Request for Proposal

Background

The Coast Guard currently counts with fleets of cutters, boats and aircraft to perform its many missions. Fixed-wing aircraft in the fleet are the C-130 Hercules turboprops and HU-25 Falcon jets which operate from Air Stations of varying sizes. The main missions performed by these vehicles, as well as by the fleet of rotorcraft, are Search and Rescue (SAR), Law Enforcement, Environmental Response, Ice Operations, and Air Interdiction. However the most critical mission that have traditionally been undertaken by aircraft assets correspond to SAR, Law enforcement and Interdiction operations. The following are excerpts taken form the USCG website (Source: http://www.uscg.mil/datasheet/index.shtm)

Drug Interdiction - The Coast Guard is the lead federal agency for maritime drug interdiction and shares lead responsibility for air interdiction with the U.S. Customs Service. As such, it is a key player in combating the flow of illegal drugs to the United States. The Coast Guard's mission is to reduce the supply of drugs from the source by denying smugglers the use of air and maritime routes in the Transit Zone, a six million square mile area, including the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and Eastern Pacific. In meeting the challenge of patrolling this vast area, the Coast Guard coordinates closely with other federal agencies and countries within the region to disrupt and deter the flow of illegal drugs

Alien Migration Interdiction - The Coast Guard conducts patrols and coordinates with other federal agencies and foreign countries to interdict undocumented migrants at sea, denying them entry via maritime routes to the United States, its territories and possessions. Thousands of people try to enter this country illegally every year using maritime routes, many via smuggling operations.

Search and Rescue (SAR) is one of the Coast Guard's oldest missions. Minimizing the loss of life, injury, property damage or loss by rendering aid to persons in distress and property in the maritime environment has always been a Coast Guard priority. Coast Guard SAR response involves multi-mission stations, cutters, aircraft and boats linked by communications networks.

The growth in demand of this type of operations have spurred interest among the commanding ranks of the USCG for potential replacements of current aircraft. A next-generation Interdiction Operations Aircraft (NG-IOA) that can efficiently and effectively complete the aforementioned missions is desired.

Missions

Crew: 2 pilots, 4 equipment operators

Payload: Surveillance, detection and dedicated communication equipment weighing 4,500 lbs

Primary Mission – Deployment / Surveillance / Interdiction

1.  The NG-IOA will base its operations on bases at sea level. The take-off and landing field length must not exceed 4,500 ft.

2.  After takeoff it must climb to an optimum cruise altitude no lower than 25,000 ft and no higher than 37,000 ft.

3.  Cruise out 300 nmi

4.  Loiter at optimum altitude no lower than 25,000 ft for 1 hour.

5.  Descend to 2,000 feet

6.  Turn 1 – perform a 180 degree sustained turn (Ps = 0) at 150 keas, Turning radius no greater than 2,500 ft.

7.  Cruise at minimum allowable speed for 20 nmi

8.  Turn 2 – perform a 180 degree sustained turn (Ps = 0) at 200 keas, Turning radius no greater than 4,000 ft.

9.  Climb to cruise altitude no lower than 25,000 ft

10.  Cruise back 300 nmi at optimum altitude and Mach number

11.  Land

12.  Reserves: 30min loiter 5000 ft at optimum speed for endurance

Secondary Mission – Low Altitude Patrol

  1. Take off
  2. Climb to an optimum cruise altitude no lower than 25,000 ft and no higher than 37,000 ft.
  3. Cruise out 300 nmi
  4. Descend to 2,000 feet
  5. Cruise at optimum speed no greater than 250 keas for maximum allowable distance
  6. Climb to cruise altitude no lower than 25,000 ft
  7. Cruise back 300 nmi at optimum altitude and Mach number
  8. Land
  9. Reserves: 60 min loiter 5000 ft at optimum speed for endurance

Performance Requirements

Sustained Load factor – Maximum Thrust

Sea level / Mach = 0.4 3

2g Specific Excess Power - Maximum Thrust

Sea level / Mach = 0.5 100 ft/s

25,000 ft / Mach = 0.8 50 ft/s