Armed Overwatch
Armed Overwatch will provide Special Operations Forces (SOF) deployable and sustainable manned aircraft systems fulfilling Close Air Support (CAS), Precision Strike, and SOF Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR) in austere and permissive environments. The Government estimates an acquisition of 75 aircraft with associated support over the life of the acquisition.
Non-traditional intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (NTISR) collection program at the Air and Space Operations Center (AOC) level have used fielded sensors on theater strike aircraft to augment collection capability for intelligence requirements. NTISR is executed in essentially two forms. The first form is armed overwatch, which uses strike aircraft to provide real-time battlefield situational awareness to ground forces. The second form is theater collection which uses strike aircraft to collect ISR that is then sent for analysis and disseminated as operational and strategic level intelligence.
The difference between armed overwatch and theater collection is the requirement for processing, exploitation, and dissemination (PED). Using armed overwatch, data is sent directly to the tactical level where the user is responsible for PED. Strike aircraft and the AOC have few follow-on requirements for collected data. Armed overwatch is more an extension of close air support than intelligence collection and can be tasked as such.
Over the years, the Army incorporated overwatch into its doctrine, and commanders have employed the concept extensively to protect their maneuvering forces. The overwatch concept has two fundamental components. First, some part of the force is moving, and this element is somewhat vulnerable. Second, another portion of the force is available that can (1) observe the situation from a defensible position, and (2) provide supporting fires if necessary. While use of the overwatch technique can slow the tempo of the ground advance, it has proven to be an effective force protection measure.
Given this description, “overwatch” is a better term than CAS or NTISR to describe the effect ground commanders need from airborne platforms during their combat operations. These commanders want to use airborne assets in the same way that Army units used overwatch forces — to take up a position of observation, help build situational awareness, and be prepared to employ fires if necessary.
In fact, overwatch in three dimensions seems to be an improvement over traditional twodimensional overwatch. Airborne assets can accomplish overwatch without slowing down the tempo of the ground operation. Furthermore, overwatch in urban terrain is more effective when airborne platforms assume the observation role, as the airborne perspective allows the ground commander to see behind walls and around corners.
In addition to the advantages airborne platforms enjoy in the observation role, many airborne platforms carry precision weapons that are viable in the urban environment. Although “overwatch” implies the ability to provide protective fires, it is probably best to use “armed overwatch” when referring to airborne platforms in order to differentiate platforms that carry precision ordnance from those that do not. For this reason, “armed overwatch” is the term used by US Central Command Air Forces.
The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Directorate of Procurement, on behalf of USSOCOM Program Executive Office-Fixed Wing (PEO-FW), conducted an Industry Day event for Armed Overwatch [Notice ID H92408]. USSOCOM would conduct a briefing to industry in support of the Armed Overwatch program. This Industry Day occured on 4 – 5 March 2020.
White paper submittals shall be no longer than 8 pages and should demonstrate: the offeror’s schedule to providing a production ready prototype system capable of satisfying, at minimum, the criteria for prototype demonstrations; the risk associated with the proposed solution with respect to cost, schedule, and performance; additional capabilities of the prototype and how the offeror plans to comply with the Buy American Act. Invited offerors will participate in Offeror Deep Dives, a two-day, one-on-one session with the Government evaluation team at the contractor’s facility. Offerors should be prepared to address and provide additional substantiating data arising from the white paper submissions and discuss: 1) technical approach, 2) technical maturity, 3) a schedule detailing prototype completion in time for prototype demonstrations, 4) aircraft integration, readiness, and risks with respect to meeting the prototype criteria. Selected offerors will be invited to enter into an OTA Agreement (OTA) to deliver and demonstrate their proposed prototype and to provide a proposal of how the offeror will meet a requirement for up to 75 aircraft over a 5-7 year period if awarded a follow-on production contract.
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 required that "None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for the Department of Defense may be used to, and the Department may not — (1) procure armed overwatch aircraft for the United States Special Operations Command in fiscal year 2021; or (2) procure armed overwatch aircraft for the Air Force in fiscal years 2021 through 2023."
The aircraft system procured as a result of this action will support the following missions of Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC): CAS, Armed Reconnaissance, Strike Coordination & Reconnaissance, and Airborne Forward Air Control. This prototype initiative is to demonstrate an Armed Overwatch prototype. The follow-on contract is expected to be an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) with a base 5-year ordering period and 2-year option ordering period and an estimated quantity of 75 aircraft with associated support.
| Leidos | Bronco II |
| MAG Aerospace | MC-208 Guardian |
| Textron Aviation Defense | AT-6E Wolverine |
| L-3 Communications | AT-802U Sky Warden |
| Sierra Nevada | MC-145B Wily Coyote |
Work under the prototype project other transaction agreements will be performed primarily at the below awardee locations and Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, and is expected to be completed by March 2022. These awards are the result of a competitive effort in accordance with 10 U.S.C. § 2371b(f). Fiscal 2021 Research, Development, Test and Evaluation funds in the amount of $19,199,898.68; are being obligated at the time of award.
The Armed Overwatch Program will provide Special Operations Forces (SOF) deployable, affordable, and sustainable manned aircraft systems fulfilling Close Air Support (CAS), Armed Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (Armed ISR), Strike Coordination & Reconnaissance (SCAR), and Forward Air Controller (Airborne) (FAC(A)) requirements (defined in DoD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms, January 2020)[1] in austere and permissive environments for the Countering-Violent Extremist Organization (C-VEO) missions.
The USSOCOM Armed Overwatch Other Transaction (OT) for Prototype effort will consist of three phases. Phase 1, white papers, will occur prior to award of the OTA Agreement. Phase 2, Offeror Deep Dives, will occur prior to award of the OTA Agreement, and the Government may down-select at the end of either or both phases. For Phase 3, the Government intends to award an OTA Agreement to multiple contractors for competitive demonstration and evaluation. The OTA Agreement will require the demonstration of a prototype system evaluated against well-defined criteria to determine whether the prototype project has been successfully completed by the contractor and, if so, whether a follow-on production contract will be awarded to that offeror.
The Armed Overwatch Program will provide a deployable, affordable, and sustainable manned aircraft systems fulfilling CAS, Armed ISR, SCAR, and FAC(A) requirements in austere and permissive environments for the C-VEO missions. This prototype project initiative will require demonstration of a prototype system evaluated against well-defined criteria for an Armed Overwatch Program.
In accordance with 10 U.S.C. § 2371b(f), the OTA Agreement will include a provision for a potential follow-on production contract to be awarded without additional competition. Basic eligibility to receive a follow-on production contract will require the successful completion of the prototype project. The follow-on contract is expected to be an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity award under: 1) the authorities set forth in 10 U.S.C. ch. 137 and 48 C.F.R. parts 1 and 2; or 2) a similarly structured OTA agreement under the authority of 10 U.S.C. § 2371b(a). Either form of contract shall have a 5-year base ordering period, and a 2-year optional ordering period.
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