The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is seeking proposals to develop and produce small water-borne vessels that can launch and retrieve unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). While unmanned aircraft have proven their worth as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms and lethal carriers of ordnance, DARPA’s move acknowledges their limitations. Fixed-wing aircraft can fly farther and for longer durations than helicopters, but require airfields or aircraft carriers. Helicopters are limited by range and flight time. Establishing bases for each requires extensive expenditures on manpower and equipment, and frequently involves overcoming diplomatic and security challenges. By launching its Tactically Exploited Reconnaissance Node (TERN) program, DARPA wants research teams to step forward with their ideas for small ships that can serve as mobile launch-and-recovery sites for medium-altitude-long-endurance UAVs. The platforms must be deployable from Navy littoral combat ship (LCS) 2 vessels and other surface ships when feasible. The agency plans to hold a Proposer’s Day March 20 at its Arlington, Va., conference center. Registration is open until March 18 at noon Eastern Time. More details are available online at http://go.usa.gov/2gxJ.