Part of the DoW SBIR/STTR FY27 Release 2 topic list. Browse all 83 topics by industry or service.
Topic MDA27BZ02-DV003 from the DoW SBIR 2027 BAA, Release 2. Pre-release now; proposals due January 6, 2027, 12:00 PM ET.
Quick answer
MDA27BZ02-DV003 is a Missile Defense Agency Direct-to-Phase II SBIR topic seeking a small, low-power, Ku-band-or-higher RF radio that moves data at gigabit speeds space-to-space and space-to-terrestrial. Phase I-like proposals will be rejected, and Phase II ends with two flight radio payloads. Proposals are due January 6, 2027, 12:00 PM ET.
Solicitation at a glance
- Topic number: MDA27BZ02-DV003
- Official title: High Speed Low Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) Radio Frequency (RF) Communications Systems for Space-to-Space and Space-to-Terrestrial Applications
- Agency: Missile Defense Agency
- Program: SBIR (DoW SBIR 2027 BAA, Release 2)
- Award type: Direct to Phase II (no Phase I awards)
- Award amount: Up to $2,000,000 (Direct to Phase II). Source: MDA Release 2 instructions in DSIP.
- CMMC level: Level 2 (Self)
- ITAR: No
- Technology areas: Battlespace, Sensors, Space Platforms
- Pre-release (direct TPOC contact allowed): November 4 to December 2, 2026, 8:00 AM ET
- Opens in DSIP: December 2, 2026, 8:00 AM ET
- Proposals due: January 6, 2027, 12:00 PM ET
- Official source: DSIP Topics app (search MDA27BZ02-DV003)
BW&CO's take
What the Missile Defense Agency wants
MDA wants a very small, low-power RF radio for space-to-space and space-to-terrestrial links. Targets are 0.1 L or less, under 10 W, Ku band or higher, at least 1.5 Gbps in a natural space environment, and burst transmission through the atmosphere to flight vehicles at 1 Gbps or more. The radio should support meshed, self-forming, self-healing networking with HAIPE for Zero Trust networks, and use frequency diversity, antenna diversity, and advanced modulation and coding to resist jamming. Phase II delivers two flight radio payloads built to Government performance and physical requirements, designed in coordination with the Government.
Who is a good fit
- Existing Ku-band-or-higher software-defined radio or transceiver hardware with measured gigabit-class data rates
- Compact, low-power RF and antenna design work in the 0.1 L, under-10 W class
- Mesh networking and HAIPE encryptor integration experience for Zero Trust networks
- Experience building flight payloads and taking them through thermal, vacuum, and vibration testing
Watch-outs
- This is Direct-to-Phase II only. Phase I-like proposals are rejected as nonresponsive, and your feasibility documentation must show proof of concept in a relevant environment and/or TRL 5 or higher, from work substantially performed by your company or PI.
- The size, power, and speed targets are tight: 0.1 L or less, under 10 W, and 1.5 Gbps or greater. Back your design with measured results against these numbers.
- Ku band or higher is required because of NTIA restrictions, and Phase II must deliver two flight radio payloads, so the plan has to cover flight hardware, not only a lab prototype.
- The topic lists CMMC Level 2 (Self). It is not marked as ITAR-restricted in the topic metadata.
Think your company fits MDA27BZ02-DV003? Talk with BW&CO before the January 6 deadline.
Plan Your MDA27BZ02-DV003 Submission
Official topic text (verbatim from DSIP)
The text in this section is copied word for word from the official DSIP topic as published on November 4, 2026. DSIP is the official source and topics can be amended. Always confirm the current version at dodsbirsttr.mil before you submit. Our commentary above is BW&CO's interpretation, not Government guidance.
Title
High Speed Low Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) Radio Frequency (RF) Communications Systems for Space-to-Space and Space-to-Terrestrial Applications
Objective
Provide novel and innovative space communications technologies enabling improved defensive communication capabilities.
Description
Specific to this topic, to support the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) mission of developing and deploying a layered Missile Defense System to defend the United States, its deployed forces, and friends from missile attacks in all phases of flight, the MDA seeks improved defensive communication capabilities by increasing bandwidth of new low size, weight, and power, radios and antennas to gigabyte speeds. Small form-factor (.1L) or less volume and low power (<10 W) RF radio utilizing Ku bands or higher (due to National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA) restrictions) capable of transmitting data at speeds of 1.5Gbps or greater in a natural space environment is desired. Technology should also be capable of burst transmission of data through the atmosphere to flight vehicles at speeds of 1 Gbps or greater. Communications system capable of meshed (self-forming, self-healing network, high probability of delivery network) High Assurance Internet Protocol Encryptors (HAIPE) interactions for inclusion into "Zero Trust" platforms and networks. Solutions should consider frequency diversity, antenna diversification, and advanced modulation and coding schemas for security and jamming prevention. At the end of the Phase II, two flight radio payloads would be the deliverables.
Phase I
Phase I-like proposals will not be evaluated and will be rejected as nonresponsive. For this topic, the Government expects the small business would have accomplished the following in a Phase I-like effort via some other means, e.g., independent research and development (IRAD) or other source, a concept for a workable prototype or design to address, at a minimum, the basic capabilities of the stated objective above. Proposal must show, as appropriate, a demonstrated technical feasibility or nascent capability. The documentation provided must substantiate the proposer’s development of a preliminary understanding of the technology to be applied in their Phase II proposal in meeting topic objectives.
Documentation should comprise all relevant information including, but not limited to, technical reports, test data, prototype designs/models, and performance goals/results. Feasibility = maturity and what have you already done/validated.
Proposers interested in participating in Direct to Phase II must include in their responses to this topic Phase I feasibility documentation that substantiates the scientific and technical merit and Phase I feasibility described in Phase I above has been met.
(i.e., the small business must have performed a proof of concept like “Phase I” component and/or other validation in a relevant environment, and/or at a much higher Technology Readiness Level (TRL) level (5 or higher) and describe the potential commercialization applications. The documentation provided must validate that the proposer has completed development of technology in previous work or research completed.)
IRAD work: Documentation should include the most relevant information including, but not limited to: technical reports, test data, prototype designs/models, and/or performance goals/results. Work submitted within the feasibility documentation must have been substantially performed by the proposer and/or the principal investigator (PI).
Phase II
Complete radio payload(s) incorporating government performance and physical requirements. Coordinate with the Government during payload design, development, and testing to ensure that the delivered products would be relevant to an ongoing missile defense architecture and data types and structures.
Phase III Dual Use Applications
Facilitate insertion into proliferated warfighter space architecture programs. Collaborate with satellite integrators and unmanned aerier vehicle operators for demo platforms. Participate in DoW field exercises and satellite demonstrations to validate operational effectiveness and build end-user confidence. Utilize partner labs for environmental testing (thermal, vacuum, vibration).
References
P. Dražić, "The propagation of Ka-band signals through the atmosphere," 2017 International Symposium ELMAR, Zadar, Croatia, 2017, pp. 55-58, doi: 10.23919/ELMAR.2017.8124434.
Udo, E. U., Nwaorgu, O. A., Odo, K. O., & Kanu, N. D. (2023). The Effects of Atmospheric Attenuations on C, Ku and Ka Frequency Bands on Satellite Communication System. ARID ZONE JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT, 19(3), 447-460. Retrieved from https://azojete.com.ng/index.php/azojete/article/view/765
J. F. Zhang and Y. J. Cheng, "K-/Ka-Band Planar Shared-Aperture Beam-Scanning Array Antenna for Simultaneous Transmitting and Receiving Low Earth Orbit Satellite Communication Terminal," in IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, vol. 71, no. 8, pp. 6617-6627, Aug. 2023, doi: 10.1109/TAP.2023.3284163:
URL: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=10151799&isnumber=10207863
Keywords
Miniaturized RF systems; SWaP optimized; compact communication payload; low power RF transceiver; software defined radio (SDR); multi-band operation; link budget
Frequently asked questions
What is MDA27BZ02-DV003?
It is a Missile Defense Agency SBIR topic for high-speed, low-SWaP RF communications for space-to-space and space-to-terrestrial links, aimed at improving defensive communication capability for the layered Missile Defense System.
When is MDA27BZ02-DV003 due?
Proposals are due January 6, 2027, 12:00 PM ET. DSIP pre-release began November 4, 2026, and direct contact with the topic authors is allowed only until the topic opens on December 2, 2026, 8:00 AM ET.
Is this a Phase I or Direct-to-Phase II topic?
It is Direct-to-Phase II. Phase I-like proposals will be rejected as nonresponsive, so you must include feasibility documentation, such as technical reports, test data, and prototype designs, showing Phase I-equivalent work substantially performed by your company or PI.
What data rates does the radio need to hit?
At least 1.5 Gbps in a natural space environment, and burst transmission through the atmosphere to flight vehicles at 1 Gbps or greater, from a radio of about 0.1 L or less drawing under 10 W.