Low Cost Malleable Metastructure Adherents for Maritime Environments - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-NV029

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is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

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Funding Amount:

Est. $240,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Develop a material with the ability to rapidly and cost effectively produce metastructures or frequency selective surfaces which can be adhered to naval assets or similar systems (e.g., apertures, super-structures substructures, deployable, etc.).

Description:

Several industries and Department of War (DOW) systems rely on Frequency Selective Surfaces (FSS), metastructures, or comparable materials to protect critical assets, including communications, radar, and Electromagnetic Warfare (EW) systems. Similar materials are also used as protective coatings for Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) systems—particularly in airborne and maritime applications—where they are consistently challenged by harsh maritime environments. These coatings, covers, and materials are susceptible to degradation from salt, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and water intrusion due to their attachment to substructures, structures, or apertures.

Furthermore, the manufacturing and application of these materials are often considered expensive, time-consuming, and technically demanding due to platform-specific requirements. Recent constraints within the industrial base—such as the reduced availability of certain materials like CFC resins and polymers—have further exacerbated production challenges. These limitations have driven up costs, which have not benefited from economies of scale or broader adoption.

This SBIR topic seeks to develop alternative solutions that offer frequency selectivity, moldability (to conform to existing superstructures, substructures, or complex geometries), and resilience to maritime environments. In theory, such advancements would enable optimal dynamic performance across RF, microwave, or EO/IR domains, while maintaining durability in challenging conditions.

FSS remains the incumbent solution of choice, given its broadband frequency response, manufacturability, and superior durability in maritime conditions—advantages not matched by commercially available polymer-based fiberglass radomes, which typically lack frequency selectivity or the directive enhancements required by DOW systems. The reduction in availability and manufacturability of certain composites—due to regulatory restrictions or hazardous byproducts—has created an urgent need to pursue viable alternatives. Operating apertures across multiple frequency octaves remains a significant challenge for manufacturers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Addressing the outlined challenges while achieving required performance objectives will likely demand innovation across multiple technical disciplines, including:

Frequency Response – such as L, S, C, X and Ku Band and/or EOIR: Optical, midwave, longwave, others

Advanced high-performance materials (ceramics, polymers or superalloys)

Novel manufacturing or machining techniques

Advanced 3 D optimized material additive manufacturing

3D optimized structures, magnetics or similar (inductor/capacitive/parasitic imbedded circuits)

Highly resilient coatings, or new coating application techniques to existing materials

Highly flexible embedded thin film materials

While existing materials with modifications will be considered, alternative solutions are also welcomed. However, the potential impact of these alternative designs—relative to existing materials or coatings—will be a factor during the selection process. Proposers should clearly identify any necessary mitigation considerations (e.g., storage, handling, disposal, etc.) required to support a credible path to qualification and approval for shipboard or airborne use.

The primary objective of this SBIR effort is to develop a material capable of broadband performance—defined here as the ability to provide frequency response across multiple octaves compared to existing materials. However, the proposed material must also be operationally viable and capable of meeting several critical performance objectives. Specifically, the solution should:

demonstrate through-performance (S21) in a near-field environment across multiple frequency octaves.

operate effectively across multiple bands of the EO/IR spectrum.

adhere to materials with sharp angles and varied geometries.

be capable of long-term storage without degradation after manufacturing or adherence to a structure.

withstand at least five years in a maritime environment without significant performance degradation (defined as be rapidly applied to a surface with minimal preparation, achieving adherence in less than 24 hours.

demonstrate a reduction in abatement of signal return in multiple bands within the microwave and or the EO/IR energy regime radio frequency/midwave (RF/MW).

demonstrate that at scale the production cost can be lower than production of existing materials.

Acceptable solutions must also align with intended deployment scenarios, including shipboard/surface, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), and land-based applications. For demonstration purposes, a commercial broadband antenna or a commercially available EO/IR camera may serve as the interface to evaluate proposed materials as radomes, covers, or adapters under defined boundary conditions. Demonstrations must show functional performance across at least two frequency bands—within the L-band to Ku-band range (e.g., S-band and C-band).

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.

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