TACFI KestrelX

The Department of the Air Force (DAF) and the DoD are in the process of filling the urgent capability gaps in Short-Range Air Defense (SHORAD), Cruise Missile Defense (CMD), and Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS). The DAF and DoD require an extremely affordable, reliable, repeatable, flexible, effective, and low observable drone and cruise missile threat replication aircraft for training. This combination does not presently exist in the DoD/contractor inventory and is an Urgent Operational Need and a critical National Security concern. KestrelX successfully completed a SBIR Phase II in December 2023.  In-depth interviews with the AF Customer revealed that cost and availability are primary drivers and concerns (with the premise that the end users’ needs, i.e., performance specifications, will be met). In-depth interviews with multiple AF End Users resulted in Technical Objectives being developed.  The top-level technical objective of the Phase II initiative was to produce a maneuverable aircraft with a Low Observable (LO) Radar Cross Section (RCS) with acceptable speed and range capability to be used for subsonic cruise missile and drone threat replication.  Air Force Customer and End User defined specific technical objectives were defined in Phase II Technical Objectives and Key Results.  The specific technical objectives included RCS, speed, range, and maneuverability.  The KestrelX solution incorporated a manned baseline aircraft and innovatively combined commercial and proprietary solutions for RCS reduction to replicate threat drone and cruise missiles. To meet the RCS objectives of the AF customer and end user, KestrelX innovatively combined the most advanced Radar Absorbent Materials (RAM) with proprietary purpose shaping. A manned aircraft was utilized for safety, flexibility, mission effectiveness, and cost.