The U.S. Air Force is looking for contractors to install counter-drone netting around six F-35 shelters at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida. The plan has yet to be finalised, and no contract is guaranteed.
The 325th Contracting Squadron published a sources sought notice on SAM.gov late last week. The notice is market research only. The government states it is not a solicitation and that respondents will not be reimbursed for their costs. Interested firms have until 13 November to respond with a 10-page capability package covering past performance, a design concept, rough pricing, and timelines.
Each of the six open-sided shelters is about 630 feet long, 65 feet wide, and 30 feet high, with space for up to six F-35As. The netting must stop Group 1 drones, the smallest U.S. military class, at 20 pounds or less. It needs a tensile strength of at least 200 pounds and mesh no wider than three inches. The north and south sides must retract so aircraft can enter and leave.
The nets must also meet Miami-Dade County wind load requirements and withstand temperatures up to 400°F, with polyester or nylon preferred. The contractor must use licensed structural engineers to assess whether the existing metal shelters can carry the load.
The notice follows a wider Air Force debate over physical protection for bases. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach told Breaking Defense in July: “There is value in some light protection against small, unmanned threats.” He also said he does not want to spend heavily on hardened shelters.
The six shelters are only part of the base. Aircraft also park in the open on the flightline, according to The War Zone (TWZ).
