Aircraft Formation Flight Control Technology for Heterogeneous Formation Flight - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-NV004

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $240,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Develop an advanced flight control architecture to enable greater range and endurance through precise automatic station keeping while flying in formation and exploiting vortex-generated upwash from upstream aircraft.

Description:

Wake surfing (i.e., flying trail in close formation within the upwash of one or several lead aircraft) has demonstrated significant fuel savings on the order of 10-20%. Researchers have conducted multiple studies and executed flight demonstrations in the past that validated performance gains. However, the adoption of an operational capability still faces challenges.

One key challenge is the technical approach for trailing aircraft to maintain precise relative position behind upstream aircraft in the optimal location to maximize efficiency. While this task can be performed through manual pilot station keeping, the task is workload intensive and is not practical for long missions. There is a need for an autopilot flight control capability to maintain the position for optimum fuel savings (i.e., the “sweet spot”), realizing this significant range/endurance benefit opportunity with minimal or zero pilot workload. Flight control architectures must be capable of precise station keeping in aircraft formations of similar/dissimilar and manned/unmanned fixed wing aircraft. Flight control architectures may include techniques to sense the location of the vortex/upwash effects both with and without explicit knowledge of aircraft relative positions.

The objective is to create robust flight control laws for trailing aircraft in similar or dissimilar formations to exploit the benefits of wake surfing. Unique aircraft hardware and modifications should be minimized to the greatest extent possible to achieve this objective. To achieve robust control law development for precision formation flight, the problem can be broken into coarse and precision tracking problems, with some interdependencies between the two. It is strongly desired that both problems be solved without additional hardware integration for participating vehicles and zero data-link demands.

For coarse acquisition and tracking, it is expected that the relative position between participating aircraft needs to be established and maintained in the general vicinity of the lead’s wing-tip vortex. Relative position must be maintained while sequencing waypoints or tracking a heading or ground track to accomplish ingress/egress mission segments. Consideration in the development of coarse acquisition and tracking capability should be given to Global Positioning System unavailability.

For precision position tracking and control, it is expected that aircraft sensors (e.g. air data, inertial, flight controls) affected by the influences of the wing tip vortex on the trail aircraft can be identified and exploited to locate optimal position. Control architecture gains and surface mixing influences necessary for acquiring and tightly tracking the optimal location in the presence of the non-linear wing tip vortices and free stream turbulence must be considered.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Integrated Metal Ceramic Matrix for High Strength Steels - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-NV002

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $240,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Develop an integrated metal matrix for high strength steels.

Description:

Landing gear components are limited to the use of high strength steels due to their harsh loading applications and various environmental conditions. Typically, high strength steels are used to survive the load requirements. The two technologies currently applied to most landing gear components are Hard Chrome and high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF). Each has their disadvantages that affects landing gear components. A replacement for Hard Chrome and HVOF is required to improve the readiness and safety of landing gear components.

Hard Chrome’s main disadvantage is that it hides corrosion underneath the chrome plating which can lead to stress corrosion cracking in high strength steels. This failure mode would cause the complete loss of a landing gear system as the landing gear essentially snaps into pieces due to high stresses of landing. If corrosion is found before stress corrosion cracking occurs it still leads to the complete scrapping of landing gear components. This is due to Hard Chrome having no repair method. The only option for Hard Chrome is to replace, remove, and then reapply which takes days of machining and post machining. In addition to the machining, the application requires hazardous chemicals and produces waste that creates a health and safety risk to the fleet and its manufacturing personnel. Lastly, another risk with Hard Chrome is the dimensional limitations it provides. If too little or too much Hard Chrome is applied, the coating will immediately delaminate and damage landing gear and hydraulic components due to the foreign object debris (FOD) inside the system.

HVOF comes with its disadvantages as well. HVOF requires extremely low surface roughness on the pistons which have poor tribology. The poor tribology causes the hydraulics seals to perform dry and wear the seals away extremely quickly. Hydraulic fluid cannot stick to the walls of the piston due to the low surface roughness.

On top of the hydraulic disadvantages, the surface roughness requires precision post machining for long durations to survive the landing gear environments. In the fleet, the main issue seen with HVOF is spalling when the landing gear experiences high strains. When this occurs, the landing gear components must be removed and replaced.

This topic seeks an innovative solution that provides an integrated metal matrix for high strength steels that boosts the performance of and extends a component's survivability and improves a system's operational readiness and lifecycle costs. Current technology for titanium uses waveform energy. The process generates a targeted physical reaction within a substrate, activating the substrate at an atomic level for precise placement and gradient depth control of an integrated infusion. This infusion results in a matrix composite material that leverages the strengths of both components. The chemical bonding between a ceramic and the titanium alloy involves a combination of covalent and ionic characteristics — sharing and exchanging of electrons. This combination enhances the mechanical properties of the composite material, such as properties and porosity mitigation for corrosion protection, hardness for wear resistance, thermal stability, and overall durability, resulting in a metal-matrix suitable for various high-performance applications. Current technology can tailor characteristics such as hardness, electrical conductivity, thermal and oxidation, and mechanical strength. These meticulous adjustments enable the creation of the matrix with specific, desired functionalities, enhancing their performance in various applications to defeat corrosion, wear, erosion, thermal, and other challenges. For instance, a metal matrix composite gradient depth infusions of titanium nitride (TiN) achieved hardness ratings of 2800-3100HV (micro-Vickers). Currently, the process is limited to transition metals; however, there is a need to adapt and develop it for application to high strength steels. This innovative solution will provide the benefits of both Hard Chrome and HVOF while eliminating the current limitations of the respective coatings.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

NAVWAR Open Topic for Resilient Wideband RF Photonic Architectures for Assured Communications and PNT in Contested Electromagnetic Environments - SBIR Topic DON26BX01-NP001

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $240,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Develop, prototype, and demonstrate next-generation radio frequency (RF) photonic front-end technologies that improve the reliability, clarity, and resilience of wireless communications and navigation in high-interference environments. These solutions will leverage advances similar to those used in commercial fiber-optic telecommunications, satellite broadband (e.g., Starlink-class systems), 5G wireless infrastructure, and autonomous vehicle sensor systems to ensure the U.S. Navy maintains assured communications and assured position, navigation, and timing (APNT) during contested maritime operations.

Description:

The United States Navy must maintain reliable communications and accurate navigation to operate effectively at sea, coordinate with allies, and ensure freedom of navigation in increasingly complex and contested environments. Modern naval operations depend on uninterrupted wireless communications and precise timing and positioning, much like commercial aviation, autonomous shipping, satellite internet providers, and global logistics companies.

The Navy’s Communications and GPS Navigation Program Office (PMW/A 170) is responsible for delivering resilient and adaptive communications and APNT capabilities to Fleet forces and coalition partners. As commercial technology rapidly advances in areas such as fiber-optic networking, 5G/6G wireless systems, high-speed satellite communications, and advanced sensing platforms, the Navy seeks to harness and adapt these innovations to strengthen maritime mission performance.

The Golden Fleet initiative emphasizes modernizing not only ships, but also the systems that enable command, control, communications, navigation, and situational awareness. Modern Naval operations depend heavily on reliable communications and precise navigation, much like commercial aviation, satellite broadband networks, autonomous systems, and global logistics enterprises. As commercial industries continue to advance technologies that maintain reliable performance in crowded and interference-heavy environments, the Navy seeks to adapt and transition these innovations to strengthen maritime mission resilience.

Naval communications and navigation systems must operate reliably not only in routine conditions, but also in environments where adversaries attempt to disrupt signals or where the radio spectrum is heavily congested. Traditional RF front-end electronics can experience degraded performance or signal loss when exposed to jamming, electromagnetic interference, or strong competing signals. These vulnerabilities can create operational risk and threaten mission continuity in contested electromagnetic environments.

To address these challenges, this Open Topic invites system-level innovations in wideband RF photonic front-end architectures. RF photonics combines radio and optical technologies by using light and fiber-based components to carry, preserve, and condition radio signals with high fidelity. Similar approaches are widely used in commercial fiber-optic communications, high-capacity wireless infrastructure, and precision timing networks to improve signal quality, expand bandwidth, and reduce distortion over long distances. When adapted to Naval RF systems, these technologies offer a promising path to lower noise, improved resistance to interference, wider signal capture, and more reliable signal recovery than conventional electronic front ends.

Proposed solutions may incorporate commercially inspired technologies such as:

Coherent optical signal processing used in high-speed telecom networks

Advanced phase-tracking techniques similar to those used in precision satellite navigation and autonomous vehicle localization

Interference suppression approaches used in dense commercial wireless environments (e.g., stadiums, smart cities, and industrial IoT networks)

Compact photonic integrated circuits (PICs), similar to those being developed for next-generation data centers and lidar systems

Desired capabilities include systems that:

Reduce receiver noise without relying on traditional RF amplifiers

Maintain signal integrity under heavy interference and jamming

Capture and reconstruct wideband signals with high accuracy

Automatically detect and remove unknown interference sources

Support scalable, ruggedized deployment on ships, aircraft, and distributed maritime platforms

Reduce size, weight, power, and cost while improving survivability

Of particular interest are integrated, fiber-remoted, and packaged front-end modules that can operate reliably in harsh maritime environments, similar to ruggedized telecom and offshore energy communications equipment. Solutions that enable real-time interference excision without prior knowledge of the signal or threat are strongly encouraged.

Work produced in Phase II may become classified. Note: The prospective contractor(s) must be U.S. owned and operated with no foreign influence as defined by 32 U.S.C. § 2004.20 et seq., National Industrial Security Program Executive Agent and Operating Manual, unless acceptable mitigating procedures can and have been implemented and approved by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) formerly Defense Security Service (DSS). The selected contractor must be able to acquire and maintain a secret level facility and Personnel Security Clearances. This will allow contractor personnel to perform on advanced phases of this project as set forth by DCSA and NAVWAR in order to gain access to classified information pertaining to the national defense of the United States and its allies; this will be an inherent requirement. The selected company will be required to safeguard classified material during the advanced phases of this contract IAW the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM), which can be found at Title 32, Part 2004.20 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Modeling for Frontal Polymerization Curing Process - STTR Topic DON26TZ01-NV002

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $240,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Develop a multiphysics model or toolset to predict frontal polymerization phenomena and to optimize the resin additives (e,g., catalyst, inhibitor, etc.) for an optimized cure with less distortion or residual stress, while ensuring that the front does not self-extinguish.

Description:

Frontal polymerization is the process of curing a resin monomer into a polymer with a localized self-sustaining and moving reaction zone. Frontal polymerization has many benefits over traditional resin cure methods, such as reduced cure time from many hours to seconds or minutes [Refs 1,-2], a significant reduction of the energy required to cure (in some cases over 99.5%) [Ref 3], and reduced cost associated with curing a resin [Ref 3].

Frontal polymerization has many potential applications such as increasing cure percentage for thermoset additive manufacturing processes without requiring a post cure, rapid manufacturing of composite structures, and rapid composite curing for accelerated repairs of composite structures.

Frontal polymerization is a very boundary condition dependent process. Changes in boundary conditions, initial conditions (including temperature and initiation methods), resin formulations, resin or composite thickness, as well as the addition of reinforced fibers or materials can drastically affect characteristics like front velocity, front temperature, and whether a front is sustained or terminated. This can make it challenging to predict and synthesize resin systems that can sustain a frontally polymerized cure with different initiation methods, environmental conditions, composite/resin thicknesses, and reinforcement materials.

Currently, phenomenological multiphysics modeling efforts for frontal polymerization are limited to 1D, 2D, or small 3D models, since they are very computationally demanding due to the highly nonlinear coupling of the governing equations and short timescales required for accurate solution convergence. Furthermore, many models do not predict the mechanical response resulting from the frontal polymerization process (i.e., warpage or residual stress of the polymer caused by the frontal polymerization process). Surrogate modeling can drastically reduce the time to simulate a front but often requires training to create the surrogate model in the form of many finite element analyses or experiments that can be very time consuming. Recently a mechanism-based approach has been created, allowing for prediction of frontal polymerization phenomena without requiring differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) testing to obtain properties for different resin formulations [Ref 4].

This STTR topic calls for development of a model or toolset to predict characteristics of the frontal polymerization process such as front temperature, front velocity, and cure percentage, as well as the resulting effects from the frontal polymerization process such as warpage, residual stress, or post cure mechanical strength. The model should work for multiple initiation methods (i.e., a point initiation of the front, line initiation, and planar initiation for the front (for simulating a point heat source, a line/wire heat source, and a planar heat source). The model should also be scalable, allowing for simulation of different/larger geometries without detrimental increases in computational time. This topic falls under the NAWCAD STTR focus area for in situ material detection and repair solutions.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Low Power Seawater Converter for Aircrew Survival - STTR Topic DON26TZ01-NV014

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $240,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Develop a lightweight, compact, rugged, and reliable device that can convert seawater into safe, drinkable water. The device should minimize bulk and human energy expenditure, while maximizing output.

Description:

Survival in a life raft on the open ocean depends greatly on the availability of potable water. Naval aircrew currently carry prepackaged water in soft packets placed within the ejection seat survival kit and aircrew survival vest sufficient to sustain life for less than one day. Reverse osmosis desalinators and forward osmosis nutrient packs are commercially available to the recreational seafarer. However, neither of these approaches are designed to maximize the amount of drinkable water while minimizing the amount of human energy expended, while constrained by limited space within a survival kit. Manual Reverse Osmosis Desalinator (MROD) devices are labor intensive, requiring more than 2500 pumps to produce one liter of water in one hour. Such human powered devices may require more energy expenditure than the calories available to stranded aircrew. Forward osmosis products available for the recreational sailor can produce potable beverages with little manual effort, but the total output capacity for aircrew is limited by the storage volume of the ejection seat survival kit. Current options for supplying sufficient drinking water to sustain life throughout extended rescue durations are inadequate.

Innovative solutions will minimize or eliminate aircrew physical activity/exertion, while producing at least one gallon of drinkable water per day, with a minimum salt rejection of 95%. Concepts utilizing novel chemical processes or nanotechnology are preferred over simple refinements of current osmosis technology.

The device should:

a) fit within a Naval Aircraft Common Ejection Seat (NACES) survival kit (an envelope approximately 6½"x14½"x4½") along with an Emergency Oxygen System (EOS) and an LRU-38/P life raft, but not exceed 114 cubic inches.

b) operate in near freezing brine water/freshwater/saltwater.

c) operate in turbulent or calm water conditions.

d) operate reliably in cold and hot ambient air from -40° to +125°F (-40° to +51°C).

e) operate after exposure to temperature extremes from -65° to +160°F (-54° to +71°C).

f) operate after exposure to mold, mildew, flame, and salt fog.

g) not create hazards (i.e., burn, injury, Foreign Object Debris (FOD), snag/trip, and static discharge) in any mission or survival operations.

h) operate following a 600-knot seat ejection.

i) operate after repeated exposure to altitudes up to 70,000 ft (0.65 psi).

j) operate after exposure to typical fixed-wing ejection seat aircraft vibration levels, at frequencies from 5 Hz-2000 Hz).

k) provide resistance to environmental contaminants (i.e., sand, petroleum, oil, lubricants, and solar radiation).

l) not interfere with survival vest or mounted gear, armor/armor release, seat harnesses, helmets or head mounted gear.

m) be capable of operating after 15 months in a packed state (360-day inspection cycle plus 90 day shelf life) while exposed to temperature ranges of -65° to 160°F (-54° to +71°C).

n) weigh less than 2 lbs.

o) use Berry Amendment-compliant materials and manufacturing techniques.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

AI/ML Assisted Field Troubleshooting in Avionics Optical Network - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-DV003

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $2 Million.

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Design, develop, and integrate a portable artificial intelligence/ machine learning (AI/ML)-enabled diagnostic module compatible with existing Optical Backscattering Reflectometer (OBR) and Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) mainframes. The module will be engineered to support in-field optical network troubleshooting and management for high-speed communication systems.

Description:

Current airborne military (mil-aero) core avionics, electro-optical (EO), communications, and electronic warfare systems are experiencing continuous growth in bandwidth demand, coupled with stringent requirements to reduce Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP). Earlier-generation multimode optical fibers have replaced traditional shielded twisted-pair wire and coaxial cable, offering increased electromagnetic interference (EMI) immunity, higher bandwidth and throughput, and notable reductions in aircraft size and weight.

However, maintenance and troubleshooting of these advanced optical networks remain highly dependent on traditional telecommunication test equipment. Identifying and resolving faults—such as fiber breaks, fractures, and high-loss terminations—requires locating and distinguishing anomalies within meter-level precision, whereas modern avionic information-processing networks demand centimeter-level spatial resolution from source to detector.

Fault detection must extend beyond typical Weapons Replaceable Assembly (WRA) interfaces to identify:

Backplane/module degradation

Line replaceable module-to-optical transceiver faults

Polymer waveguide failures

Inline sensor (fiber grating) issues

Optical link loss across concatenated waveguide segments

Frequent airframe panel removal during fault isolation disrupts aircraft availability and mission readiness—especially for stealth platforms—highlighting the need for faster, more accurate, and less intrusive diagnostics.

To overcome these limitations, a portable AI/ML-enabled troubleshooting device is proposed to support field diagnostics across military airborne fiber-optic systems. The device will leverage next-generation reflectometry technologies and machine intelligence to enhance fault resolution precision and technician efficiency.

Key Capabilities:

AI-Augmented Fault DetectionReal-time identification of defects (breaks, voids, misalignments, link degradation)

Pattern recognition and anomaly classification using historical signature databases

AI-Driven Virtual AssistantsOn-device or network-connected chatbots providing guided maintenance workflows

Embedded AR interface for overlaying diagnostics on test hardware in real time

Advanced Troubleshooting MetricsSpatial resolution to centimeter scale across multiple fiber types

Predictive maintenance algorithms to reduce unplanned network downtime

Plug-and-Play Integration Fully compatible with existing portable OTDR/OBR mainframes

Support for both multimode (50/125, 62.5/125, 100/140 µm) and single mode (9/125 µm) fiber types

GUI developed for intuitive field use across all operational conditions

Wavelength and Environmental ResilienceOperational wavelength support: SWDM and CWDM

Designed for MIL-PRF-28800 Class 2 with select Class 1 enhancements

Operational temperature range: –40°C to +95°C

Resistant to mechanical shock, altitude variation, vibration, humidity, and thermal cycling

The device will build upon a fusion of legacy and emerging fiber-optic diagnostic technologies, including:

Optical Time Domain Reflectometry (OTDR)

Optical Backscatter Reflectometry (OBR)

Photon-Counting OTDR (PC-OTDR)

Low Correlation OTDR (LC-OTDR)

Pseudo Random Sequence (PRS) Correlation OTDR (C-OTDR)

Optical Frequency Domain Reflectometry (OFDR)

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Flexible Printed Thermoelectric Cooling Film - STTR Topic DON26TZ01-NV013

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $240,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Develop a low-cost and lightweight thermoelectric cooling film that could be used to cool the warfighter (small scale) or surfaces on military platforms (larger scale) using printed organic semiconductors. The flexible cooling films should have a bending radius of less than one inch to easily wrap around pipes, wrists, and ankles, and be able to conform to complex curvatures on larger surfaces.

Description:

Thermoelectric cooling devices based on narrow bandgap semiconductors such as bismuth telluride are commercially available. They are solid state devices and thus do not have the large footprint and moving parts associated with vapor compression refrigeration systems; however, they operate with lower efficiency. They are well-suited for cooling small flat surfaces where one is more concerned with the form factor than efficiency. For many practical applications, these square ceramic tile thermoelectric devices are heavy and too rigid, and do not offer conformal contact to curved surfaces.

Over the past fifteen years, a lot of progress has been made on organic thermoelectric materials. Though the thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) has not caught up to that of bismuth telluride and other inorganic materials, the potential to make low-cost, lightweight, and flexible devices has opened a new application space for thermoelectric cooling where flexibility and large-area conformal contact are prioritized over efficiency. For instance, lightweight headbands and wristbands only need to remove a small amount of heat to provide significant cooling sensation to the user. Likewise, there are diffuse, large surface area applications with similar cooling needs. Prior research was summarized in a recent review article by Segalman [Ref 1].

The conducting polymer Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) [PEDOT] was identified as a strong candidate for the p-type leg in the p-n device, but device performance has been limited by the lack of suitable n-type materials. The organic electronics community has long wrestled with n-type materials due to potential oxidation of the electron carriers. A number of inherently stable and high performing n-type polymers have recently been developed [Ref 2] that should complement the available p-type materials and enable significantly improved thermoelectric cooling device performance. New device designs obtainable with simple fabrication must be developed to take advantage of the anisotropic thermal conductance and charge transport in these materials, which is typically maximized in-plane and along the polymer molecular backbones, such that measured thin film behaviors successfully translate into device performance. A number of design and fabrication strategies have been demonstrated but much more innovation is possible [Ref 1]. It is an appropriate time to develop lightweight, flexible thermoelectric cooling devices for these niche applications.

This STTR topic is for low-cost, lightweight, and flexible thermoelectrics for personal cooling as well as for large area applications.

The flexible cooling films should have a bending radius of less than one inch to easily wrap around pipes, wrists, and ankles, and be able to conform to complex curvatures on larger surfaces. The stated applications are near-ambient temperatures though the conjugated polymers should be able to handle temperatures up to 200°C. Composite approaches that are appropriate are welcome. This topic is not soliciting a fabric-based solution.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Thermally Tolerant Optical Fire Detectors - STTR Topic DON26TZ01-NV001

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $240,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Development and demonstration of an optical fire detector capable of an artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML)-enhanced Optical Fire Detector (OFD) capable of operating in temperatures up to 400°F, enabling deployment in high-performance engine nacelles without compromising responsiveness or coverage.

Description:

All aircraft engine nacelles require reliable and rapid-fire detection systems to ensure airworthiness and flight safety. OFDs are preferred over other technologies due to their fast response times and comprehensive coverage. However, existing OFDs are typically limited to operating in temperatures below 200°F, rendering them unsuitable for certain high-temperature nacelle environments that exceed this threshold.

Current Limitations of the Alternative (Thermally Robust Temperature-sensing Lines):

Slower detection response compared to optical methods

Limited coverage due to sensor placement constraints

Lack of non-destructive calibration, increasing maintenance complexity and downtime

AI/ML Integration for False Alarm Reduction:

Real-time signal classification to distinguish between genuine fire signatures and benign stimuli such as sunlight, engine exhaust, or infrared (IR) reflection

Adaptive filtering based on operational context, reducing nuisance alarms and increasing system confidence

Thermal Design Enhancements:

Material and packaging innovations to withstand prolonged exposure to 400°F (204°C) environments

Calibration methodologies resilient to the thermal cycling, vibration, and Electromagnetic Interference common to nacelle-mounted systems

Integration compatibility for both retrofit of legacy platforms and new platforms.

Expected Benefits:

Improved fire detection performance in thermally extreme zones

Increased aircraft survivability and mission readiness

Enhanced maintainability through non-invasive self-test and diagnostic capabilities

Improved fleet sustainability

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

High Clutter Virtual Objects for Modeling and Simulation - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-NV003

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $240,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Develop a modeling and simulation (M&S) application for generating high-fidelity, thermally-attributed virtual electro-optic and infrared (EO/IR) object models—specifically weather-explicit 3D clouds and/or debris fields—for integration into real-time scene generation systems.

Description:

Developmental and Operational Testing (DT/OT) of Missile Warning Systems (MWS), Infrared Countermeasures (IRCM), and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems are currently limited to in-flight tests or the use of recorded flight video in digital system models (DSM). These methods do not adequately replicate the complexity of battlefield, industrial, and urban environments, especially under high-clutter, thermally dynamic conditions.

To enhance system survivability and test realism, validated synthetic 3D scene models are required to represent high-fidelity thermal environments unachievable through traditional Test & Evaluation (T&E) methods. These models enable more effective assessment of performance and operational effectiveness across a range of mission scenarios.

The Navy’s EO/IR Direct Inject (EOIRDI) initiative employs the Synchronized Kilohertz Injection Projection (SKIP) scene generation system to support hardware-in-the-loop engagements.

SKIP is capable of operating across multiple formats:

2k x 2k at 60 Hz

512 x 512 at 500 Hz

320 x 320 at 1kHz

To fully utilize SKIP's capabilities, synthetic test engagements must be developed to match specific system-under-test (SUT) frame rates and resolution formats, incorporating unique geographic locations and weather conditions.

This topic seeks a M&S application for generating high-fidelity, thermally-attributed virtual EO/IR object models—specifically weather-explicit 3D clouds and/or debris fields—for integration into real-time scene generation systems.

The tool must enable validated six degrees of freedom (6-DOF) physics-based simulations to support live, virtual, and constructive (LVC)-based survivability assessments of modern threat engagement systems in cluttered battlefield environments involving air-to-air missiles (AAM) and surface-to-air (SAM) threats.

The solution must support scene generation at real-time frame rates (60 Hz, 500 Hz, 1 kHz) using the EO/IR rendering framework built on OpenSceneGraph (OSG) and Virtual Planet Builder (VPB). Models must include optical, thermal, and physical attributes—such as spectral absorption, emissivity, and reflectivity—across the MWIR band (3.0–5.0 microns), with scalability to 0.2–20.0 microns. The system will enable creation, rendering, and validation of thermally accurate clutter (clouds/debris) varying by temperature, atmospheric composition, and precipitation to support enhanced DT/OT of threat detection and survivability systems.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Automated Expeditionary Airfield Assembly - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-NV008

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $240,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Research, develop, and evaluate robotic system methodologies for automating or augmenting the assembly of Expeditionary Airfield (EAF) matting to enhance operational efficiency.

Description:

EAFs serve as vital shore-based aviation support systems that enable the rapid deployment and recovery of military aircraft in environments lacking established infrastructure. Currently, assembling EAF matting is a manual process carried out by Marines—a task that is physically demanding, labor-intensive, and exposes personnel to potential hazards.

Developing a robotic system capable of assisting with or fully automating this assembly process would offer significant operational benefits: increasing efficiency, reducing risk to personnel, and enabling Marines to focus on higher-priority mission objectives. The level of autonomy should allow for the robots to navigate and control without human assistance, which includes obstacle avoidance, path planning, and grasping. Such a solution would improve overall force readiness and effectiveness in austere and time-critical operational scenarios.

The approach includes defining and developing a viable system concept, while investigating various robotic configurations—such as mobile manipulators and assistive technologies—for their effectiveness in EAF mat handling, alignment, and interconnection across diverse and austere terrains.

The research will evaluate the proposed system's capacity to:

Traverse and operate on uneven or unstable surfaces

Manipulate and position heavy EAF mat sections with precision

Endure harsh environmental and operational conditions

Integrate seamlessly with current EAF deployment procedures

Work produced in Phase II may become classified. Note: The prospective contractor(s) must be U.S. owned and operated with no foreign influence as defined by 32 U.S.C. § 2004.20 et seq., National Industrial Security Program Executive Agent and Operating Manual, unless acceptable mitigating procedures can and have been implemented and approved by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) formerly Defense Security Service (DSS). The selected contractor and/or subcontractor must be able to acquire and maintain a secret level facility and Personnel Security Clearances. This will allow contractor personnel to perform on advanced phases of this project as set forth by DCSA and NAVAIR to gain access to classified information pertaining to the national defense of the United States and its allies; this will be an inherent requirement. The selected company will be required to safeguard classified material during the advanced phases of this contract IAW the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM), which can be found at Title 32, Part 2004.20 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Open Architecture for a Low Volume Software Defined Radio (SDR) for Navy Aircraft - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-NV009

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $240,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Design, develop, and demonstrate an innovative airborne radio system with a reduction compared to current airborne radios. The solution will incorporate a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) and Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) methodologies to ensure seamless integration across Navy and Marine Corps platforms including fixed wing, rotary wing and UAV aircraft.

Description:

The Navy seeks an innovative, open-architecture airborne radio system optimized for a minimal Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) to ensure seamless integration across a wide range of NAVAIR platforms, such as the SH-60, F/A-18, E-2D, and MQ-4C.This system will leverage a MOSA to ensure future adaptability and significantly reduce the cost and complexity of radio upgrades. The goal is to provide a pathway for future modifications without impacting existing platform infrastructure.

Developing aircraft radio systems presents significant challenges due to stringent SWaP constraints, harsh environmental conditions, and demanding Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) standards. Equally critical is robust cybersecurity, requiring adherence to standards like NIST SP 800-53 and the integration of security measures throughout the system design lifecycle.

The objective of this SBIR topic is to design, develop, and demonstrate an innovative airborne radio system optimized for SWaP efficiency. The system must satisfy current security and operational demands, while providing a modular, scalable architecture that accommodates future technology upgrades and supports evolving communication waveforms.

An open architecture is also critical to sustain radio systems through their lifecycle. The MOSA leverages a robust ecosystem of established standards, including Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA) and Modular Open RF Architecture (MORA) that enable modularity and interoperability. Additionally, applying an MBSE to radio system design will enhance system understanding, enable early defect detection and improve documentation.

Additionally, the resulting radio system architecture should adhere to the following technical goals:

Fit within the tight size constraints of two VNX+ standard cards (78 mm x 89 mm x 19 mm each). Note that a VNX+ power supply, backplane and I/O connectors will be external to the solution.

Support two separate Transmit and Receive RF channels. One RF channel capable of 30MHz to 6HGz operating frequency and the other capable of supporting 30MHz to 31GHz

Support at least 60MHz instantaneous bandwidth

Support transmit power amplifier capable of reliably delivering an average 25 Watts of RF power on transmit channel 1 and 1 Watt of RF power on transmit channel 2

Interoperability with MORA devices for control and I/Q data sharing

Capable of Digital Pre Distortion (DPD)

Capable of programmable RF waveforms including VHF/UHF communications waveforms including AM/FM, Air Traffic Control (ATC), Public Safety, Have Quick II, SATURN, SINCGARS, DAMA, MUOS, JPALS, and Automatic Direction Finding (ADF), Link-16

Capable of 1024-QAM OFDM modulation with 1000 subcarriers

Work produced in Phase II may become classified. Note: The prospective contractor(s) must be U.S. owned and operated with no foreign influence as defined by 32 U.S.C. § 2004.20 et seq., National Industrial Security Program Executive Agent and Operating Manual, unless acceptable mitigating procedures can and have been implemented and approved by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) formerly Defense Security Service (DSS). The selected contractor must be able to acquire and maintain a secret level facility and Personnel Security Clearances. This will allow contractor personnel to perform on advanced phases of this project as set forth by DCSA and NAVAIR to gain access to classified information pertaining to the national defense of the United States and its allies; this will be an inherent requirement. The selected company will be required to safeguard classified material during the advanced phases of this contract IAW the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM), which can be found at Title 32, Part 2004.20 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

High-power, Long Coherence Length Blue Laser - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-NV038

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $240,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Develop a blue wavelength, high-power laser with a long coherence length capable of high pulse repetition frequencies.

Description:

In recent years, blue laser diode technology has enabled improved data storage, enhanced fluorescence imaging, metal processing, and other applications [Ref 1]. Lasers in this wavelength band also fall within the ‘optical window’ of water and will experience less attenuation than other wavelength bands [Ref 2]. The wavelength band will also experience less diffraction compared to other communication wavelengths [Ref 3]. This SBIR topic seeks to develop a blue laser capable of high pulse repetition rates and long coherence length light while maintaining a high optical power.

Target specifications for the desired product include:

High optical power output: 10 W continuous wave

Optical wavelength: 425 nm to 475 nm

Long coherence length: > 10 m

High pulse repetition frequency: > 100 MHz

Laser will need to operate continuously and reliably for lifetime of 2000 days

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Synthetic Alkali Atom Vapor Density for Atom-Based Sensors - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-NV037

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $240,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Simplify the thermal management of practical atom-based quantum sensors based on alkali atoms by creating a passive atom source operated at thermal equilibrium based on a synthetic alkali vapor density for rubidium or cesium atoms.

Description:

Quantum sensors based on atoms offer the opportunity to produce measurements with excellent sensitivity or long-term stability, making them attractive use in atomic clocks, magnetometers, or inertial sensors. In these sensors, the atomic vapor represents the sensing media where variations in signal magnitude from fluctuations in atom number can lead to instability or loss of sensitivity. Maintaining consistent signal throughout environmental conditions represents one of several key design criteria for atom-based sensors for use outside the laboratory.

Many atom-based sensors rely on heavy alkali atoms, specifically rubidium and cesium. This is because of the simplified, hydrogen-like energy level structure, the availability of narrow-linewidth semiconductor diode lasers on the relevant D1 (795/895 nm) and D2 (780/852 nm) transitions, the accessibility of commercial microwave electronics at the 3-10 GHz hyperfine splittings, and the ease of production of vapor phase atoms at modest temperatures. The temperature dependence of the alkalis [Ref 1] leads to thermal stabilization at 80-130°C (ideal for vapor cells at 10e12-10e14/cc) or closer to room temperature (ideal for atom trapping at 10e8-10e10/cc). These temperatures rarely align with thermal profiles of other aspects of the system, requiring additional design at the expense of size, weight, and power (SWaP).

Active approaches to alkali regulation have been demonstrated to manipulate the vapor to a non-equilibrium state. These approaches involve forced chemical reactions, intercalated graphite, alkali impregnated materials glasses [Refs 2,3]. In each case, a feedback loop must respond to measurements of the vapor density, leading to extra sensor complexity.

An equilibrium vapor density represents the simplest atom source which can be synthetically adjusted to an elevated temperature through a mixture [Ref 4]. Here, a primary species mixed with a secondary species reduces the equilibrium vapor density of both species by the mixing ratio following Raoult’s Law [Ref 5]. Selecting a lower vapor density secondary species limits the negative impact of additional atom-atom collisions. Such an approach can be applied to laser-cooled systems in addition to vapor cells to enable equilibrium operation at elevated system temperature, providing tight thermal regulation at low power.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Solid-Fuel Rotating Detonation Ramjet (SF-RDR) for High-Speed Propulsion - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-NV036

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $240,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Develop a throttleable solid-fuel Rotating Detonation Ramjet Engine (SFRDE) system by integrating a controllable gas generator to precisely regulate fuel supply, enabling stable and efficient Rotating Detonation Engine (RDE) operation.

Description:

The Department of Navy (DON) seeks innovative solid-fuel detonation-based propulsion solutions that can deliver superior performance and operational flexibility. The RDE is a promising candidate to replace current constant-pressure combustion systems, due to its high-thermal efficiency, wide-operating Mach range, short combustion time, and small volume. However, to fully realize the benefits of an RDE for naval applications, particularly in the context of ramjet operation, the ability to operate an RDE on solid fuels and precisely control thrust output is crucial. This SBIR topic focuses on developing a throttleable solid-fuel rotating detonation ramjet (SFRDE) system, enabling dynamic adjustments to a coupled gas generator to enable optimal performance across a wide range of mission profiles.

To date, RDEs have been demonstrated to operate at ramjet relevant conditions; however, the applicability of RDEs to ramjet cycles has largely focused on the use of gaseous or liquid fuels [Refs 1, 2]. The use of solid fuels in RDEs presents additional complexities. Fuel formulations must be carefully tailored to provide detonable fuel at ramjet relevant temperatures. The use of a gas generator to provide the combustible mixture could potentially lead to solid particles clogging the fuel injectors. The design of the gas generator is also crucial to provide a mixture adequate for sustained detonability and coupling with the RDE inlet. Recent studies have demonstrated the viability integration of solid propellants and rotating detonation engines through the use of gas generators [Ref 3]. The proposed research should address the following two key areas to achieve a throttleable SFRDE:

Throttleable Gas Generator Development: Design and develop a compact, lightweight, and throttleable gas generator capable of precisely controlling the flow rate and composition of the fuel and/or oxidizer supplied to the RDE. Additional considerations should include the selection of appropriate gas generator propellants based on performance, stability, and safety considerations, as well as consideration of ignition methods suitable for the gas generator.

Combustion Chamber Design: Optimize the rotating detonation engine combustion chamber design for stable rotating detonation wave propagation and efficient mixing of the gas generator's output with the primary oxidizer stream. Design considerations should include injector geometry and placement to promote rapid mixing and flame stabilization; chamber geometry to facilitate detonation wave initiation and propagation; and thermal management strategies for both the gas generator and combustion chamber.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Integrated Multidisciplinary Design, Analysis, and Optimization Framework for Hypersonic Boost-Glide Weapons - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-NV035

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $240,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Develop and demonstrate an integrated multidisciplinary design, analysis, and optimization (MDAO) framework for hypersonic boost-glide weapons that enables concurrent optimization of vehicle geometry, mission trajectory, and control strategy by leveraging existing modeling tools, incorporating reduced-order models, applying artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) to accelerate design and reduce computational cost, and providing early insights into system cost estimation, manufacturability, and technology development roadmaps.

Description:

The Department of the Navy (DON) requires advanced simulation and optimization capabilities to accelerate the conceptual design and mission planning of hypersonic boost-glide weapons. These systems must deliver long-range strike capabilities, survive extreme thermal and structural environments, and maintain maneuverability for terminal effectiveness against defended targets. Designing such vehicles is highly complex due to the strong coupling between aerodynamic heating, structural loading, control authority, system mass, and mission trajectory.

Conventional design approaches treat these disciplines in isolation and in sequence, often resulting in suboptimal performance, prolonged development timelines, and increased costs. MDAO methods offer a more integrated approach, enabling concurrent consideration of key factors and improved trade space exploration. However, coupling high-fidelity models across multiple domains creates significant computational challenges. Practical MDAO frameworks must incorporate reduced-order models, surrogate approximations, and robust optimization techniques that balance computational efficiency and modeling accuracy [Refs 1, 3, 4].

This SBIR topic seeks innovative tools and methods that support an integrated MDAO framework for the design and optimization of hypersonic boost-glide weapons. Solutions should enable concurrent optimization of vehicle geometry, mission trajectory, and control strategies while accounting for launch platform constraints such as volume, mass, interface requirements, and environmental loads. The framework should also address internal system considerations such as payload integration, guidance and control subsystems, and thermal protection. The capability should support conceptual-level design and deliver outputs that inform system cost estimation, manufacturability, technology development roadmaps, and risk reduction strategies.

Proposals should demonstrate capabilities in the following areas:

Aerodynamic and trimmed flight analysis to predict forces and moments over a broad range of Mach numbers, including control surface deflection effects and geometric deformation. Integration with existing computational fluid dynamics tools is encouraged.

Aerothermal modeling to estimate heating loads and surface temperatures, including convective and radiative heat transfer and thermal protection system behavior.

Structural analysis to evaluate stresses, strains, and deformation under combined aerodynamic and thermal loads, with support for high-temperature materials and composite structures.

Mass properties and internal system layout to optimize placement of payloads, sensors, power systems, and thermal subsystems while maintaining center-of-gravity control and packaging feasibility.

Trajectory and control optimization to evaluate and enhance flight performance while meeting constraints on range, maneuverability, survivability, and terminal accuracy.

System-level integration into an existing or proposed MDAO architecture such as ADAPT [Ref 2] or OpenMDAO, with support for geometry parameterization, solver coupling, multi-objective optimization, and design variable management.

Uncertainty quantification and robust optimization to evaluate sensitivity to variations in input parameters, models, or environmental conditions, and to ensure resilient design outcomes.

AI/ML methods to accelerate convergence, construct reduced-order models, support adaptive sampling, and enable data-driven design exploration. Solutions may also include optimizing the objective function itself by learning weighting factors for multi-objective problems, generating surrogate models for expensive simulations, discovering improved formulations via symbolic regression, or adaptively refining the objective function as new information becomes available.

Proposed solutions should leverage existing tools, frameworks, and prior government investments wherever feasible. The resulting toolset should support traceability between design inputs and mission-level measures of effectiveness, helping guide early-phase trade studies and enabling faster transition to detailed design and development.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Applied Neuroanalytics for Optimization of Naval Training and Operational Readiness - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-NV033

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $240,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Assess the effects of additives into 3D-printed input materials that are structurally and thermally viable for weapon system components, to determine the changes to electromagnetic (EM) properties that can be achieved based on how the additives change the material properties of 3D printed materials, and changes required to the 3D-printing process to ensure sufficient additive concentration to achieve relevant EM property changes. The end goal of this research is to establish what EM behavior effects are possible with relevant material properties for weapon systems and what additive composition are needed to obtain them. An initial use case of an antenna radome for a weapon system navigation receiver will be explored.

Description:

Many different 3D printing techniques are currently employed today and the use of this technology has progressed from niche, one-off manufacturing to producing large components, printing directly onto complex-shaped objects, and even mass manufacture. The majority of the printing that is performed, however, focuses on pure polymer materials. There is a need to develop technologies to attenuate electromagnetic (EM) radiation for relevant purposes specific to many military applications. Pure polymer materials traditionally used for 3D printing do not attenuate Radio Frequency (RF) and are often transparent to key frequencies. The incorporation of additives into the polymer input materials can change the EM properties of the bulk material as evidenced by initial research by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division. The full benefit applied to more relevant applications needs to be addressed. The work in this SBIR topic is meant to determine what EM attenuation behaviors are possible with the incorporation of additives, for materials intended for use in relevant environments. This includes analyzing changes to the physical properties of the produced materials to determine how the thermal and mechanical properties as well as the printability of the materials are affected, to include changes needed to the printing process to create more relevant effects.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Effects of Additive Loading on Electromagnetic Properties in 3D Printing - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-NV034

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $240,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Assess the effects of additives into 3D-printed input materials that are structurally and thermally viable for weapon system components, to determine the changes to electromagnetic (EM) properties that can be achieved based on how the additives change the material properties of 3D printed materials, and changes required to the 3D-printing process to ensure sufficient additive concentration to achieve relevant EM property changes. The end goal of this research is to establish what EM behavior effects are possible with relevant material properties for weapon systems and what additive composition are needed to obtain them. An initial use case of an antenna radome for a weapon system navigation receiver will be explored.

Description:

Many different 3D printing techniques are currently employed today and the use of this technology has progressed from niche, one-off manufacturing to producing large components, printing directly onto complex-shaped objects, and even mass manufacture. The majority of the printing that is performed, however, focuses on pure polymer materials. There is a need to develop technologies to attenuate electromagnetic (EM) radiation for relevant purposes specific to many military applications. Pure polymer materials traditionally used for 3D printing do not attenuate Radio Frequency (RF) and are often transparent to key frequencies. The incorporation of additives into the polymer input materials can change the EM properties of the bulk material as evidenced by initial research by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division. The full benefit applied to more relevant applications needs to be addressed. The work in this SBIR topic is meant to determine what EM attenuation behaviors are possible with the incorporation of additives, for materials intended for use in relevant environments. This includes analyzing changes to the physical properties of the produced materials to determine how the thermal and mechanical properties as well as the printability of the materials are affected, to include changes needed to the printing process to create more relevant effects.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Automated Assessment and Adaptive Training for Simulated Fire Support Coordination - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-NV032

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $240,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Design and develop training tools that assess individual performance in a scenario-based fire support simulator and adapt instruction/scenarios based on that assessment without the need of an instructor in the loop.

Description:

Recent Marine Corps publications have emphasized that effective fires employment remains a critical element of Marine Corps lethality and readiness [Refs 2, 3]. Fire support coordination (FSC) is the complex process of planning, integrating, and synchronizing the delivery of indirect fires (e.g., artillery, mortars) and close air support (CAS) to assist maneuver forces on the battlefield. At the company level, fire support is executed by a Fire Support Team (FiST) composed of several members, such as a FiST lead, Forward Observer (FO), Fire Support Officer (FSO), Joint Forward Observer (JFO), and Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC). Some of these roles have a prescribed training pipeline (e.g., JFO, JTAC), whereas others do not (e.g., FiST Lead). The focus of the training for these roles is on individual skill development rather than team-based, integrated execution of fire support in support of a maneuver element. Opportunities for Marines to train collectively in combined arms integration are limited currently. Simulation-based training is available at a few designated locations, but these events require substantial instructor support to simulate different roles across multiple fires agencies and platforms (e.g., Fire Direction Center, CAS aircraft, Ground Force Commander). Live-fire Integrated Training Exercises (ITX), such as Fire Support Coordination Exercises (FSCEX), are costly (e.g., munitions), time and manpower intensive, occur infrequently, and have safety and external agency constraints not present in virtual training (e.g., FAA, host-nation restrictions). Furthermore, both simulated and live training environments require instructors to observe and assess performance with no automated assessment tooling. Across live and simulated events, these assessments are often not standardized and are subjective in nature, limiting opportunities for systematic assessment at the team or individual level. The lack of systematic assessment also limits the ability for Marine Corps to diagnose and address performance impacting the lethality of FiSTs.

Marines need a capability to assess foundational skills in their individual roles (e.g., crawl phase) that is embedded within a realistic fires simulator without requiring instructor facilitation or a full complement of FiST members. Automated assessment within the simulator allows for more objective-based metrics of performance and diagnosis of strengths and weaknesses of individual trainees. That enables schoolhouses and units to track performance on standardized metrics, which could be helpful for readiness assessments. Furthermore, Training and Education 2030 [Ref 3] outlines a student-centered adaptive training solution that tailors the training to the individual Marine based on an assessment of performance and prior research has demonstrated improved student learning outcomes and decreasing time through adaptive training methods – e.g. remediation or adaptive scenario difficulty [Refs 1, 4].

The desired capability of the fire support training solution is to provide tailored training to the individual FiST trainee based on the system’s assessment of performance, targeting skill areas where the trainee is weakest. Providing targeted reps and sets will maximize training time in the crawl phase in addition to improving preparation for the team-based virtual (e.g., walk phase) and live exercises (e.g., run phase). Providing a capability that allows FiST members to practice individual skills ahead of time ensures that trainees can focus on team skill development such as communication and coordination skills with other entities during the time and resource constrained team-based events. Simulation solutions must communicate via standard federated simulation protocols (e.g., DIS6/7, HLA RPR FOM [Refs 5,6]). Preference is given, but not required for submission, to proposals that incorporate or interoperate with existing and/or approved DOW simulation platforms with existing Authority To Operate (ATO) documentation for USMC.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Tele-Operated/Autonomous Mechatronic Vehicle Kits for Use In Mixed Disaster Environments - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-NV031

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $240,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Create a mechatronic kit (roughly 3 feet wide, 3 feet long, 3 feet high, and weighing 220 pounds) with parts that can be easily swapped and reconfigured – including motors, sensors, and software – so that small teams can quickly build and change the mechatronic system in the field to handle many different tasks.

Description:

First responder teams are small and have many tasks. Mechatronic solutions could help, but current solutions suffer from key shortfalls:

- They are an overly special purpose, limited in broad utility

- They lack common architecture, and cannot be repurposed or decomposed/recomposed for easy transport and repair

- They cannot be physically combined for additional power, speed or endurance

- Many key prime mover components are not manufactured at United States

This topic aims to create mechatronic prototypes that first responders can build in the field from basic parts (like frames, motors, computers, and controls). These mechatronic systems will be easy to customize for different needs. Preconfigured applications could include:

- Simple logistics support (e.g., carrying, loading, unloading)

- Intermediate applications (e.g., inspection, search and recovery)

- Advanced capabilities (e.g., waterproof, fire resistant, cold tolerant)

This topic aims to develop an open-ended physical architecture like an “Erector Set” with potential for endless variation.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) for Additive Manufacturing (AM) - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-NV030

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $240,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Automate additive manufacturing (AM) through advanced computational techniques (i.e., artificial intelligence and machine learning [AI/ML], digital twins, etc.) to select optimal materials and manufacturing parameters to meet mission requirements in terms of component performance.

Description:

AM has enabled new designs and rapid fabrication. However, there are no automatic tools available to computationally link across build platform to part performance. This SBIR topic seeks to leverage AI/ML, digital twins, and process simulation to select optimal materials and manufacturing parameters to meet rapidly changing mission requirements. A user should be able to input material type, part geometry, and AM system details into the prototype tools to automatically generate optimized build parameters along with accurate mechanical performance predictions.

While some tools in the current market can address part of this need, none are known which can integrate across the entire material lifecycle from pre-build to performance in a single ready-to-use package. The focus of this effort will be investigating legacy parts (i.e., obsolete castings and forgings) which need rapid production to avoid long lead times. Leveraging physics-informed AI/ML technologies and digital twins to optimize printing based on geometry and material properties will mitigate build defects and reduce post-processing while enabling performance prediction.

From a technical standpoint, the prototype tool(s) developed under this topic should seamlessly integrate across the component lifecycle, from initial design (or reverse engineering) to build parameter optimization to mechanical performance prediction in structural metals, to enable the user to accurately fabricate mission-critical components. The tool(s) must be part and AM build system agnostic to ensure scalability to multiple locations across the Navy’s manufacturing enterprise with various materials, systems, and performance requirements.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below: