Navy Subsonic Aerial Target System

The U.S. Navy has a requirement for a cost effective aerial target system to represent subsonic anti-ship cruise missile threats and air platforms.

The Subsonic Aerial Target (SSAT) System will be used to support developmental and operational testing of naval combat systems while providing services in support of advanced fleet training.

The SSAT will be a .90 to .95 Mach capable, recoverable subsonic aerial target vehicle capable of realistically representing enemy threats that operate in the high subsonic regime. The SSAT will be capable of being launched from ashore, at sea or by air and will be remotely controlled utilizing the System for Navy Target Control.

The Navy is considering making a competitive solicitation for the limited development and refinement of an existing target system to achieve Navy requirements to facilitate follow-on production. This late-stage Engineering & Manufacturing Development effort is envisioned to commence in the fiscal year 2010 timeframe. Follow-on production is desired in fiscal year 2012. Production is currently envisioned to cover a 15-year period at a rate of approximately 45 or more vehicles per year.

The classified portions of the draft Request For Proposal (RFP) are planned for release in June.

After review of industry comments, the U.S. Navy plans to hold a pre-proposal conference, followed by the release of the final RFP in September.