DON26BZ05-NV071 — Dynamically Generated, Articulated 3-Dimensional Training Content
Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).
Quick Answer
DON26BZ05-NV071 is a Navy Phase I SBIR topic sponsored by NAVAIR. It funds a low-code/no-code toolkit that converts Navy data sources into photorealistic, articulated 3D assets for AR/MR training and Live-Virtual-Constructive environments, using AI-driven generation to cut content creation time from months to days. Maximum Phase I award across Base and Option is $315,000. Proposals are due September 23, 2026.
Executive Summary
Building interactive 3D training content today takes months of specialized modeling and coded scripting, which slows curriculum updates and limits how much realistic, scenario-based training the Navy can actually deploy. NAVAIR wants to close that gap using recent breakthroughs like neural radiance fields, 3D Gaussian Splatting, and generative AI diffusion models, which allow near-instant scene creation from minimal source material such as smartphone photos, video, or CAD files.
The critical design requirement is accessibility: this has to be a low-code or no-code platform that lets Subject Matter Experts, not programmers, verify content outputs, embed adaptive training cues, and export directly to existing simulators and LVC systems. NAVAIR specifically calls out dynamic articulation (parts that move and respond to user actions), multi-user networking, SME oversight, and standards-compliant export as the real transition hurdles, more so than the underlying content generation technology itself.
Key technical elements include AI-assisted generation of 3D assets and animations, natural language processing to convert textual data like maintenance records or after-action reports into scenario logic, low-code/no-code authoring interfaces, and export compatibility with Unity, Unreal, and Navy-deployed headsets or mobile devices.
Phase I builds an end-to-end pipeline prototype: ingest operational or training data, output usable AR/MR scenarios, and validate core technical components like data parsing and no-code editing, while tracking ROI metrics such as time to generate, test, and integrate content. Phase II expands to multiple asset classes with automated kinematics and collision physics, connects to adaptive tutoring models and multi-user systems, and targets an IL-4/IL-5-accredited or higher solution.
The commercial case here is well-argued in the topic itself: any industry with complex, hands-on procedural training and frequent updates, including commercial aerospace, advanced manufacturing, energy, and medical technology, faces this same content bottleneck. NAVAIR envisions this leading to a tiered SaaS commercialization model, distinguishing it from game engines that require specialized developers or no-code tools that only produce static visuals.
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
Must be usable by Subject Matter Experts without software development skills
Phase II targets IL-4/IL-5 accreditation or higher
Point of Contact
Kristi DePriest, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR)
navair-sbir@us.navy.mil
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of source material can generate the 3D training content?
Minimal inputs such as smartphone photos, video, CAD models, or schematics, converted using techniques like neural radiance fields, 3D Gaussian Splatting, and generative AI diffusion.
Does this require programming skills to use?
No. The platform must be low-code or no-code, letting Subject Matter Experts create, verify, and customize training content without software development skills.
What makes this different from existing 3D modeling tools?
Existing tools often lack dynamic articulation, physics, and logic for hands-on procedural practice, and typically require specialized developers rather than SME-driven, no-code workflows.
What export compatibility is required?
Common AR/MR engines including Unity and Unreal, plus Navy-deployed headsets and mobile devices, with compatibility for existing LVC systems.
What accreditation level does Phase II target?
IL-4/IL-5 accreditation or higher.
Is there a commercial market for this technology?
Yes. NAVAIR points to commercial aerospace, advanced manufacturing, energy, and medical technology as industries facing the same procedural training content bottleneck.
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).
