NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER AIRCRAFT DIVISIONAIR SYSTEMS GROUP, PROPULSION & POWER ENGINEERING BAA

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

Executive Summary:

This is a Fiscal Year 2026 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) from the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) focused on propulsion and power technologies for future Naval aircraft. It is a rolling opportunity covering multiple technical areas (BAA 121–125) with a continuous submission window until 30 September 2026.

The Navy is actively seeking white papers and proposals across electrical power systems, fuels and lubricants, operational energy, maintenance/health monitoring, and propulsion systems. Awards are made on a rolling basis, and funding availability is uncertain—so early engagement is critical.

How much funding would I receive?

Number of Awards: Multiple awards anticipated

• Estimated: $500K to $5 million. Award Size: Not predetermined; varies based on technical merit, relevance, and available funding

• Period of Performance: Varies by project

Possible Award Instruments:

• Procurement contracts

• Grants

• Cooperative agreements

• Other Transaction (OT) agreements for research or prototypes

The Government reserves the right to fund all, some, or none of the submitted proposals and may fund efforts incrementally or with options.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding supports R&D programs aligned to five technical areas:

• BAA 121: Advanced aircraft electrical power systems

• BAA 122: Fuel and lubricant technology

• BAA 123: Aircraft operational energy technology

• BAA 124: Condition-based maintenance, diagnostics, and health monitoring

• BAA 125: Advanced propulsion system technology

Across these areas, funding can be used for:

• Concept feasibility studies

• Modeling and simulation

• Design and engineering

• Prototype development

• Testing and demonstration

• Data analysis and validation

Programs are expected to include structured phases such as design, fabrication, and verification.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Opportunity to transition technology into Navy aircraft systems

• Potential for follow-on funding tied to program success

• Direct alignment with Naval Air Systems Command priorities

• Ability to structure proposals with optional components for incremental funding

Additional benefits are not explicitly specified beyond contract award and potential transition opportunities.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Submission window: Open continuously until 30 September 2026

• Process:

  • Step 1: Submit White Paper (≤30 pages)

  • Step 2: If invited, submit full technical and cost proposal

• Expected award timing: Fiscal Years 2025–2029

Awards are made on a rolling basis depending on funding availability and program interest.

Where does this funding come from?

• Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD)

• Air Systems Group, Propulsion & Power Engineering Department

• U.S. Navy / Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR)

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include:

• Private companies and contractors

• Educational institutions

• Small businesses and disadvantaged businesses

• HBCUs and Minority Institutions

• Veteran-owned and women-owned small businesses

Requirements:

• Must meet Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) responsibility standards

• Must be registered in SAM prior to award

• Must have adequate accounting systems (for cost-reimbursable contracts)

Not eligible:

• Foreign governments or foreign entities

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Proposals are evaluated primarily on:

Primary criteria (equal weight):

• Scientific and technical merit

• Relevance and contribution to Navy propulsion, power, and energy objectives

Secondary criteria:

• Team capabilities and past performance

• Cost realism and reasonableness

Winning projects will:

• Align tightly with one of the defined BAA technical areas

• Demonstrate clear military utility and transition potential

• Show strong technical feasibility and ROI

• Be ready for transition (especially for operational energy topics targeting near-term deployment)

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Foreign entities are not allowed to apply

• Organizational conflicts of interest must be disclosed and mitigated

• SETA contractors cannot simultaneously perform R&D without approval

• Subcontracting plans required for proposals over $700,000 (with small business participation goals)

• Cost-reimbursable contracts require compliant accounting systems

• Government is not obligated to provide requested equipment

Failure to disclose conflicts or meet requirements may result in rejection without evaluation.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

White Papers are expected to be a few pages up to ~15 pages (max 30 pages)

Full proposals (if invited) require detailed technical and cost volumes

Preparation time is not explicitly specified, but the two-step process is designed to reduce upfront effort by screening via White Papers first.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can:

• Identify the strongest-fit technical area (BAA 121–125)

• Develop a compliant and compelling White Paper

• Position your technology for Navy transition and ROI

• Build a full technical and cost proposal if invited

• Structure optional work packages to maximize award likelihood

How much would BW&CO Charge?

Our full service support is available for a flat fee of $5,000 for the White Paper Submission.

Fractional support is $300 per hour, with most AFRL proposal projects requiring 10-20 hours of expert support from strategy through submission of full proposal.

For startups, we offer a discounted rate of $250 per hour to make top-tier grant consulting more accessible while maintaining the same level of strategic guidance and proposal quality.

Additional Resources

Review solicitation here.

Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)

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

Executive Summary:

The Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) is seeking research proposals for innovative technologies that improve military training systems, simulation, and training methodologies. The opportunity is released as Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) N61340-26-S-0001.

Funding is available for basic and applied research related to training simulation technology, including areas such as adaptive training systems, simulation technologies, computer applications, and STEM education programs. The Navy is specifically interested in research that advances training effectiveness, simulation fidelity, distributed training systems, human performance modeling, and related technologies.

Unlike traditional grants with a fixed deadline, proposals can be submitted on a rolling basis until the BAA expires.

Application Deadline: 25 January 2031.

Companies, universities, nonprofits, and research organizations with innovative training technology concepts should consider engaging early with NAWCTSD technical points of contact to determine potential interest before submitting a full proposal.

How much funding would I receive?

The funding amount normally ranges between $500k - $5m

Awards will be determined based on:

• Scientific and technical merit

• Importance to Navy programs

• Availability of funding

• Reasonableness and realism of cost

The solicitation states that contracts may be issued for research proposals but does not specify the number of awards or typical award size.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding supports research and development related to training systems and simulation technologies that improve Navy training effectiveness.

The BAA identifies four major research areas:

1. Training Technology and Methodology
Examples include:

• Adaptive simulation-based training and assessment

• Advanced distributed learning

• Human social cultural and behavioral modeling

• Intelligent tutoring systems

• Games and gaming for training

• Team training and performance measurement

• Leadership development

• Mobile learning technologies

• Performance measurement for training

• Maintenance training technologies

2. Simulation Systems
Examples include:

• Display projector technology

• Helmet-mounted displays

• Live/Virtual/Constructive (LVC) training integration

• Sensor simulation technology

• Vehicle dynamic simulation

• Visual simulation technology

3. Computer Applications
Examples include:

• Human behavioral representation

• Anti-submarine warfare and submarine operations modeling

• Simulation networking

• Speech recognition technology

• High performance computing

• Reusable software for training systems

4. STEM Education
Examples include:

• K-12 STEM outreach activities

• Curriculum development for STEM education

• Programs connecting DoD scientists and engineers with schools

• Activities encouraging student participation in STEM fields relevant to DoD missions

Projects should be investigative and explore innovative technology concepts. Development of specific hardware systems is not allowed under this BAA.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Potential additional benefits include:

• Collaboration with NAWCTSD scientists and engineers

• Opportunity to transition technologies into Navy training systems

• Potential follow-on research opportunities

• Participation in a program focused on advancing next-generation military training technologies

Collaborative arrangements between universities and industry are encouraged.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Proposals may be submitted at any time while the BAA is active.

Application Deadline: 25 January 2031

The recommended process includes four steps:

Step 1 – Technical Dialog (Email Communication)
Initial discussion with a Navy technical point of contact.

Step 2 – Technical Dialog (Informal White Paper)
The Government may request an informal white paper to assess technical merit.

Step 3 – Submission of Formal Research Proposal
If the concept is of interest, the contracting office may issue a request for a formal proposal.

Step 4 – Contract Award for Selected Projects

Evaluation process:

• Initial review to assess scientific merit, relevance, and funding availability

• Peer review of proposals not declined in the initial review

The solicitation states that:

• Initial review generally occurs within 60 days after receipt

• Full processing of proposals may take up to 120 days

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) within the U.S. Department of the Navy.

The BAA is issued under:

• Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 35.016

• FAR 6.102(d)(2)

The Navy may use contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements depending on the nature of the research.

Who is eligible to apply?

The solicitation states that NAWCTSD contracts with:

• Educational institutions

• Nonprofit organizations

• Private industry

Organizations must meet minimum standards related to:

• Financial resources

• Ability to comply with the performance schedule

• Technical skills

• Facilities and equipment

• Organizational integrity and operational controls

Small businesses, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and small disadvantaged businesses are encouraged to submit proposals.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Proposals are evaluated using the following criteria (listed in descending order of importance):

1. Proposed Research

   • Scientific and technical merit

   • Adequacy and effectiveness of the technical approach

2. Potential Contribution

   • Contribution to the Navy mission

   • Alignment with NAWCTSD training system research priorities

3. Offeror’s Qualifications

   • Capabilities, facilities, and technical expertise

4. Personnel

   • Qualifications and experience of key personnel

5. Past Performance

   • Record of performance on similar efforts

6. Cost Realism

   • Reasonableness of proposed costs and fees

Projects should focus on innovative research that advances training systems technology and provides insight for optimizing the use of training systems.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Key restrictions include:

• Proposed efforts must be investigative research exploring innovative technology concepts

• Development of specific hardware systems is not allowed

• Only a Contracting Officer may obligate the Government to expend funds

• Non-U.S. citizens may not participate if the research involves:

  • Critical technology

  • Sensitive unclassified information

  • Classified information

  • For Official Use Only material

Research proposals may have a period of performance up to five (5) years.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

The solicitation does not specify a required preparation timeline.

However, the process typically includes:

• Initial technical dialogue

• Possible white paper submission

• Full research proposal preparation

Preparing a formal research proposal generally requires assembling:

• Technical research plan

• Administrative documentation

• Detailed cost proposal

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can support companies through the full BAA submission process, including:

• Identifying promising research concepts aligned with NAWCTSD priorities

• Drafting white papers for early technical engagement

• Preparing compliant technical research proposals

• Structuring the cost proposal and administrative documentation

• Managing communication with NAWCTSD technical contacts

• Positioning the project to align with the evaluation criteria used by Navy reviewers

How much would BW&CO Charge?

We have both fractional engagements ($250 an hour) and full engagements ($15,000 + 5%) available.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

NAVWAR Open Topic for Resilient Wideband RF Photonic Architectures for Assured Communications and PNT in Contested Electromagnetic Environments - SBIR Topic DON26BX01-NP001

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $240,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Develop, prototype, and demonstrate next-generation radio frequency (RF) photonic front-end technologies that improve the reliability, clarity, and resilience of wireless communications and navigation in high-interference environments. These solutions will leverage advances similar to those used in commercial fiber-optic telecommunications, satellite broadband (e.g., Starlink-class systems), 5G wireless infrastructure, and autonomous vehicle sensor systems to ensure the U.S. Navy maintains assured communications and assured position, navigation, and timing (APNT) during contested maritime operations.

Description:

The United States Navy must maintain reliable communications and accurate navigation to operate effectively at sea, coordinate with allies, and ensure freedom of navigation in increasingly complex and contested environments. Modern naval operations depend on uninterrupted wireless communications and precise timing and positioning, much like commercial aviation, autonomous shipping, satellite internet providers, and global logistics companies.

The Navy’s Communications and GPS Navigation Program Office (PMW/A 170) is responsible for delivering resilient and adaptive communications and APNT capabilities to Fleet forces and coalition partners. As commercial technology rapidly advances in areas such as fiber-optic networking, 5G/6G wireless systems, high-speed satellite communications, and advanced sensing platforms, the Navy seeks to harness and adapt these innovations to strengthen maritime mission performance.

The Golden Fleet initiative emphasizes modernizing not only ships, but also the systems that enable command, control, communications, navigation, and situational awareness. Modern Naval operations depend heavily on reliable communications and precise navigation, much like commercial aviation, satellite broadband networks, autonomous systems, and global logistics enterprises. As commercial industries continue to advance technologies that maintain reliable performance in crowded and interference-heavy environments, the Navy seeks to adapt and transition these innovations to strengthen maritime mission resilience.

Naval communications and navigation systems must operate reliably not only in routine conditions, but also in environments where adversaries attempt to disrupt signals or where the radio spectrum is heavily congested. Traditional RF front-end electronics can experience degraded performance or signal loss when exposed to jamming, electromagnetic interference, or strong competing signals. These vulnerabilities can create operational risk and threaten mission continuity in contested electromagnetic environments.

To address these challenges, this Open Topic invites system-level innovations in wideband RF photonic front-end architectures. RF photonics combines radio and optical technologies by using light and fiber-based components to carry, preserve, and condition radio signals with high fidelity. Similar approaches are widely used in commercial fiber-optic communications, high-capacity wireless infrastructure, and precision timing networks to improve signal quality, expand bandwidth, and reduce distortion over long distances. When adapted to Naval RF systems, these technologies offer a promising path to lower noise, improved resistance to interference, wider signal capture, and more reliable signal recovery than conventional electronic front ends.

Proposed solutions may incorporate commercially inspired technologies such as:

Coherent optical signal processing used in high-speed telecom networks

Advanced phase-tracking techniques similar to those used in precision satellite navigation and autonomous vehicle localization

Interference suppression approaches used in dense commercial wireless environments (e.g., stadiums, smart cities, and industrial IoT networks)

Compact photonic integrated circuits (PICs), similar to those being developed for next-generation data centers and lidar systems

Desired capabilities include systems that:

Reduce receiver noise without relying on traditional RF amplifiers

Maintain signal integrity under heavy interference and jamming

Capture and reconstruct wideband signals with high accuracy

Automatically detect and remove unknown interference sources

Support scalable, ruggedized deployment on ships, aircraft, and distributed maritime platforms

Reduce size, weight, power, and cost while improving survivability

Of particular interest are integrated, fiber-remoted, and packaged front-end modules that can operate reliably in harsh maritime environments, similar to ruggedized telecom and offshore energy communications equipment. Solutions that enable real-time interference excision without prior knowledge of the signal or threat are strongly encouraged.

Work produced in Phase II may become classified. Note: The prospective contractor(s) must be U.S. owned and operated with no foreign influence as defined by 32 U.S.C. § 2004.20 et seq., National Industrial Security Program Executive Agent and Operating Manual, unless acceptable mitigating procedures can and have been implemented and approved by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) formerly Defense Security Service (DSS). The selected contractor must be able to acquire and maintain a secret level facility and Personnel Security Clearances. This will allow contractor personnel to perform on advanced phases of this project as set forth by DCSA and NAVWAR in order to gain access to classified information pertaining to the national defense of the United States and its allies; this will be an inherent requirement. The selected company will be required to safeguard classified material during the advanced phases of this contract IAW the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM), which can be found at Title 32, Part 2004.20 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Modeling for Frontal Polymerization Curing Process - STTR Topic DON26TZ01-NV002

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $240,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Develop a multiphysics model or toolset to predict frontal polymerization phenomena and to optimize the resin additives (e,g., catalyst, inhibitor, etc.) for an optimized cure with less distortion or residual stress, while ensuring that the front does not self-extinguish.

Description:

Frontal polymerization is the process of curing a resin monomer into a polymer with a localized self-sustaining and moving reaction zone. Frontal polymerization has many benefits over traditional resin cure methods, such as reduced cure time from many hours to seconds or minutes [Refs 1,-2], a significant reduction of the energy required to cure (in some cases over 99.5%) [Ref 3], and reduced cost associated with curing a resin [Ref 3].

Frontal polymerization has many potential applications such as increasing cure percentage for thermoset additive manufacturing processes without requiring a post cure, rapid manufacturing of composite structures, and rapid composite curing for accelerated repairs of composite structures.

Frontal polymerization is a very boundary condition dependent process. Changes in boundary conditions, initial conditions (including temperature and initiation methods), resin formulations, resin or composite thickness, as well as the addition of reinforced fibers or materials can drastically affect characteristics like front velocity, front temperature, and whether a front is sustained or terminated. This can make it challenging to predict and synthesize resin systems that can sustain a frontally polymerized cure with different initiation methods, environmental conditions, composite/resin thicknesses, and reinforcement materials.

Currently, phenomenological multiphysics modeling efforts for frontal polymerization are limited to 1D, 2D, or small 3D models, since they are very computationally demanding due to the highly nonlinear coupling of the governing equations and short timescales required for accurate solution convergence. Furthermore, many models do not predict the mechanical response resulting from the frontal polymerization process (i.e., warpage or residual stress of the polymer caused by the frontal polymerization process). Surrogate modeling can drastically reduce the time to simulate a front but often requires training to create the surrogate model in the form of many finite element analyses or experiments that can be very time consuming. Recently a mechanism-based approach has been created, allowing for prediction of frontal polymerization phenomena without requiring differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) testing to obtain properties for different resin formulations [Ref 4].

This STTR topic calls for development of a model or toolset to predict characteristics of the frontal polymerization process such as front temperature, front velocity, and cure percentage, as well as the resulting effects from the frontal polymerization process such as warpage, residual stress, or post cure mechanical strength. The model should work for multiple initiation methods (i.e., a point initiation of the front, line initiation, and planar initiation for the front (for simulating a point heat source, a line/wire heat source, and a planar heat source). The model should also be scalable, allowing for simulation of different/larger geometries without detrimental increases in computational time. This topic falls under the NAWCAD STTR focus area for in situ material detection and repair solutions.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Low Power Seawater Converter for Aircrew Survival - STTR Topic DON26TZ01-NV014

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $240,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Develop a lightweight, compact, rugged, and reliable device that can convert seawater into safe, drinkable water. The device should minimize bulk and human energy expenditure, while maximizing output.

Description:

Survival in a life raft on the open ocean depends greatly on the availability of potable water. Naval aircrew currently carry prepackaged water in soft packets placed within the ejection seat survival kit and aircrew survival vest sufficient to sustain life for less than one day. Reverse osmosis desalinators and forward osmosis nutrient packs are commercially available to the recreational seafarer. However, neither of these approaches are designed to maximize the amount of drinkable water while minimizing the amount of human energy expended, while constrained by limited space within a survival kit. Manual Reverse Osmosis Desalinator (MROD) devices are labor intensive, requiring more than 2500 pumps to produce one liter of water in one hour. Such human powered devices may require more energy expenditure than the calories available to stranded aircrew. Forward osmosis products available for the recreational sailor can produce potable beverages with little manual effort, but the total output capacity for aircrew is limited by the storage volume of the ejection seat survival kit. Current options for supplying sufficient drinking water to sustain life throughout extended rescue durations are inadequate.

Innovative solutions will minimize or eliminate aircrew physical activity/exertion, while producing at least one gallon of drinkable water per day, with a minimum salt rejection of 95%. Concepts utilizing novel chemical processes or nanotechnology are preferred over simple refinements of current osmosis technology.

The device should:

a) fit within a Naval Aircraft Common Ejection Seat (NACES) survival kit (an envelope approximately 6½"x14½"x4½") along with an Emergency Oxygen System (EOS) and an LRU-38/P life raft, but not exceed 114 cubic inches.

b) operate in near freezing brine water/freshwater/saltwater.

c) operate in turbulent or calm water conditions.

d) operate reliably in cold and hot ambient air from -40° to +125°F (-40° to +51°C).

e) operate after exposure to temperature extremes from -65° to +160°F (-54° to +71°C).

f) operate after exposure to mold, mildew, flame, and salt fog.

g) not create hazards (i.e., burn, injury, Foreign Object Debris (FOD), snag/trip, and static discharge) in any mission or survival operations.

h) operate following a 600-knot seat ejection.

i) operate after repeated exposure to altitudes up to 70,000 ft (0.65 psi).

j) operate after exposure to typical fixed-wing ejection seat aircraft vibration levels, at frequencies from 5 Hz-2000 Hz).

k) provide resistance to environmental contaminants (i.e., sand, petroleum, oil, lubricants, and solar radiation).

l) not interfere with survival vest or mounted gear, armor/armor release, seat harnesses, helmets or head mounted gear.

m) be capable of operating after 15 months in a packed state (360-day inspection cycle plus 90 day shelf life) while exposed to temperature ranges of -65° to 160°F (-54° to +71°C).

n) weigh less than 2 lbs.

o) use Berry Amendment-compliant materials and manufacturing techniques.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

AI/ML Assisted Field Troubleshooting in Avionics Optical Network - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-DV003

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $2 Million.

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Design, develop, and integrate a portable artificial intelligence/ machine learning (AI/ML)-enabled diagnostic module compatible with existing Optical Backscattering Reflectometer (OBR) and Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) mainframes. The module will be engineered to support in-field optical network troubleshooting and management for high-speed communication systems.

Description:

Current airborne military (mil-aero) core avionics, electro-optical (EO), communications, and electronic warfare systems are experiencing continuous growth in bandwidth demand, coupled with stringent requirements to reduce Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP). Earlier-generation multimode optical fibers have replaced traditional shielded twisted-pair wire and coaxial cable, offering increased electromagnetic interference (EMI) immunity, higher bandwidth and throughput, and notable reductions in aircraft size and weight.

However, maintenance and troubleshooting of these advanced optical networks remain highly dependent on traditional telecommunication test equipment. Identifying and resolving faults—such as fiber breaks, fractures, and high-loss terminations—requires locating and distinguishing anomalies within meter-level precision, whereas modern avionic information-processing networks demand centimeter-level spatial resolution from source to detector.

Fault detection must extend beyond typical Weapons Replaceable Assembly (WRA) interfaces to identify:

Backplane/module degradation

Line replaceable module-to-optical transceiver faults

Polymer waveguide failures

Inline sensor (fiber grating) issues

Optical link loss across concatenated waveguide segments

Frequent airframe panel removal during fault isolation disrupts aircraft availability and mission readiness—especially for stealth platforms—highlighting the need for faster, more accurate, and less intrusive diagnostics.

To overcome these limitations, a portable AI/ML-enabled troubleshooting device is proposed to support field diagnostics across military airborne fiber-optic systems. The device will leverage next-generation reflectometry technologies and machine intelligence to enhance fault resolution precision and technician efficiency.

Key Capabilities:

AI-Augmented Fault DetectionReal-time identification of defects (breaks, voids, misalignments, link degradation)

Pattern recognition and anomaly classification using historical signature databases

AI-Driven Virtual AssistantsOn-device or network-connected chatbots providing guided maintenance workflows

Embedded AR interface for overlaying diagnostics on test hardware in real time

Advanced Troubleshooting MetricsSpatial resolution to centimeter scale across multiple fiber types

Predictive maintenance algorithms to reduce unplanned network downtime

Plug-and-Play Integration Fully compatible with existing portable OTDR/OBR mainframes

Support for both multimode (50/125, 62.5/125, 100/140 µm) and single mode (9/125 µm) fiber types

GUI developed for intuitive field use across all operational conditions

Wavelength and Environmental ResilienceOperational wavelength support: SWDM and CWDM

Designed for MIL-PRF-28800 Class 2 with select Class 1 enhancements

Operational temperature range: –40°C to +95°C

Resistant to mechanical shock, altitude variation, vibration, humidity, and thermal cycling

The device will build upon a fusion of legacy and emerging fiber-optic diagnostic technologies, including:

Optical Time Domain Reflectometry (OTDR)

Optical Backscatter Reflectometry (OBR)

Photon-Counting OTDR (PC-OTDR)

Low Correlation OTDR (LC-OTDR)

Pseudo Random Sequence (PRS) Correlation OTDR (C-OTDR)

Optical Frequency Domain Reflectometry (OFDR)

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Low-Cost Multi-Mission Dip Sonar for Mine Warfare and Anti-submarine Warfare (Inner/Middle Zone) - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-NV005

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $240,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Develop initial designs for a reduced cost, next generation helicopter dip sonar system utilizing multi-frequency band capabilities for traditional and enhanced anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities for both inner and middle zone coverage (broadening to wide area search) as well as introducing aviation (naval) mine countermeasure (AMCM) capabilities.

Description:

The United States Navy has long utilized dipping sonar systems on aircraft for Air ASW. The most recent sonar systems continue to show dominance in the Air ASW role with the ability to cover larger and larger areas of ocean. Simultaneously, various configurations of acoustic, electro-optic and electromagnetic sensor systems have been used in AMCM operations, with the newest remaining fielded systems offering limited mission coverage. As the Navy looks to new maritime strike future vertical lift capabilities, there will be an increased effort to combine capabilities into fewer unique aircraft platforms. To facilitate the merger of missions into fewer aircraft, it will become crucial to also combine more mission capabilities into individual mission systems. The resultant design from this effort is expected to provide increased capabilities across more aircraft of a singular configuration with the combination of improved Air ASW capability and added AMCM capability into a singular mission system, which in turn also will reduce the expected training and logistics costs with fewer variants of equipment to cover. Additionally, with continued retirements of existing mine-countermeasures systems, the Fleet will have an urgent need for other air-based AMCM capabilities/coverage and may want to consider implementing capabilities on other naval helicopters using existing, modified, or new sensors of acoustic, electro-optic, magnetic, and radio-frequency types.

Traditionally, the Navy developed and fielded acoustic ASW and AMCM systems independently while the physics of the underwater acoustic environment is a shared problem with differing targets and typical frequency bands of interest as a result. Additionally, acoustic ASW systems (i.e., sonobuoys and helicopter dip sonars) are of compact size and can be utilized on a medium lift helicopter or smaller, while acoustic AMCM systems have typically targeted installation on heavy-lift helicopters. Incorporation of a secondary frequency band capability into a helicopter dip sonar transducer assembly would quickly bring AMCM capability to a typically large number of traditionally ASW helicopters and bring air-based AMCM capability to the Navy’s air-capable ships, simultaneously with ASW capability. The multi-mission capability of such a sonar transducer assembly would also allow one aircraft, without reconfiguring, cover both ASW and AMCM mission sets for reduced maintenance and reducing the equipment needed to be stored while afloat in space-constrained ships.

The objective is to develop initial designs for a reduced cost, next generation helicopter dip sonar system utilizing multi-frequency band capabilities for traditional and enhanced anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities for both inner and middle zone coverage (broadening to wide area search) as well as introducing aviation (naval) mine countermeasure (AMCM) capabilities.

The system would also be utilized either in its full capability configuration or at a reduced capability configuration as a retrofit into the multi-mission helicopter as a replacement for the existing dipping sonar system transducer, while at a decreased unit and sustainment cost (below Class A mishap thresholds if lost in flight, with a goal of below a Class C threshold).

Minimally funded Science and Technology efforts have previously been performed to assess USN dipping sonar capability to detect naval mines using the system, acoustic pulses/frequencies, and processing in its existing ASW configuration and have shown success in detecting nearly every naval mine based on post-flight data analysis. Enhancing that capability with a secondary frequency band and associated beam steering, as well as uniquely developed pulses and processing across both frequency bands, is expected to provide a significant AMCM capability while retaining both traditional ASW superiority and enhanced ASW detection and classification capabilities for certain scenarios.

In addition to introducing AMCM capabilities into a traditional ASW sensor system, no significant improvements in the traditional ASW sonar transducer assemblies available from industry have been introduced since the last dipping sonar system competitive source selection conducted in the late 1980s. Increasing costs of the existing USN sonar systems continue to drive concerns regarding the long term affordability of the existing fielded systems and any future variants thereof, and continue to pose a risk of generating an equipment cost loss equivalent to a Class A mishap record if the transducer is lost from the aircraft. As such, decreasing the recurring production costs of a future transducer assembly are of significant concern and ensuring improved supportability. Noting that sonobuoys are similar advanced acoustic sensor systems made in large quantities for production unit costs of less than $15k/each indicates that a highly capable sonar transducer design would be capable of being generated with a much more reasonable forecast production cost well below $500k/each.

Additionally, the ability for the new sonar transducer to be retrofit in place of existing USN fielded sonar transducers (form/fit/function compatible) used on the existing USN aircraft while utilizing existing sonar processing (~3-5 kHz frequency band) and bringing AMCM capability and new added ASW capabilities to the traditionally ASW-focused helicopters is of interest utilizing a higher frequency band in the same unit.

Lastly, it would be a significant advancement in helicopter-based ASW capabilities if a tertiary frequency band below 2 kHz was also added to expand mission capabilities to broach wide area search and explore advantages of convergence zone type capabilities, while retaining the inherent existing direct path detection coverage of the mid-frequency 3-5kHz band, for full spectrum coverage of the surrounding areas.

The new multi-frequency band sonar transducer would be desired to have at least the following characteristics:

- Primary transmit array would be omnidirectional for ASW in the horizontal plane

- Primary acoustic transmit band for ASW: 3-5 kHz.

- Primary receive array would be capable of supporting 24 beams for primary ASW capabilities

- Consider using Single Crystal transducer technology or other new technology to reduce the weight and improve bandwidth.

- Overall weight must be less than 180 lbs.

- Primary electronics power and transmission signal power for the unit must be provided from an external transmitter/amplifier.

- Primary acoustic processing must occur offboard (not within unit)

- Secondary higher frequency band must be selected for AMCM mission optimization

- Secondary transmit and receive array functionality could reuse the primary arrays, utilizing electronic or physical manipulation as needed/possible to optimize AMCM. Alternatively, integrating other transmit and/or receive arrays within the same assembly may be acceptable.

- The secondary array capabilities would consider abilities to steer beams both horizontally and vertically depending on both mine and submarine targets of interest.

- As allowable, a tertiary capability of covering lower frequencies for longer range area searches and overlap with current other low frequency system operational frequencies (below 2 kHz) is preferred, broaching wide area search capabilities, with a system not requiring logistical complexities of storing large quantities of sonobuoys while associated to an aircraft deployed on a ship, and taking advantage of long range convergence zone detections

- Mechanically extended and retracted arrays are acceptable, as these are traditionally used in the most recent ASW sonar transducers.

- Will be capable of storage within an aircraft body for forward flight, ideally with an overall stowed diameter of no greater than 210 mm for the primary body and an overall length no greater than 1275 mm (some extensions for stabilizing features may be permissible).

- The CG of the sonar transducer assembly body will be designed to be as low as possible for stability in lowering operations, with an upper limit of no greater than 35% of the length of the overall unit as measured from the bottom.

- The final fielded unit would incorporate a water thermocouple for measuring the water column temperature during lowering operations, a method for bottom proximity detection, a capability to protect itself during electrostatic discharge when lowered from a helicopter into the sea water, redundant depth sensing capabilities, angular orientation reporting relative to vertical, and a method for determining bearing orientation of the array (e.g., magnetic compass, field sensors, other).

- Acoustic elements would be physically or electronically steerable in the vertical plane, providing enhanced sea bottom scanning for bottomed targets, and ideally, ability to determine target depth for setting of weapon depth deployments for improved success in target engagement

- The unit design would be able to withstand operating depths to at least 2500 ft.

Work produced in Phase II may become classified. Note: The prospective contractor(s) must be U.S. owned and operated with no foreign influence as defined by 32 U.S.C. § 2004.20 et seq., National Industrial Security Program Executive Agent and Operating Manual, unless acceptable mitigating procedures can and have been implemented and approved by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) formerly Defense Security Service (DSS). The selected contractor must be able to acquire and maintain a secret level facility and Personnel Security Clearances. This will allow contractor personnel to perform on advanced phases of this project as set forth by DCSA and NAVAIR in order to gain access to classified information pertaining to the national defense of the United States and its allies; this will be an inherent requirement. The selected company will be required to safeguard classified material during the advanced phases of this contract IAW the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM), which can be found at Title 32, Part 2004.20 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Advanced Liquid Hydrogen Storage and Employment Methodologies for Unmanned Aerial Systems - STTR Topic DON26TZ01-NV003

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $240,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Develop a cryogenic liquid hydrogen storage and delivery solution that can achieve high hydrogen mass fraction and a low boil off rate. Demonstrate that the cryogenic liquid hydrogen storage system improves endurance, range, and continuous payload power in an unmanned aerial system (UAS).

Description:

Hydrogen fuel-cell-powered air systems are becoming more prevalent in aviation [Refs 1-4]. Although compressed gaseous hydrogen has traditionally been employed to power these systems, cryogenic liquid hydrogen has recently started gaining traction [Refs 5-8]. Overall, liquid hydrogen storage provides added benefits such as reduced weight and volume compared to gaseous hydrogen storage, but there are still challenges to air vehicle integration and long-term use due to the extreme low temperature and other properties of liquefied hydrogen [Refs 9-10].

This STTR topic is seeking a liquid hydrogen storage and delivery solution that achieves high performance metrics while also maintaining longevity, safety, and usability for US Navy and US Marine Corps UASs. The performance metrics of interest for the delivered solution include a gravimetric hydrogen storage efficiency = 40% and volumetric hydrogen storage density of > 40 g/L. The integrated solution must also maintain a hydrogen boil-off rate of 100 fill cycles. The storage solution and filling procedure must also meet standard safety requirements such as those called out in DOC 06/02/E on the H2 Tools website [Ref 11].

Additionally, consideration should be made for integration into a range of UAS sizes from a Group 2 to Group 5. This shall include considerations for fuel level monitoring and sloshing effects during flights, as well as meeting necessary environmental (basic hot and basic cold), shock, and vibration requirements called out in MIL-STD-810-H [Ref 12]. Ability to demonstrate that the new cryogenic liquid hydrogen delivery system can manage and mitigate thermal loads of UAS mission systems is of particular interest. Finally, cryo-compressed hydrogen solutions will also be considered if it meets the key performance parameters outlined here.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Optical Power Limiters Countering Frequency Agile Lasers and Dazzlers - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-NV012

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $240,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Develop Mid-Wave Infrared/Long-Wave Infrared (MWIR/LWIR) nonlinear optical (NLO) dyes embedded in sol-gel glass operating as an Optical Power Limiter that protects optical sensors from damage caused by high-intensity light by reducing transmittance at high input power levels such as from frequency agile lasers and dazzlers.

Description:

The proliferation of commercial, visible, and infrared wavelength laser systems is increasingly becoming a threat to our warfighters, which drives the need for further research and development for electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor. Current fielded sensor protection equipment is limited to fixed wavelength filters. However, broad band filters that are designed to circumvent multiwavelength laser threats are plagued by low transmittance, which degrades the sensitivity and performance of the sensor. Future warfighter threats include frequency agile lasers and dazzlers which have the potential of defeating fixed filters. Self-activating (passive) devices, where protection is activated by the incoming radiation (optical limiters), are the best approach to counter frequency agile and short pulse laser threats. The current state of the art of optical limiters are hampered by off-state low transmittance, low laser damage threshold, high activation laser threshold, and narrow field-of-view (FOV) and bandwidth. In addition, a sensor’s size, weight, and complexity greatly affect the user’s acceptance as a potential optical-limiting device. A sensor protection device is generally designed as an insert, an add-on, or replacement to the optical system. The optical limiter must be designed not to impact the sensor’s FOV and optical transmission. Currently available systems are very bulky and narrow band in their protection.

This SBIR topic solicits new, innovative NLO dyes embedded in sol-gel glass to provide sensor protection from frequency-agile laser and dazzlers operating in the MWIR/LWIR spectrum. The proposed NLO dyes embedded in sol-gel glass should allow ample transmission of ambient MWIR/LWIR light and be of high optical quality so as not to significantly degrade sensor performance. It should have a fast response time when exposed to dangerous fluence levels, sufficient to react to and block incident laser pulses to a high optical density. The dyes should be capable of changing from a high transmission state to a very low transmission state within sufficiently short time to block nearly all of the light contained in a light pulse emitted from frequency agile lasers and dazzlers . When harmful radiation is no longer incident, it must recover to a high transmission state in a short amount of time so that the sensor’s optics are not interrupted or significantly degraded after exposure. The proposal should discuss in detail the spectral transmittance in the attenuating state, activation threshold, response time, optical density in the attenuating state, and recovery time of the technology, the electric and other parameters of the excited state to be taken for measurements, excimer formation as well as any other important technical details.

The NLO dyes embedded in sol-gel glass critical requirements are:

1) Wavelengths – threshold MWIR 3 to 5 micron goal MWIR/LWIR 3 to 12 microns;

2) Response time: 3) Recovery time: 4) Low-intensity transparency is > 50%

5) For light intensity or fluence above the limiting threshold (LT), the attenuation is > 20dB

6) The Damage threshold (DT) is at least 10 times larger than that of the nonlinear optical material used

7) The fluence limiting threshold (LT) is below 500 milli-joules/cm^2/pulse

8) Multiple use without performance degradation exceeds 10,000 pulses

9) Wide acceptance and protection angles

10) Testing should be performed using f-number optics no greater than f/10, unless a higher f-number is required by a specific application

11) Dynamic range (~120 dB)

12) Rapid response time (~20 us)

13) Optical limiting threshold of 6.5 W / cm2 at room temperature.

Use of government materials, equipment, data, or facilities will not be offered and will not be required. If the technology is capable of exceeding any of the above requirements, the proposal should note this as well. Likewise, the proposal should note any limitations inherent to the proposed technology.

New and innovative material solutions may be proposed to provide new options for sol-gel glass production. Potential candidates include but are not limited to vanadium dioxide, use of commercially available or novel silanes and solvents. Processing approaches could include methods to control the rate of curing of the glass and the type, material, and shape of container used for the cure, as well as the cure temperature.

The goal is to develop a process that can make larger optical elements more reliably. Well established materials and processes may be proposed with a focus on improving the manufacturability, producibility, and reliability for current and next generation optical elements. Increasing size, manufacturing yield, and reducing cost while at the same time reducing manufacturing variability is desired. Proposers must have experience in the production of dye containing sol-gel glasses.

A second requirement of the optical elements are dyes which have the required optical transmittance/absorbance properties while being compatible with the sol-gel materials and production methods and are reliably available from domestic sources. This is currently a challenge. The performer will be required to identify suitable dyes for the optical elements and to design synthetic approaches to any dyes that are not commercially available from reliable domestic sources. The performer will synthesize any required dyes not commercially available from domestic sources in amounts exceeding 10 grams by the end of Phase II and have the capability to produce the dye(s) at batch sizes of at least 10 grams going forward or to work with another domestic producer to do so, or both. Proposers should have documented experience in the design, synthesis, and production of novel and existing absorbing and fluorescing dyes in the infrared regions of the spectrum and must have demonstrated the ability to reliably and reproducibly synthesize, purify, and characterize light-absorbing dyes at greater than 10-gram batch size. The proposal should clearly identify the current state of the art of the sol-gel and dyes of interest including both technical and manufacturing readiness and how the proposed work will advance readiness for the proposed optical elements.

Work produced in Phase II may become classified. Note: The prospective contractor(s) must be U.S. owned and operated with no foreign influence as defined by 32 U.S.C. § 2004.20 et seq., National Industrial Security Program Executive Agent and Operating Manual, unless acceptable mitigating procedures can and have been implemented and approved by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) formerly Defense Security Service (DSS). The selected contractor must be able to acquire and maintain a secret level facility and Personnel Security Clearances. This will allow contractor personnel to perform on advanced phases of this project as set forth by DCSA and NAVAIR in order to gain access to classified information pertaining to the national defense of the United States and its allies; this will be an inherent requirement. The selected company will be required to safeguard classified material during the advanced phases of this contract IAW the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM), which can be found at Title 32, Part 2004.20 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Extended Range 10-inch Air Launched Rocket - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-DV001

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $2 Million.

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Implement Highly Loaded Grain (HLG) propulsion technology into an existing 10-inch diameter rocket motor to create a tactically relevant, extended range rocket motor.

Description:

The U.S. Navy is pursuing enhancements to the performance, range, and tactical flexibility of existing 10-inch rocket motor systems. A key enabler of this objective is the maturation and application of HLG propulsion technology. HLG designs maximize total impulse within volume-constrained tactical solid propellant systems while enabling adaptable thrust-time profiles, including boost-sustain variants.

This Direct to Phase II SBIR topic seeks integration of HLG technology into an existing 10-inch diameter rocket motor, thereby increasing performance and advancing the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) and Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) of the HLG propulsion approach.

Key Technical Guidelines:

Rocket Motor Case: 10-inch diameter tactical casing with boat-tail geometry based on the High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) aft-end structure

Grain Design: HLG-formulated geometry tailored for constrained volume and thrust shaping

Ballistics Software: CLWire ballistic simulation software provided by Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD)

Risk Posture: Low to moderate for non-HLG-specific subsystems; medium risk for nozzle/igniter design

Performance Objective: Total impulse increase of approximately 30% over legacy baseline

Thrust Profile: Support both all-boost and boost/sustain regimes; comply with NAWCWD performance parameters including Maximum Expected Operating Pressure (MEOP) and thrust onset rates

Propellant Formulation: Aluminized solid propellant: Ammonium Perchlorate (AP) / Aluminum (Al) / Hydroxyl-Terminated Polybutadiene (HTPB) binder

Materials Compatibility: Maximize re-use of existing materials for insulation, liners, oxidizers, and binders

Environmental Qualification: Thermal: –65 °F to +160 °F (–53.9 °C to +71.1 °C); Structural: withstand shock and vibration in accordance with military deployment profiles

Nozzle & Igniter Development: Moderate risk with identified maturation path toward tactically viable configurations

Work produced in Phase II may become classified. Note: The prospective contractor(s) must be U.S. owned and operated with no foreign influence as defined by 32 U.S.C. § 2004.20 et seq., National Industrial Security Program Executive Agent and Operating Manual, unless acceptable mitigating procedures can and have been implemented and approved by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) formerly Defense Security Service (DSS). The selected contractor must be able to acquire and maintain a secret level facility and Personnel Security Clearances. This will allow contractor personnel to perform on advanced phases of this project as set forth by DCSA and NAVAIR in order to gain access to classified information pertaining to the national defense of the United States and its allies; this will be an inherent requirement. The selected company will be required to safeguard classified material during the advanced phases of this contract IAW the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM), which can be found at Title 32, Part 2004.20 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Test and Alert System for Type 1 Encryption Device Hold-up Batteries (HUB) - STTR Topic DON26BZ01-NV007

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $240,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Develop a common Type 1 encryption device Hold-Up Battery (HUB) tester and accompanying low battery alert device.

Description:

Develop a universal Hold-Up Battery (HUB) tester and integrated low-voltage alert system for Type 1 encryption devices. These devices rely on HUB batteries to retain mission-critical software. Failure to replace depleted batteries within specified intervals often renders them inoperable, necessitating costly returns to depots or vendors for software recovery.

The proposed solution must provide:

A non-invasive HUB battery tester compatible across multiple device types

A low-battery alert mechanism to signal impending voltage failure

A streamlined method for monitoring and managing battery replacement intervals

This capability will significantly reduce lifecycle costs, improve operational readiness, and mitigate the risks associated with device storage in long-term vault conditions.

Work produced in Phase II may become classified. Note: The prospective contractor(s) must be U.S. owned and operated with no foreign influence as defined by 32 U.S.C. § 2004.20 et seq., National Industrial Security Program Executive Agent and Operating Manual, unless acceptable mitigating procedures can and have been implemented and approved by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) formerly Defense Security Service (DSS). The selected contractor must be able to acquire and maintain a secret level facility and Personnel Security Clearances. This will allow contractor personnel to perform on advanced phases of this project as set forth by DCSA and NAVAIR in order to gain access to classified information pertaining to the national defense of the United States and its allies; this will be an inherent requirement. The selected company will be required to safeguard classified material during the advanced phases of this contract IAW the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM), which can be found at Title 32, Part 2004.20 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Flexible Printed Thermoelectric Cooling Film - STTR Topic DON26TZ01-NV013

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $240,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Develop a low-cost and lightweight thermoelectric cooling film that could be used to cool the warfighter (small scale) or surfaces on military platforms (larger scale) using printed organic semiconductors. The flexible cooling films should have a bending radius of less than one inch to easily wrap around pipes, wrists, and ankles, and be able to conform to complex curvatures on larger surfaces.

Description:

Thermoelectric cooling devices based on narrow bandgap semiconductors such as bismuth telluride are commercially available. They are solid state devices and thus do not have the large footprint and moving parts associated with vapor compression refrigeration systems; however, they operate with lower efficiency. They are well-suited for cooling small flat surfaces where one is more concerned with the form factor than efficiency. For many practical applications, these square ceramic tile thermoelectric devices are heavy and too rigid, and do not offer conformal contact to curved surfaces.

Over the past fifteen years, a lot of progress has been made on organic thermoelectric materials. Though the thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) has not caught up to that of bismuth telluride and other inorganic materials, the potential to make low-cost, lightweight, and flexible devices has opened a new application space for thermoelectric cooling where flexibility and large-area conformal contact are prioritized over efficiency. For instance, lightweight headbands and wristbands only need to remove a small amount of heat to provide significant cooling sensation to the user. Likewise, there are diffuse, large surface area applications with similar cooling needs. Prior research was summarized in a recent review article by Segalman [Ref 1].

The conducting polymer Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) [PEDOT] was identified as a strong candidate for the p-type leg in the p-n device, but device performance has been limited by the lack of suitable n-type materials. The organic electronics community has long wrestled with n-type materials due to potential oxidation of the electron carriers. A number of inherently stable and high performing n-type polymers have recently been developed [Ref 2] that should complement the available p-type materials and enable significantly improved thermoelectric cooling device performance. New device designs obtainable with simple fabrication must be developed to take advantage of the anisotropic thermal conductance and charge transport in these materials, which is typically maximized in-plane and along the polymer molecular backbones, such that measured thin film behaviors successfully translate into device performance. A number of design and fabrication strategies have been demonstrated but much more innovation is possible [Ref 1]. It is an appropriate time to develop lightweight, flexible thermoelectric cooling devices for these niche applications.

This STTR topic is for low-cost, lightweight, and flexible thermoelectrics for personal cooling as well as for large area applications.

The flexible cooling films should have a bending radius of less than one inch to easily wrap around pipes, wrists, and ankles, and be able to conform to complex curvatures on larger surfaces. The stated applications are near-ambient temperatures though the conjugated polymers should be able to handle temperatures up to 200°C. Composite approaches that are appropriate are welcome. This topic is not soliciting a fabric-based solution.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Domestic Production of Zirconium and Hafnium Metal Organic Precursors - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-DV002

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $2 Million.

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Develop and demonstrate a pilot-scale manufacturing process for producing high purity tetrakis(dimethylamido)zirconium(IV) (TDMAZ), tetrakis(dimethylamido)hafnium(IV) (TDMAH) and related metal dimethylamide compounds, with a targeted annual production capacity exceeding 6,000 kg of TDMAZ.

Description:

The Department of the Navy is seeking a domestic source of critical chemical feedstocks including TDMAZ, TDMAH, and other metal dimethylamide compounds. These chemical feedstocks can be used as metal organic precursors for atomic layer deposition (ALD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), and chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) of metal oxides, nitrides, and carbonitrides used in microelectronics and ceramic manufacturing [Refs 1-3]. While TDMAZ is a vital ceramic precursor for the electronics and semiconducting industry, this effort will also support the use of TDMAZ for the preparation of metal nitrides and carbonitrides for ceramics and ceramic matrix composites.

This SBIR topic seeks to establish a domestic manufacturing capability for the production of > 6,000 kg/year of TDMAZ. Synthesis of TDMAZ and other metal dimethylamides often involves pyrophoric and air/water sensitive reagents, and the proper storage and handling of these reagents is crucial for the development of a cost-effective and large-scale manufacturing process. Along with the production volumes mentioned above, the metal precursors must have a purity > 99% and a target retail price of < $4,000/kg of TDMAZ, preferably < $2,500/kg. The proposed manufacturing facility must be located in the United States or US territories, and the company owning and operating this manufacturing facility must be wholly US owned and based.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Thermally Tolerant Optical Fire Detectors - STTR Topic DON26TZ01-NV001

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $240,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Development and demonstration of an optical fire detector capable of an artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML)-enhanced Optical Fire Detector (OFD) capable of operating in temperatures up to 400°F, enabling deployment in high-performance engine nacelles without compromising responsiveness or coverage.

Description:

All aircraft engine nacelles require reliable and rapid-fire detection systems to ensure airworthiness and flight safety. OFDs are preferred over other technologies due to their fast response times and comprehensive coverage. However, existing OFDs are typically limited to operating in temperatures below 200°F, rendering them unsuitable for certain high-temperature nacelle environments that exceed this threshold.

Current Limitations of the Alternative (Thermally Robust Temperature-sensing Lines):

Slower detection response compared to optical methods

Limited coverage due to sensor placement constraints

Lack of non-destructive calibration, increasing maintenance complexity and downtime

AI/ML Integration for False Alarm Reduction:

Real-time signal classification to distinguish between genuine fire signatures and benign stimuli such as sunlight, engine exhaust, or infrared (IR) reflection

Adaptive filtering based on operational context, reducing nuisance alarms and increasing system confidence

Thermal Design Enhancements:

Material and packaging innovations to withstand prolonged exposure to 400°F (204°C) environments

Calibration methodologies resilient to the thermal cycling, vibration, and Electromagnetic Interference common to nacelle-mounted systems

Integration compatibility for both retrofit of legacy platforms and new platforms.

Expected Benefits:

Improved fire detection performance in thermally extreme zones

Increased aircraft survivability and mission readiness

Enhanced maintainability through non-invasive self-test and diagnostic capabilities

Improved fleet sustainability

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

High Clutter Virtual Objects for Modeling and Simulation - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-NV003

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $240,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Develop a modeling and simulation (M&S) application for generating high-fidelity, thermally-attributed virtual electro-optic and infrared (EO/IR) object models—specifically weather-explicit 3D clouds and/or debris fields—for integration into real-time scene generation systems.

Description:

Developmental and Operational Testing (DT/OT) of Missile Warning Systems (MWS), Infrared Countermeasures (IRCM), and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems are currently limited to in-flight tests or the use of recorded flight video in digital system models (DSM). These methods do not adequately replicate the complexity of battlefield, industrial, and urban environments, especially under high-clutter, thermally dynamic conditions.

To enhance system survivability and test realism, validated synthetic 3D scene models are required to represent high-fidelity thermal environments unachievable through traditional Test & Evaluation (T&E) methods. These models enable more effective assessment of performance and operational effectiveness across a range of mission scenarios.

The Navy’s EO/IR Direct Inject (EOIRDI) initiative employs the Synchronized Kilohertz Injection Projection (SKIP) scene generation system to support hardware-in-the-loop engagements.

SKIP is capable of operating across multiple formats:

2k x 2k at 60 Hz

512 x 512 at 500 Hz

320 x 320 at 1kHz

To fully utilize SKIP's capabilities, synthetic test engagements must be developed to match specific system-under-test (SUT) frame rates and resolution formats, incorporating unique geographic locations and weather conditions.

This topic seeks a M&S application for generating high-fidelity, thermally-attributed virtual EO/IR object models—specifically weather-explicit 3D clouds and/or debris fields—for integration into real-time scene generation systems.

The tool must enable validated six degrees of freedom (6-DOF) physics-based simulations to support live, virtual, and constructive (LVC)-based survivability assessments of modern threat engagement systems in cluttered battlefield environments involving air-to-air missiles (AAM) and surface-to-air (SAM) threats.

The solution must support scene generation at real-time frame rates (60 Hz, 500 Hz, 1 kHz) using the EO/IR rendering framework built on OpenSceneGraph (OSG) and Virtual Planet Builder (VPB). Models must include optical, thermal, and physical attributes—such as spectral absorption, emissivity, and reflectivity—across the MWIR band (3.0–5.0 microns), with scalability to 0.2–20.0 microns. The system will enable creation, rendering, and validation of thermally accurate clutter (clouds/debris) varying by temperature, atmospheric composition, and precipitation to support enhanced DT/OT of threat detection and survivability systems.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Automated Expeditionary Airfield Assembly - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-NV008

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $240,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Research, develop, and evaluate robotic system methodologies for automating or augmenting the assembly of Expeditionary Airfield (EAF) matting to enhance operational efficiency.

Description:

EAFs serve as vital shore-based aviation support systems that enable the rapid deployment and recovery of military aircraft in environments lacking established infrastructure. Currently, assembling EAF matting is a manual process carried out by Marines—a task that is physically demanding, labor-intensive, and exposes personnel to potential hazards.

Developing a robotic system capable of assisting with or fully automating this assembly process would offer significant operational benefits: increasing efficiency, reducing risk to personnel, and enabling Marines to focus on higher-priority mission objectives. The level of autonomy should allow for the robots to navigate and control without human assistance, which includes obstacle avoidance, path planning, and grasping. Such a solution would improve overall force readiness and effectiveness in austere and time-critical operational scenarios.

The approach includes defining and developing a viable system concept, while investigating various robotic configurations—such as mobile manipulators and assistive technologies—for their effectiveness in EAF mat handling, alignment, and interconnection across diverse and austere terrains.

The research will evaluate the proposed system's capacity to:

Traverse and operate on uneven or unstable surfaces

Manipulate and position heavy EAF mat sections with precision

Endure harsh environmental and operational conditions

Integrate seamlessly with current EAF deployment procedures

Work produced in Phase II may become classified. Note: The prospective contractor(s) must be U.S. owned and operated with no foreign influence as defined by 32 U.S.C. § 2004.20 et seq., National Industrial Security Program Executive Agent and Operating Manual, unless acceptable mitigating procedures can and have been implemented and approved by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) formerly Defense Security Service (DSS). The selected contractor and/or subcontractor must be able to acquire and maintain a secret level facility and Personnel Security Clearances. This will allow contractor personnel to perform on advanced phases of this project as set forth by DCSA and NAVAIR to gain access to classified information pertaining to the national defense of the United States and its allies; this will be an inherent requirement. The selected company will be required to safeguard classified material during the advanced phases of this contract IAW the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM), which can be found at Title 32, Part 2004.20 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Open Architecture for a Low Volume Software Defined Radio (SDR) for Navy Aircraft - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-NV009

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $240,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Design, develop, and demonstrate an innovative airborne radio system with a reduction compared to current airborne radios. The solution will incorporate a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) and Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) methodologies to ensure seamless integration across Navy and Marine Corps platforms including fixed wing, rotary wing and UAV aircraft.

Description:

The Navy seeks an innovative, open-architecture airborne radio system optimized for a minimal Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) to ensure seamless integration across a wide range of NAVAIR platforms, such as the SH-60, F/A-18, E-2D, and MQ-4C.This system will leverage a MOSA to ensure future adaptability and significantly reduce the cost and complexity of radio upgrades. The goal is to provide a pathway for future modifications without impacting existing platform infrastructure.

Developing aircraft radio systems presents significant challenges due to stringent SWaP constraints, harsh environmental conditions, and demanding Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) standards. Equally critical is robust cybersecurity, requiring adherence to standards like NIST SP 800-53 and the integration of security measures throughout the system design lifecycle.

The objective of this SBIR topic is to design, develop, and demonstrate an innovative airborne radio system optimized for SWaP efficiency. The system must satisfy current security and operational demands, while providing a modular, scalable architecture that accommodates future technology upgrades and supports evolving communication waveforms.

An open architecture is also critical to sustain radio systems through their lifecycle. The MOSA leverages a robust ecosystem of established standards, including Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA) and Modular Open RF Architecture (MORA) that enable modularity and interoperability. Additionally, applying an MBSE to radio system design will enhance system understanding, enable early defect detection and improve documentation.

Additionally, the resulting radio system architecture should adhere to the following technical goals:

Fit within the tight size constraints of two VNX+ standard cards (78 mm x 89 mm x 19 mm each). Note that a VNX+ power supply, backplane and I/O connectors will be external to the solution.

Support two separate Transmit and Receive RF channels. One RF channel capable of 30MHz to 6HGz operating frequency and the other capable of supporting 30MHz to 31GHz

Support at least 60MHz instantaneous bandwidth

Support transmit power amplifier capable of reliably delivering an average 25 Watts of RF power on transmit channel 1 and 1 Watt of RF power on transmit channel 2

Interoperability with MORA devices for control and I/Q data sharing

Capable of Digital Pre Distortion (DPD)

Capable of programmable RF waveforms including VHF/UHF communications waveforms including AM/FM, Air Traffic Control (ATC), Public Safety, Have Quick II, SATURN, SINCGARS, DAMA, MUOS, JPALS, and Automatic Direction Finding (ADF), Link-16

Capable of 1024-QAM OFDM modulation with 1000 subcarriers

Work produced in Phase II may become classified. Note: The prospective contractor(s) must be U.S. owned and operated with no foreign influence as defined by 32 U.S.C. § 2004.20 et seq., National Industrial Security Program Executive Agent and Operating Manual, unless acceptable mitigating procedures can and have been implemented and approved by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) formerly Defense Security Service (DSS). The selected contractor must be able to acquire and maintain a secret level facility and Personnel Security Clearances. This will allow contractor personnel to perform on advanced phases of this project as set forth by DCSA and NAVAIR to gain access to classified information pertaining to the national defense of the United States and its allies; this will be an inherent requirement. The selected company will be required to safeguard classified material during the advanced phases of this contract IAW the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM), which can be found at Title 32, Part 2004.20 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Advanced Damage Criticality Analysis - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-DV005

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $2 Million.

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Develop a passive Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system to identify, locate, and characterize the severity of defects and cracks due to fatigue loading or impacts based on novel or advanced technologies with a basis in physics and avoiding qualitative assumptions.

Description:

The Navy seeks an effective passive Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system for Navy ship hulls and other structures that can monitor defects, such as crack growth from fatigue or impacts, and provide actionable information about the severity of the defect in an automated manner, i.e., in real time. Such fatigue cracks develop and grow in Navy ship hull welds and plating from cyclical life-cycle stresses and event-driven forces from severe sea states, collisions, and groundings.

The U.S. Navy and other navies around the world have installed SHM systems to monitor hull structural health but almost all are based on using strain gauges to monitor stresses on the hull and inferring crack growth based on fatigue life calculations. For example, the Military Sealift Command (MSC) has worked with the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and installed SHM systems consisting of strain gauges and accelerometers on several ships in the T-EPF class, which monitor hull deflection and dynamic movement due to the ship’s loading and the sea states encountered. The data from these sensors is being fed into a digital twin model developed to calculate structural stresses for managing vessel survivability and to minimize operating risk.

There have been some attempts to develop fiber optics sensors to measure strain or Acoustic Emission (AE) sensors to monitor fatigue cracks directly. These approaches have seen varying levels of success, yet, better systems are needed. There may even be some applications for LiDAR use to improve success probability. The Navy is particularly interested in locating and characterizing the severity or criticality of a defect if one is detected. Currently there is not a system available on the commercial market.

The Navy’s need for such hull monitoring capability has become more important with the introduction of high-speed and catamaran vessels, which are more prone to hull cracking due to the designs of the ships, materials of the hull, and stresses experienced in high seas. An ideal system would be capable of monitoring large areas of the ship’s hull with sensing devices that provide cost effective coverage with the following capabilities:

Detect and identify the location of crack growth signals in the hull if they exist in the presence of ship’s background noise without producing false positives or negatives.

Produce results in an automated manner, i.e., real time, so they are immediately available to the operating crew.

Provide insight as to the severity of the crack growth considering the complex geometries found in hull structures with varying thicknesses and stiffeners.

The Navy would benefit from understanding structural risks in real time with the goal of minimizing the possibility of incurring structural damage at sea. The SHM system the Navy needs should provide meaningful information on ship structural health and reduce inspection and maintenance costs during repair availabilities by identifying areas of concern or damage in advance.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

High-Gain Directional Low-Frequency Sonobuoy ArrayNAVY - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-NV006

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $240,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Develop a high-gain, low-frequency vertical line array of vector sensors capable of long-range passive detection and enhanced signal processing, deployable in an A-size form factor.

Description:

To enhance anti-submarine warfare (ASW) detection and directional sensitivity in deep waters, the U.S. Navy requires a high-gain directional, low-frequency.

The objective is to develop a high-gain, low-frequency vertical line array of vector sensors capable of long-range passive detection and enhanced signal processing, deployable in an A-size form factor.

The system will be deployed from Navy Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft, have capability across multiple operational environments, and will utilize the necessarily varied hardware configurations, passive processing, and frequency characteristics to consistently achieve critical ASW metrics.

The sonobuoy must support deep-water tactical operations. Deployment depths up to 1000’ and 8 hours of life is required. The array design will provide 17 dB of gain at the design frequency in a three-dimensional isotropic ambient noise field as a minimum. The maximum saturation level will be 128 dB/µPa at 100 Hz with a total dynamic range of 96 dB. The sensor solution must be low power and fit within an "A" size sonobuoy (4.875-inch diameter x 36-inch length, weight under 40 pounds). Acoustic data sent to the aircraft from each vector sensor shall consist of Omni, Sine, and Cosine data. The communications link must comply with NATO's STANAG 4718. Long term plans include using the array in a persistent sonobuoy.

Work produced in Phase II may become classified. Note: The prospective contractor(s) must be U.S. owned and operated with no foreign influence as defined by 32 U.S.C. § 2004.20 et seq., National Industrial Security Program Executive Agent and Operating Manual, unless acceptable mitigating procedures can and have been implemented and approved by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) formerly Defense Security Service (DSS). The selected contractor must be able to acquire and maintain a secret level facility and Personnel Security Clearances. This will allow contractor personnel to perform on advanced phases of this project as set forth by DCSA and NAVAIR to gain access to classified information pertaining to the national defense of the United States and its allies; this will be an inherent requirement. The selected company will be required to safeguard classified material during the advanced phases of this contract IAW the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM), which can be found at Title 32, Part 2004.20 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Field Deployable Welding Technologies for In-Situ Repair of Thermoplastic Composites Components on Naval Aviation Platforms - STTR Topic DON26TZ01-NV011

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $240,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Develop and transition a portable induction welding system capable of in-situ repair of thermoplastic composite components on naval aviation platforms enabling rapid, field-ready maintenance capabilities for next-generation naval aircraft.

Description:

Modern aviation platforms are increasingly using high-performance thermoplastic composites such as PAEK, PEEK, PPS, or PEI reinforced with Carbon Fiber for structural and semi-structural components. Their attractiveness is due to their superior damage tolerance, impact, and ability to be reworked for repair. Unlike traditional thermoset composites, which can only be repaired by bonded patches or bolted panels, thermoplastic composites can also be repaired by welding, which restores strength without the need to remove additional material. However, currently available welding systems have a large footprint and are available mostly with OEM and only suited for deployment at the Depots. Thus, without field deployable technofixes, repairs will result in long downtime for repair and likely higher scrap rates.

This STTR topic seeks to leverage the research expertise of academic or government labs in thermoplastic processing and electromagnetic heating to partner with a small business in designing a rugged, portable induction welding system that can be deployed shipboard and/or in Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Detachments.

The proposed system should: (1) be capable of welding aerospace-grade thermoplastics (at temperatures up to 400°C); (2) be lightweight and field operable, including on aircraft carriers; (3) be electromechanically ruggedized and safe to operate near avionics and flight-critical systems; (4) have a closed-loop thermal control for temperature; (5) be able to repair skins, fairings, panels, and access doors; and (6) have a weld strength of at least 70% of the parent material.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below: