Department of War SBIR/STTR FY26 Release 6 Topics

Quick answer

Open now. Proposals are due October 21, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET in DSIP.

Release 6 is the Department of War's sixth and final scheduled FY26 SBIR/STTR release. It has 44 topics. Find your sector below, open the executive summary for any topic that fits, and decide whether to apply before the deadline.

Key details

Topic author contact ended when the solicitation opened on September 23, 2026. Send technical questions through the Topic Q&A in the Defense SBIR/STTR Innovation Portal (DSIP).

STTR topics require a university or nonprofit research partner. Some topics accept Direct to Phase II proposals only. Award sizes vary by topic.

You need active SAM.gov and DSIP registrations to submit. If you don't have them yet, start now.

Find topics for your sector

Topics are grouped by the kind of company they fit. A topic that fits more than one sector appears in each. Sectors on this page: AI, software and data (9); Medical, health and animal health (6); Wireless, 5G, RF and networks (7); Quantum, photonics and sensing (7); Semiconductors, electronics and advanced materials (6); Space (5); Energy, agriculture and environment (3); Cybersecurity (2); Drones, counter-drone and autonomy (5); Weapons, missiles and hypersonics (3).

AI, software and data (9 topics)

Good fit for: AI and machine learning developers, decision-support software, model evaluation and test teams, computer vision and geospatial analytics companies.

Medical, health and animal health (6 topics)

Good fit for: Medtech and diagnostics, critical care devices, clinical software, animal health and veterinary technology.

Wireless, 5G, RF and networks (7 topics)

Good fit for: Private 5G and Open RAN companies, telecom software, RF hardware and radar makers, network security teams.

Quantum, photonics and sensing (7 topics)

Good fit for: Quantum hardware, laser and photonics companies, infrared, THz and imaging sensor makers.

Semiconductors, electronics and advanced materials (6 topics)

Good fit for: Chip materials and process companies, metrology tools, memory devices, polymers, ceramics and structural materials.

Space (5 topics)

Good fit for: Small-satellite payloads, in-space logistics and servicing, spacecraft propulsion, space cybersecurity and space environment modeling.

Energy, agriculture and environment (3 topics)

Good fit for: Solar fuels and e-fuels, agtech and livestock monitoring, marine and wildlife technology.

Cybersecurity (2 topics)

Good fit for: Network and wireless security, deception technology, space cyber.

Drones, counter-drone and autonomy (5 topics)

Good fit for: Drone and swarm autonomy, counter-drone sensors, navigation resilience, underwater robotics.

Weapons, missiles and hypersonics (3 topics)

Good fit for: Teams already working on missile warning, strike systems or hypersonic test.

Frequently asked questions

What is DoW SBIR/STTR FY26 Release 6? DoW SBIR/STTR FY26 Release 6 is the sixth and final scheduled 2026 release from the Department of War under its Broad Agency Announcement and Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) structure. It includes 44 SBIR and STTR topics from the Air Force, Space Force, Army, Navy, DARPA, NGA, SOCOM and the Office of the Secretary of War (OSW), all closing October 21, 2026.

When does DoW Release 6 open and close? Release 6 pre-released on September 2, 2026, opens for proposal submissions on September 23, 2026, and closes on October 21, 2026 at 12:00pm ET.

What is the difference between an SBIR and an STTR topic? SBIR topics allow a small business to perform the research independently, while STTR topics require a formal partnership with a university or nonprofit research institution, with at least 30 percent of the work performed by that partner. Release 6 includes both topic types.

What technology areas does Release 6 cover? Release 6 topics cover AI and software, medical and animal health, wireless and 5G, quantum and photonics, semiconductors and materials, space, energy and agriculture, cybersecurity, drones and autonomy, and a few defense-specific areas. See the sector list above.

How much funding is available in Release 6? Award sizes vary by topic and component. Standard Phase I SBIR and STTR topics generally range from $100k to $315k, while Direct to Phase II topics offer awards up to $2m.

Can I talk to the topic author before submitting? Not anymore. Direct contact with topic authors was allowed only during pre-release, September 2 through September 23, 2026. Technical questions now go through the Topic Q&A page on the Defense SBIR/STTR Innovation Portal (DSIP).

Is Release 6 the last DoW SBIR/STTR release of FY26? Yes. Release 6 is the sixth of six scheduled FY26 releases. Subsequent topics will be issued under the FY27 announcement, and companies should monitor DSIP for the FY27 schedule.

Where do I submit a DoW Release 6 proposal? All DoW SBIR and STTR proposals are submitted through the Defense SBIR/STTR Innovation Portal (DSIP). Registration in SAM.gov and an active DSIP account are required before submission, and both can take time, so companies new to the program should start now.

Click here to read the official solicitation

Each topic listed below links to an individual page that explains the technical objectives, potential applicants, key requirements, and funding details to help you determine whether the opportunity aligns with your technology roadmap.

One item worth planning around: because Release 6 is the last scheduled release of the fiscal year, the next set of DoW topics will fall under the FY27 announcement. Companies that miss this window may wait several weeks for the next comparable opportunity, so an early fit assessment matters more in this release than in any other.

BW&CO continuously reviews new federal funding opportunities and provides guidance to companies pursuing competitive SBIR and STTR awards.

Browse the FY26 Release 6 topics below, identify the solicitations that best fit your innovation, and schedule a consultation with our team if you would like assistance evaluating your fit or preparing a competitive proposal before the submission deadline.