United Kingdom Explosive Devices IEDs

The Defence & Security Accelerator (DASA), on behalf of the Ministry of Defence (MOD), has launched a call to industry and academia to assist in the development of Counter-IEDs using novel technology and techniques.  This call aims to find and develop innovations which either use the Radio Frequency (RF) spectrum or which assist understanding of the RF spectrum to detect and disrupt the functionality of IEDs. 

Up to $500,000 is available per proposal for this innovation call, which will remain open from now until further notice. Proposals are expected to last between 6 and 18 months and should deliver solutions at a minimum of Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) 5/6.

An important part of countering an IED threat is device detection, along with an improved understanding the electromagnetic environment.  This helps inform situational awareness and distinguish threat from non-threat, as well as inform the configuration of other countermeasures. 

There are three challenge areas of interest for this technology call, and proposals are expected to meet at least one of the challenges below.

Challenge 1:  Capture and analyze RF signals using novel spectrum survey techniques, which may include:

• signal analysis techniques and classification algorithms;
• generating methods or data analysis techniques to provide an understanding of the RF environment, which can be used to inform tactical decisions.

Challenge 2:  Neutralize targets in a timely and effective manner, which may include:

• novel techniques capable of countering devices that are agile across multiple frequency bands and radio access technologies;
• techniques to counter multiple diverse communications links with a variety of modulation schemes and signal types simultaneously across a wide spectrum (in the order of several GHz).

Challenge 3:  Develop new or novel hardware and ancillaries (system components), which may include:

• novel antenna concepts to improve performance and lower the RF and visual signature of the service person or vehicle;
• advancements in hardware design such as tuneable filters and efficient ultra-wide band amplifier designs;
• optimizations in size, weight, or power, or efficiency optimizations in wideband RF signal generation technologies (in the order of several GHz);
• novel signal and data processing technologies and techniques.

If you have a solution or technology that may help the MOD discover better ways of countering IEDs and protect service personnel and the public, DASA would like to hear from you.

For information on how to submit your proposal to DASA on countering IEDs using novel technology, or for information on other opportunities in the UK defense and security sectors, please contact PJ Menner at the U.S. Embassy London via PJ.Menner@trade.gov.