OSW SBIR OSW27BZ01-DV002: Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems Rapid Maturation

Quick Answer

OSW27BZ01-DV002 is an Office of the Secretary of War SBIR Direct to Phase II topic in DoW SBIR 2027 BAA Release 1 to rapidly mature commercial and dual-use counter-UAS technology that detects, tracks, identifies, or defeats small, low-flying Group 1 and Group 2 drones in contested areas. Awards are up to $2,000,000 over a compressed 12 month period of performance, closing November 25, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET.

The format is unusually tight: a 5 page technical volume on a required template plus 5 pages of feasibility evidence, which must include a documented test. A companion Phase I topic, OSW27BZ01-NV001, covers less mature approaches.

Topic at a Glance

• Topic number: OSW27BZ01-DV002
• Title: Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems Rapid Maturation
• Component: Office of the Secretary of War (OSW)
• Solicitation: DoW SBIR 2027 BAA, Release 1
• Program and phase: SBIR Direct to Phase II
• Award ceiling: $2,000,000
• Period of performance: 12 months
• Technical volume limit: 5 pages
• Projected CMMC level: Level 2 (Self)
• Export control: Restricted under ITAR (22 CFR 120-130) or EAR (15 CFR 730-774). Foreign national participation must be disclosed and may be restricted.
• Focus areas: Advanced Manufacturing; Integrated Network Systems-of-Systems; Integrated Sensing and Cyber; Trusted AI and Autonomy
• Keywords: counter-UAS, C-sUAS, Group 1 UAS, Group 2 UAS, autonomous threat detection, edge AI, multi-sensor fusion, denied environment
• Pre-release: October 7, 2026
• Opens: October 28, 2026
• Closes: November 25, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET
• Submission portal: DSIP at dodsbirsttr.mil

What OSW Is Looking For

Cheap, maneuverable commercial drones threaten tactical forces, critical infrastructure, and installations, and current defenses are limited by cost, operator attention, and vulnerability to countermeasures. OSW wants mature or maturing technology anywhere in the counter-UAS kill chain against Group 1 and Group 2 UAS.

Three example areas are listed, and a proposal can address one, several, or a gap not listed. Detection and tracking: hold track on agile targets in cluttered low-altitude airspace with a modality you choose, preferably when the target is not emitting; fixed-site or mains-powered solutions are out of scope, since the system must move with the force. Identification and decision support: classify and identify unauthorized platforms on tactical computing carried or emplaced with the force, with a pathway to existing command and control. Mitigation and defeat: kinetic, non-kinetic, or cyber defeat in remote theaters and dense urban areas, with collateral effects addressed.

Four operating preferences every proposal must address

• (a) The system does not require the target to emit RF. Passive RF can be part of a solution, but track should hold when the target is silent.
• (b) The system does not radiate. Kinetic and cyber defeat are favored. Jamming, active illumination, and transmitting into a target's links are in scope but must be declared with their operational effect.
• (c) The system does not require cloud services or reachback and keeps working with all external network interfaces disabled.
• (d) The system does not require a dedicated operator whose only task is attending it. Human judgment over use of force is still expected.
• Out of scope: work requiring classified access or a facility clearance at award, and approaches that depend on cooperative identification such as Remote ID.

How the Phases Are Structured

Phase I is skipped. You must show Phase I equivalent feasibility achieved outside SBIR/STTR, with a written record of at least one test stating conditions, dates, target or surrogate, measured result, and how it was measured. Test data, technical reports, and third-party evaluations count. A design alone or a self-declared TRL does not. Direct to Phase II proposals first go through a feasibility determination using the Volume 5 evidence, and only those that pass are evaluated further.

Phase II refines the approach into an operational prototype ready for test and evaluation in a militarily relevant or simulated field environment, reaching TRL 6 in 12 months so the capability can reach a transition decision within a year. Budget for your own test authority, range access, spectrum authorization, threat surrogates, and facilities. A Government showcase may be held about six months after award, by invitation based on end user interest, but every performer must provide operational evidence to support follow-on funding.

Phase III commercial markets are deploy-with-a-team uses: temporary airspace security for events, venues, construction, and energy sites; convoy and executive protection; wildfire, disaster, and infrastructure response; and mobile detection kits for law enforcement and allies. Defeat authority in the United States is limited by statute to covered federal entities, so defeat-focused proposals are not expected to show a near-term domestic market for that function. Military uses include point defense for tactical units, forward operating bases, and naval vessels.

Funding and Proposal Limits

• Direct to Phase II award maximum: $2,000,000.
• Period of performance: 12 months, not the 24 months the BAA otherwise allows.
• Technical Volume (Volume 2) limit: 5 pages on the required Direct to Phase II template. Feasibility documentation goes in Volume 5, also limited to 5 pages.
• TABA: Phase II awardees may request up to $50,000 per project, in addition to the award ceiling.
• The Government may host a showcase about six months after award, by invitation based on end user interest.

Who Is Eligible

• You must be a U.S. small business concern that meets SBIR ownership and size rules at the time of award.
• You must show Phase I equivalent feasibility achieved outside SBIR/STTR: a written record of at least one test with conditions, dates, target or surrogate, measured result, and measurement method. A design alone or a self-declared TRL is not enough.
• You must own or license the associated IP before proposal submission.
• Work requiring classified access or a facility clearance at award is out of scope.

Key Dates and How to Apply

• Now through October 28, 2026: pre-release. Topic authors are listed on the DSIP Topics and Topic Q&A page and you can call or email them directly with technical questions. This is the only window for direct contact.
• October 28, 2026: the topic opens for proposals in the Defense SBIR/STTR Innovation Portal (DSIP). After this date, questions go through DSIP Topic Q&A only.
• November 25, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET: complete proposals must be certified and submitted in DSIP. A proposal still marked In Progress or Ready to Certify is not considered submitted.
• Before you submit, confirm an active SAM.gov registration, a DSIP account, completed Volume 6 Fraud, Waste, and Abuse training, and the Volume 7 foreign affiliation disclosure webform.

Is This Topic a Fit for Your Company?

Counter-UAS companies with fielded or field-tested hardware and documented test results fit this topic. If your test evidence is thin, the Phase I companion topic OSW27BZ01-NV001 may be a better use of this cycle.

BW&CO has helped deep tech founders secure $350M+ in non-dilutive funding. If you want a second opinion on fit, feasibility documentation, or a proposal plan before the deadline, book a call with our team below.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is OSW SBIR topic OSW27BZ01-DV002?

It is an Office of the Secretary of War SBIR Direct to Phase II topic in DoW SBIR 2027 BAA Release 1 to mature counter-UAS technologies that detect, track, identify, or defeat Group 1 and Group 2 drones in contested areas.

How much funding is available?

Up to $2,000,000 with a 12 month period of performance. Phase II awardees may also request up to $50,000 in TABA.

What counts as feasibility?

A written record of at least one test of your approach with conditions, dates, target or surrogate, measured result, and measurement method. A system design alone or a self-declared TRL is not sufficient.

How long is the proposal?

The technical volume is limited to 5 pages on the required template, and the feasibility documentation in Volume 5 is also limited to 5 pages.

What are the operating preferences?

No requirement for the target to emit RF, no friendly emissions, no cloud or reachback dependence, and no dedicated operator. They are preferences, not eligibility rules, but every proposal must say where it stands on each.

When is the deadline?

The topic opens October 28, 2026 and closes November 25, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET in DSIP.