The US Navy has awarded separate contracts to two companies to conduct work on potential breakthrough technologies for the development, evaluation and implementation of cryogenic radio frequency systems, as well as advanced cryogenic core digital and quantum memory technologies.
The contracts were awarded out to the Fog Research for $53.4 million contract with a potential ceiling of $91.4 million, and Hypres for $40.4 million with a potential ceiling of $67.7 million for the work. These two companies will compete for work under the contracts, which are expected to run through July 12, 2019, with the possibility of extending through July 2021.
The work on cryogenic radio frequency systems will include signal detection, conditioning, conversion, processing and storage in the analog, mixed and digital domains, according to the Navy’s request for proposals, which was issued in January. These contracts also will explore advanced components, such as filters and amplifiers, and cryogenic signal processing.
Efforts on quantum memory technologies will include exploiting superconducting quantum interference devices, tactical signals intelligence systems, and other military platforms. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific (SPAWAR) in San Diego is in charge of the contracts.
