DON26BZ05-NV069 — Wearable Real-Time Command-and-Control Interface for Enhanced Naval Situational Awareness
Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).
Quick Answer
DON26BZ05-NV069 is a Navy Phase I SBIR topic sponsored by NAVAIR. It funds a production-ready, wearable Mixed Reality command-and-control interface that fuses multi-domain naval sensor data from JADC2, built for test range operations and REPLICATOR autonomous swarm integration. Maximum Phase I award across Base and Option is $315,000. Proposals are due September 23, 2026.
Executive Summary
NAVAIR is looking for something meaningfully more capable than existing augmented reality wearables. This topic explicitly requires Mixed Reality (MR), which spatially anchors digital information to real-world objects, handles environmental occlusion so digital displays don't obscure real hazards, and provides the kind of environmental understanding that safety-critical maritime operations demand. Console-based combat information systems and handheld tactical computers limit mobility, and commercial MR platforms like HoloLens 2 or Apple Vision Pro lack maritime environmental qualification and military-grade cybersecurity.
The performance bar here is unusually detailed and worth reading closely before proposing. The system must operate from -10°C to +50°C, carry an IPX6 water resistance rating, run continuously for 12+ hours, process data with under 30ms latency, integrate 10+ simultaneous sensor inputs, and deliver 1 arc minute display resolution at 90Hz refresh with sub-1-degree angular tracking accuracy. It also has to handle FOUO/CUI data, comply with ANSI Z136.1 and MIL-STD-1425 laser safety standards for Class 4 laser environments, meet MIL-STD-1472H human performance standards, and meet MIL-STD-810 durability requirements. NAVAIR explicitly ties this to the REPLICATOR program, meaning the interface needs autonomous system interfaces and Common Control System compatibility for single-operator swarm management.
The topic itself is candid about technology maturity gaps: integrated MR systems sit at TRL 6-7, maritime-qualified implementations at TRL 5-6, and JADC2 sensor fusion with laser safety integration at only TRL 4-5. That last gap, laser-safe optics combined with full MR functionality, is called out as a breakthrough innovation area, not an integration task. Companies should expect this to be one of the harder technical bars in this release.
This topic is ITAR-restricted, and work is expected to become classified in Phase II, requiring a secret facility clearance and personnel clearances. Phase II calls for 5 delivered prototype systems with a complete technical data package and source code under Government Purpose Rights.
Phase III and commercial potential are spelled out in unusual financial detail: NAVAIR estimates a $2.3 billion total addressable market by 2030 across commercial maritime ($850M), industrial safety ($1.1B), and government/defense ($350M+) segments, including offshore energy, port security, and emergency response coordination.
Funding
Phase I Base: up to $200,000
Phase I Option: up to $115,000
Maximum Phase I total (Base plus Option): $315,000
Award types: Firm Fixed Price, Basic Ordering Agreement, or Prototype Other Transaction
Phase I period: exactly 6 months Base, exactly 6 months Option
Phase II maximum: up to $2,000,000
Discretionary TABA available: up to $6,500 in Phase I, in addition to the award amount
Timeline
Proposal deadline: September 23, 2026
Submission portal: DoW SBIR/STTR Innovation Portal (DSIP)
Notifications sent approximately one week after BAA close
Phase I payments: 50% at 15 days, 35% at 90 days, 15% at 180 days, for both Base and Option
Key Requirements
Technical Volume limited to 10 pages
Minimum two-thirds of Phase I work performed by the proposing small business, in both Base and Option
No cost sharing accepted
CMMC Level 2 (Self) projected requirement
ITAR-restricted, with mandatory foreign national disclosures
Must be able to obtain a secret facility clearance and personnel clearances for classified Phase II work
Must meet ANSI Z136.1, MIL-STD-1425, MIL-STD-1472H, and MIL-STD-810 compliance
Point of Contact
Kristi DePriest, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR)
navair-sbir@us.navy.mil
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does this require Mixed Reality instead of standard AR?
MR provides spatial anchoring of digital information to real-world objects, environmental understanding for safety-critical work, and occlusion handling so displays don't obscure real hazards, none of which basic AR delivers.
What performance standards must the wearable meet?
Operating temperature of -10°C to +50°C, IPX6 water resistance, 12+ hours of continuous operation, under 30ms data latency, 10+ simultaneous sensor inputs, and 1 arc minute display resolution at 90Hz.
What is REPLICATOR and why does it matter here?
REPLICATOR is the DoD's autonomous swarm systems initiative. This topic requires the wearable to support autonomous system interfaces and Common Control System compatibility so a single operator can manage swarms through the device.
Does this require a security clearance?
Yes. Work is expected to become classified in Phase II, and the contractor must be able to obtain and maintain a secret facility clearance and personnel security clearances.
What is the hardest technical gap in this topic?
Laser-safe optical systems combined with full MR functionality for Class 4 laser environments, which NAVAIR rates at only TRL 4-5, versus TRL 6-7 for general MR systems.
Is there a commercial market for this?
Yes. NAVAIR estimates a $2.3 billion addressable market by 2030 across commercial maritime, industrial safety, and government/defense segments.
How much funding is available in Phase I?
Up to $200,000 for the Base and up to $115,000 for the Option, for a combined maximum of $315,000.
What is the proposal deadline?
September 23, 2026, submitted through the DoW SBIR/STTR Innovation Portal (DSIP).
