OSW26BZ05-NP017: Sensing Algorithms for Bandwidth Efficient Edge Radars (SABER)

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Quick Answer

OSW26BZ05-NP017, known as SABER, is a 2026 OSW-Reliance 21 SBIR topic under the DoW SBIR Program funding decentralized radar sensing algorithms that let three or more radar nodes cooperate on target detection and identification while minimizing the communications bandwidth needed between them. Phase I offers a base award of $306,500 over 6 months with a 10-page technical volume limit. This topic does not have a Direct to Phase II track and is ITAR/EAR restricted. Proposals are due September 23, 2026 and must be submitted through DSIP.

Overview

The Navy's Distributed Maritime Operations concept and related tactical imaging efforts depend on networking physically separated radar nodes into a single cooperative sensing mesh. Done well, this overcomes the limits of any single platform, including single points of failure and limited angular coverage, especially in contested and cluttered environments. The catch is that this shifts the performance bottleneck from individual sensors to the communications network connecting them. Streaming raw radar data gives the best imaging fidelity but overwhelms available bandwidth, while sharing only processed features or images saves bandwidth but degrades collaborative imaging quality.

SABER is looking for architectures and algorithms that jointly optimize communications and target inference across a decentralized radar network, processing data locally at each node and transmitting only the actionable intelligence or compressed imaging features needed for the network to fuse. Proposals need to specify their level of data fusion, whether decentralized signal-level, feature-level, or decision-level, along with the expected bandwidth requirements at each level.

Phase I is modeling and simulation heavy. The government wants proposers to demonstrate architecture feasibility, identify bandwidth bottlenecks as the key technical barrier, establish quantitative baselines for both network capacity and inference accuracy, and deliver a working proof-of-concept software implementation alongside a Phase II development plan aimed at hardware-in-the-loop testing.

This is a strong fit for companies with backgrounds in radar signal processing, distributed sensor networks, communications-constrained algorithm design, or information fusion. Because this topic is ITAR/EAR restricted, any proposed use of foreign nationals must be disclosed in detail, including country of origin, visa type, and specific statement of work tasks, and foreign national participation may be restricted under U.S. export control law.

Funding and Timeline

Phase I base award: $306,500 Phase I period of performance: 6 months Phase I technical volume limit: 10 pages Direct to Phase II: not available for this topic Proposal deadline: September 23, 2026 Submission portal: DSIP only, no other submission method is accepted Additional funding available: TABA funding, up to $6,500 for Phase I awardees and up to $50,000 per Phase II project Critical Technology Area: Applied Artificial Intelligence CMMC level requirement: Level 1 Export control status: ITAR/EAR restricted

Who Should Apply

Companies working on radar signal processing, distributed sensing, communications-efficient AI, or multi-node information fusion for maritime or ground surveillance are the target audience here. Given the short 6 month Phase I period and 10 page limit, proposers should already have a strong technical foundation to build on rather than starting from a blank page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the deadline for OSW26BZ05-NP017? The proposal deadline is September 23, 2026. Proposals must be submitted through DSIP before the topic closes.

How much funding is available for Phase I? Phase I offers a base award of up to $306,500 for a 6 month period of performance.

Is Direct to Phase II available for this topic? No. This topic is only open to standard Phase I proposals.

Is this topic export controlled? Yes. SABER is restricted under ITAR and EAR. Any proposed use of foreign nationals must be disclosed, including country of origin, visa or work permit type, and the specific tasks assigned, and participation may be restricted.

How many radar nodes does the architecture need to support? The topic calls for cooperative inference across tactical networks with three or more nodes, scaling to more than two nodes for Phase II demonstration purposes.

What kind of data fusion should proposers plan for? Proposals should clearly state their fusion approach, whether decentralized signal-level, feature-level, or decision-level fusion, along with the anticipated bandwidth requirements for that approach.

What is the Phase I deliverable? A functional proof-of-concept software or algorithmic implementation, a technical feasibility assessment based on modeling and simulation results, and a Phase II development plan.

Is TABA funding available for this topic? Yes. Phase I awardees may request up to $6,500 in TABA funding, and Phase II awardees may request up to $50,000 per Phase II project.