 Stub
Abstract

ABSTRACT: In order to provide modular, scalable, and flexible operational capabilities for future Joint Aerial Layer Networks, FIRST RF proposes developing a small, lightweight, robust, multi-band antenna concept that can be adapted to provide customizable"pick-and-choose"options, including spatial coverage, spectral support, polarization, and form-factor. This is dubbed the Modular Array of Multi-Band Apertures (MAMBA) concept. The MAMBA concept will provide the flexibility to support configurations including high-gain directional panel, omni-directional mast, and switched-beam directional antennas with the ability to mix-and-match support for frequencies across UHF, L, S, C, X, Ku, and Ka Common Data Link (CDL) bands. This variety of available configurations and frequency coverage options allows for support of a variety of communications protocols, including persistent/synchronous legacy CDL and directional time-division multiple access (DTDMA) protocols. Through the exclusive use of affordable, high-volume manufacturing techniques, FIRST RF"s apertures remain lightweight, durable, and reliable while reducing the reliance on discrete components and custom hardware. BENEFIT: As a result of this SBIR, this approach will generate both near-term and long-term cost savings for Air Force and DoD, ensuring that no new development of the baseline technology is required to support integration of JALN support on new platforms. There are numerous military applications for lightweight, directional, frequency-agile, conformal antennas on land, air and sea vehicles for communication networks as well as point-to-point links. Even during Phase I, FIRST RF identified several potential transition partners across DoD. Outside of DoD, directional antennas will find commercial application in the area of networking between commercial airliners and airborne internet access (especially over oceans).

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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