Air Forces Central and Shaw Air Force Base, SC are seeking a variety of commercial-off-the-shelf capabilities -- from counter-unmanned aerial systems to agile software architectures -- to fill its new Battle Lab ecosystem, according to a recent industry notice.

The Battle Lab would bring together several commercially available defensive solutions, including immediate point defense, advanced data integration and long-term capability sustainment, the Air Force wrote in its solicitation.

“The desired end-state is a deployable capability that effectively counters evolving aerial threats while exploiting open architecture principles across its full lifecycle (development, integration, test, deployment, operations and sustainment),” it added. “An ideal partner has a first-party ability to directly leverage underlying commercial technologies to meet operational requirements; supporting partners would be considered enabling providers for specific aspects of the potential solution.”

The Commercial Solutions Opening opportunity will be valid through one calendar year, during which time the Air Force may decide to award firm-fixed-price contracts. The intent of the CSO is to streamline the acquisition, delivery and sustainment process by fielding already cohesive, fully integrated systems, the service wrote.

It follows the October unveiling of Air Combat Command's new Point Defense Battle Lab, which is similarly looking to collaborate with sUAS and c-sUAS vendors in future exercises over the course of a year.

Beyond drones, AFCENT’s Battle Lab also wants to:

• Fuse advanced intelligence and multisource data to create a comprehensive operational picture and facilitate real-time analytics.
• Develop innovative kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities to destroy or intercept coordinated UAS swarms.
• Leverage agile software and rapid prototyping methodologies to quickly field new capabilities.
• Implement modular, open-systems approaches for seamless sensor integration.
• Establish sustainable, open-standard architectures to drive continuous competition.

“The Air Force intends to obtain ‘innovative’ solutions or potential new capabilities that fulfill requirements, close capability gaps, or provide potential technology advancements,” the service wrote in its solicitation. “Solutions may include existing technologies or procedures, not currently in use by the Air Force, that would enhance or streamline Air Force mission capabilities.”

The CSO would be mostly used to fulfill AFCENT and Battle Lab requirements, but the notice says the Air Force and Defense Department have the authority to leverage certain capabilities to support broader mission areas “under strict execution guidelines.”

Vendors may additionally need to demonstrate the capability to work in classified environments up to the secret level before award, if applicable.