The US Navy has issued an updated request for information (RFI) to industry for an Offensive Anti-Surface Warfare (OASuW) analysis of alternatives with a view to fielding a next-generation weapon after 2028.

The RFI is seeking details on key capabilities, technical readiness levels, cost, schedule and risks associated with the OASuW. It is an extension of the Navy’s Next Generation Land Attack Weapon (NGLAW) program, and has been expanded to include Naval TACAIR with the objective to inform Navy’s next generation strike weapon roadmaps.

The RFI says the OASuW will be employed from aircraft including the F-35 (internal and exterior carriage), F/A-18, Next Generation Fighter, and the P-8 against maritime and land targets in a range of environments. It says the ‘trade space’ will be assessed with respect to concept capabilities, mission effectiveness, technical and operational risk, development and total ownership cost, and overall system value.

The Navy is requesting concepts, systems, subsystems, and technologies that might form a possible solution or solutions. Its primary interest areas are associated with the air vehicle including airframe, propulsion, guidance, navigation, control, communication, payload, and warhead.

There is also interest in interoperability, autonomy in denied environment, weapon-to-weapon communications and collaboration in RF denied environment, logistics/product support, aircraft carrier handling, and self-targeting capability.

Responses to the RFI are due by June 28 2019.