Tag: communications

Barone Consulting Awarded DARPA BLADE Phase 2 SETA Support Task Order

Barone Consulting’s, RF communications systems expertise called on by DARPA I2O to provide systems engineering support and technical assistance to the BLADE cognitive electronics warfare program.
Washington, DC (September 26, 2012) – The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), through the Information Innovation Office (I2O), has awarded Barone Consulting, a $635K task order for the Behavioral Learning for Adaptive Electronic Warfare (BLADE) Phase 2 Program, systems engineering, and technical assistance (SETA) support effort.

“Barone Consulting is proud to continue its longstanding support of truly innovative research and development efforts on behalf of DARPA and their DoD clients,” said Kevin Barone, President and CEO of Barone Consulting. “With the DARPA BLADE program, our expertise in RF communications systems and military electronics warfare made us the right choice to advance BLADE from a Phase 1 proof-of-concept to a Phase 2 hardware-in-the-loop simulation.”

The BLADE Program is developing the capability to counter new and dynamic wireless communication threats in tactical environments; enabling a shift from today’s manual-intensive lab-based countermeasure approach to an adaptive, in-the-field systems approach. The program is achieving this by developing novel machine learning algorithms and techniques that can rapidly detect and characterize new radio threats, dynamically synthesize new countermeasures, and provide accurate battle damage assessment based on over-the-air observable changes in the threat.Under this task order Barone Consulting will provide subject matter experts responsible for overseeing the technical development of machine learning algorithms, development of supporting hardware testbeds, and execution of the Phase 2 final testing and evaluation activity. Lockheed Martin Advanced Technologies Laboratories in Cherry Hill, NJ, and BAE Systems in Nashua, NH, have been selected as the BLADE Phase 2 performers.

Additionally, Barone Consulting will play a key role in developing the performance metrics used by DARPA to assess the successful completion of Phase 2 objectives and guide the selection of a Phase 3 performer in early 2014.

The work for the BLADE Program was awarded under a task order to Shafer Corporation’s DARPA/I2O contract vehicle. All work will be completed onsite at DARPA’s new headquarters in Arlington, VA, over the next 18-24 months.

Founded in 2009, Barone Consulting provides system engineering and technical assistance services to the Department of Defense and the intelligence community. They provide a cadre of elite subject matter experts to the government in support of game-changing, cutting edge technologies that help performers bridge the “valley of death” between R&D and fielded tactically relevant products. To find out more, please visit www.baronedc.com.

Barone Consulting Awarded DARPA ISIS Phase 3 SETA Support Task Order

Recognizing Barone Consulting’s experience with mission software related to communications systems and flight operations, DARPA’s STO taps their expertise for ISIS Phase 3 SETA support.

Washington, DC (August 29, 2009) The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Strategic Technology Office (STO) has awarded Washington, DC based Barone Consulting a task order worth $691 thousand for the Integrated Sensor Is Structure (ISIS) Phase 3 Program, systems engineering and technical assistance (SETA) support effort.
‘Barone Consulting is extremely proud to be supporting this visionary system, which will provide unprecedented ISR capabilities to our armed forces’ said Kevin Barone, president and CEO of Barone Consulting. With the DARPA ISIS program, our Air Force flight testing experience and software development experience filled a critical gap in the government’s ability to manage this high risk, high reward program.

The joint DARPA/U.S. Air Force Integrated Sensor is Structure (ISIS) program is focused on developing a sensor of unprecedented proportions that will be fully integrated into a stratospheric airship. ISIS is designed to provide persistent wide-area surveillance, tracking, and engagement for hundreds of time-critical air and ground targets in deployed overseas urban and rural environments, without requiring in-theater support facilities or personnel. ISIS seeks radical sensor improvements by melding the next generation technologies for enormous lightweight antenna apertures and high-energy density components into a highly integrated, lightweight, multi-purpose airship structure, completely erasing the distinction between payload and platform.

Barone Consulting will provide subject matter expertise, oversight of the airships’ flight safety systems, and interfacing with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Unmanned Aircraft Program Office (UAPO) to coordinate airworthiness determinations in support of an FAA COA. As a joint partner in the ISIS program, Barone Consulting will coordinate with the Air Force Flight Test Organizations at Edwards Air Force Base (California) and Wright Patterson Air Force Base (Ohio). In addition to flight safety and airworthiness, Barone Consulting will bring their experience in mission software development to oversee the ISIS ground station, mission planning software, and flight operations and communications software.

SETA support for the ISIS program, which was awarded under a task order to System Planning Corporations DARPA/STO contract vehicle, will be completed onsite at DARPA’s Arlington, VA, office over the next 36 months. Lockheed Martin in Palmdale, CA, has been selected as the prime integrator along with Raytheon Systems in El Segundo, CA, as the radar developer. The total contract award is valued at $399.9 million.

Founded in 2009, Barone Consulting provides system engineering and technical assistance services to the Department of Defense and the intelligence community. They provide a cadre of elite subject matter experts to the government in support of game-changing, cutting edge technologies that help performers bridge the “valley of death” between R&D and fielded tactically relevant products. To find out more, please visit www.baronedc.com