Status: Open. White paper and questionnaire due Monday, November 30, 2026, 11:59 PM ET (2359 EST) by email to NASC. Technical questions due Friday, November 13, 2026. No NASC membership or fee to apply.
Executive Summary
The Navy's RAS Air Warfare program office (DRPM RAS 4.0, NAS Patuxent River) wants cargo drones for a flight demonstration supporting the Marine Corps Unmanned Logistics System - Air (ULS-A). U.S. companies with a heavy-fuel or hybrid UAS that carries 100 to 150 pounds can apply by November 30, 2026.
Selected companies fly in a technology demonstration from January 25 to February 5, 2027, in the continental U.S. The highest-ranked performers may receive an Other Transaction (OT) prototype agreement under 10 U.S.C. § 4022, and a successful prototype can lead to a follow-on production agreement without further competition.
Solicitation at a Glance
- Agency: U.S. Navy, DRPM RAS 4.0 Air Warfare Program Management Office (NAS Patuxent River), for the U.S. Marine Corps
- Opportunity: TRUAS Increment II Cargo UAS Industry Demonstration (Amendment 0001)
- Program: Tactical Resupply UAS (TRUAS) Increment II for the Unmanned Logistics System - Air (ULS-A) mission
- Consortium: Naval Aviation Systems Consortium (NASC), managed by CMG
- Award Path: Possible OT prototype agreement under 10 U.S.C. § 4022, with possible follow-on production
- Funding: No amount posted. Participants pay their own costs to apply and demonstrate.
- Questions Due: Friday, November 13, 2026
- Application Due: Monday, November 30, 2026, 11:59 PM ET (2359 EST)
- Selections: No later than December 18, 2026
- Demonstration: January 25 to February 5, 2027, continental U.S.
Think your company qualifies? Talk with BW&CO before the November 30 deadline.
What Is TRUAS Increment II?
TRUAS (Tactical Resupply Unmanned Aircraft System) Increment II is the Marine Corps' next cargo drone for small-unit resupply over the last tactical mile, in Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations and Distributed Operations. This announcement invites industry to demonstrate aircraft so the program office can rank systems before any prototype awards.
What Problem Is the Marine Corps Trying to Solve?
Small, dispersed Marine units need supplies delivered without putting a vehicle or helicopter crew at risk. The Marine Corps wants an organic aerial distribution capability that a small unit can set up, launch, recover and maintain itself, including in GPS-denied conditions.
Priority Capability Areas: What the Navy Is Looking For
- Size: Maximum gross takeoff weight preferred up to 350 pounds.
- Range with payload (KPP 1): 100 pounds carried 40 nautical miles out and 40 back empty, and 150 pounds carried 10 nautical miles out and 10 back empty, in no wind.
- Performance (KPP 1): 50 knot airspeed threshold (150 objective), 4,500 foot density altitude (8,000 objective), and 20 knot winds and crosswinds (30 objective).
- Power (KPP 5): Heavy fuel (JP-5, JP-8 or diesel) or a hybrid fuel-battery system.
- Autonomy: Autonomous flight at 50 feet AGL and 30 knots day and night, autonomous landing zone assessment, sense-and-avoid comparable to a VFR pilot, and resilient alternative navigation.
- Survivability: FIPS 140-3 Level 2 radio encryption, emission-free autonomous missions on preprogrammed waypoints, and MIL-STD-461G and MIL-STD-464C compliance.
- Readiness: 30 flight hours mean time between failures (90 objective) and 80 percent operational availability over 30 days (90 objective).
- Logistics: The whole system fits in one container no larger than 4 x 3 x 2 feet and 150 pounds, travels on a JLTV or pickup truck, and is ready to launch within 20 minutes.
- Control and payload: One operator for up to four aircraft, TAK mission planning, sling-load and airdrop, and room for 3 x 2 x 2 foot loads.
Demonstration Flights
- Ground: Show setup, flight preparation and a refueling procedure.
- Flight 1: Carry 100 pounds 40 nautical miles out, release the payload and fly back to land at the launch site.
- Flight 2: Carry at least 150 pounds 10 nautical miles out, release it and return.
- Rules: No refueling between required legs, at least 50 knots, no higher than 1,000 feet AGL, no catapult or net recovery, and at least a Mode 3/C transponder.
- Optional: Up to three more flights to show unique features, with Government approval.
Eligibility Requirements
- Companies: U.S. companies or companies with U.S.-based offices. Systems must be U.S.-based and U.S.-owned with U.S. manufacturing and repair, or show strict compliance with 10 U.S.C. § 4881 and the American Security Drone Act.
- People: Only U.S. citizens or permanent residents may take part.
- Encouraged: Non-traditional defense contractors and small businesses.
- Excluded: Federal employees, NAVAIR support contractors acting in that role, and FFRDC or UARC staff supporting the program office on TRUAS work, plus their families and households.
- Membership: No NASC membership or fee to apply or demonstrate. NASC membership is required to receive an OT award.
- CRADA: Non-government participants sign a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement before the demonstration.
How to Apply
- Download the announcement, questionnaire and evaluation rubric from the NASC project page.
- Ask technical questions at nascopportunities@nascsolutions.tech by November 13, 2026.
- Write a 3 to 5 page white paper on your technical approach and the maturity of your UAS.
- Include lost-link and return-to-home procedures, data for frequency authorization and facility access, and data validating maximum range with 100 and 150 pound payloads.
- Address the eligibility criteria in the white paper or questionnaire, or the application cannot score as eligible.
- Submit the white paper and questionnaire to nascopportunities@nascsolutions.tech by 11:59 PM ET (2359 EST) on Monday, November 30, 2026.
What Happens After You Submit?
- By December 18, 2026: Selection emails, with the demonstration venue.
- January 25 to February 5, 2027: Demonstration flights in the continental U.S. The Government coordinates the range and helps with airworthiness and frequency allocation.
- Ranking: Aircraft are ranked on demonstrated thresholds and objectives. Partial solutions can still be considered.
- Award: The Government may award zero, one or several OT prototype agreements. Selection to demonstrate does not guarantee an award.
- Costs: You pay all costs to apply and demonstrate.
Is This Opportunity a Good Fit for Your Company?
It fits U.S. cargo drone makers with a flyable heavy-fuel or hybrid aircraft that already carries 100 to 150 pounds over tactical distances, and autonomy or payload-handling teams that can partner with an airframe maker. It is a poor fit for concept-stage designs, battery-only aircraft, or systems that cannot meet the American Security Drone Act sourcing rules.
How BW&CO Can Help
BW&CO has helped deep-tech and dual-use founders secure more than $350M in non-dilutive funding. For demonstration calls like TRUAS Increment II, we help you:
- Check your fit against each KPP threshold before you commit to the demo.
- Map the white paper to the evaluation rubric so every scored item has evidence.
- Present range and payload data in a way evaluators can verify.
- Prepare the sourcing story for the American Security Drone Act and 10 U.S.C. § 4881.
- Plan the path from demonstration to an OT prototype agreement and NASC membership.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is it due?
Applications are due Monday, November 30, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET (2359 EST). Technical questions are due November 13, 2026.
How much funding is available?
The announcement posts no amount. Participants pay their own costs to apply and demonstrate. Top performers may receive an OT prototype agreement.
Do I need to join NASC?
Not to apply or demonstrate. You must be a NASC member to receive an OT award.
Can a foreign company apply?
Companies must be U.S. companies or have U.S.-based offices, and only U.S. citizens or permanent residents may take part. Systems must be U.S.-based and U.S.-owned or comply with 10 U.S.C. § 4881 and the American Security Drone Act.
Does my aircraft have to meet every threshold?
No. Aircraft are ranked on demonstrated achievement, and the Government may consider partial solutions that serve the Marine Corps logistics mission.
What does the white paper need to cover?
Your technical approach and maturity in 3 to 5 pages, plus lost-link and return-to-home procedures, frequency and facility data, and validated range data at 100 and 150 pounds.
Where is the demonstration?
In the continental U.S. The venue comes with the selection email.
What happens after a good demonstration?
Top performers may receive an OT prototype agreement, and a successful prototype can lead to a follow-on production agreement without further competition.
Can BW&CO help with a TRUAS Increment II application?
Yes. BW&CO can check your aircraft against the thresholds, shape the white paper to the rubric and plan the path to an OT award. Book a call with our team.
Source: NASC: TRUAS Increment II Cargo UAS Industry Demonstration