Find the Right Path to Working With DIU

Area of Interest (AoI) Statement: Massed Modular Aircraft

Problem Statement

The Joint Force's reliance on low-density, high-value "exquisite" (>$30 million) manned and unmanned aircraft is unsustainable against adversaries utilizing layered defenses enabled by increasingly low-cost antiaircraft capabilities. This drives the Joint Force into unacceptable compromises: either operate safely outside a threat zone – negatively impacting mission effectiveness, or maneuver inside a threat engagement zone with increased levels of attrition.

To operate effectively, we must accept this inevitable attrition, and deploy larger numbers of less-expensive unmanned platforms, designing them from the start with the expectation that some will be lost in combat.

Desired Solution

The Joint Force seeks a cost-effective, theater-range, massed, and modular Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) to provide a flexible, operationally-responsive, risk-tolerant option in the air domain. The ability to employ many aircraft at once ensures a persistent overwhelming credible threat despite inevitable attrition. Massed modular aircraft (MMA) are envisioned as in-theater reconfigurable platforms capable of long-range payload delivery. Crucially, MMA must retain the ability to be outfitted with a variety of payloads, including Full Motion Video (FMV) sensors, to execute missions that the MQ-9A performs today.

By deploying large groups of risk-tolerant MMA, the Joint Force can overwhelm enemy defenses even while experiencing numerous MMA losses.

Keeping a constant airborne MMA presence to launch weapons, gather intelligence, perform electronic warfare missions, or relay communications will force an adversary to stay on the defensive. This relentless pressure will exhaust the adversary, forcing them to burn through expensive anti-aircraft missiles and resources faster than they can be replaced.

The following attributes represent an ideal solution, although many of these attributes exist in the trade space.

Primary Attributes Sought

• Risk Tolerance: Designed for affordable, high-rate manufacture, and minimized total ownership cost
• Sufficient Munition and Sensor Payload Capacity: Payload capacity of at least 2800 lbs
• Meaningful Range: Unrefueled combat radius of at least 2300 nautical miles while carrying payload and ability to self-deploy one-way at least 8,000 nautical miles
• Maximum Interoperability, and Integration: Capable of rapid integration and upgrades via exploitation of the following Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) tenets: a) Government Reference Architectures; b) Model Based Systems Engineering; c) formal methods-based software verification

Secondary Attributes Sought

• Autonomy for Control: a one-to-many operator-to-UAS control ratio
• Sufficiently Resilient and Integrated Communications: Hybrid SATCOM/mesh network connecting to Department of the Air Force-Battle Network (DAF-BN); execution of local airfield operations (taxi, takeoff, landing, and divert) under highly degraded or denied primary C2/SATCOM conditions
• Tactically Relevant: At least 200 knots true airspeed; operation from 6,000-foot runway or shorter, semi-improved or prepared
• Sufficient SWaP-C: Sufficient available size, weight, power (25kW), and cooling (5kW) to host a variety of internal and/or external payloads. Enables rapid payload exchange

Capable of full-scale prototype flight testing within 21 months of award, with a targeted Initial Operating Capability (IOC) in FY2031. IOC for MMA is envisioned as 20 mission-ready aircraft delivered to an operational unit, able to be deployed.

Phase 2 Guidance

Companies selected for Phase 2 should expect to deliver a virtual or in-person pitch, and will receive amplifying information with expanded detail to help inform their Phase 2 pitches. As part of a Phase 2 questionnaire, vendors will be expected to provide their Rough Order of Magnitude breakdown to arrive at their proposed design performance and manufacturability tradeoffs. The company’s Phase 2 pitch shall address the Phase 2 evaluation factors contained in CSO HQ0845-20-S-C001 & HQ0034-20-9-DIU, Amendment 0001.

DoW requires companies without a CAGE code to register in SAM (https://sam.gov/SAM/) if selected for agreement award. The Government recommends that prospective companies begin this process as early as possible.

Problem Statement

The Department of War (DoW) relies on robust Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities to guarantee situational awareness and maintain operational superiority. Currently, critical Joint Force missions are driven by classical sensors that detect fluctuations in electromagnetic and gravitational fields. Additionally, the invisible backbone of modern ISR is absolute precision timing and synchronization, which enables seamless sensor fusion, secure communications, and coordinated multi-domain effects. However, legacy sensors and timing systems often constrain mission profiles due to limited sensitivity or excessive Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP). This inherent sensitivity-SWaP trade-off fundamentally bottlenecks classical platforms, restricting their operational reach and potential in contested environments.

Quantum sensors and clocks are not beholden to the same fundamental limitations of classical systems, providing a path to simultaneously achieving both high sensitivity and low SWaP. Mature atomic and solid-state platforms are now ready for operational demonstrations across multiple DoW domains, specifically functioning as high-fidelity quantum magnetometers, gravimeters, and precision clocks. The rapid development and integration of these quantum technologies has the potential to unlock critical next-generation ISR capabilities essential for tactical intelligence systems, multi-domain collection & electronic protection, precision targeting, and surface air-and-missile defense. By cutting through extreme noise, clutter, and active electromagnetic contestation, quantum sensors and clocks offer the prospect of enhanced situational awareness, thereby facilitating dominance in highly complex, multi-domain battlefields. 

Desired Solution Attributes

The Farseer program is a multi-phase DoW initiative designed to rapidly transition mature quantum sensor and clock technologies into operational ISR capabilities. The DoW seeks innovative commercial solutions to prototype and demonstrate these advanced, quantum-enabled sensing and timing platforms to address warfighter needs. The program will have mid-course functional demonstrations and conclude with full-scale operational demonstrations tailored to relevant military mission sets. Furthermore, Farseer embraces an agile development approach, integrating iterative design spirals to facilitate seamless, component-level technology insertions throughout the program's lifecycle.

The Farseer program is structured across four (4) primary Lines of Effort (LoE), each focused on critical mission use cases: (i) magnetometers, (ii) gravimeters, (iii) portable clocks, and (iv) component technologies for spiral enhancements to quantum sensing and timing solutions. Each vendor is restricted to one brief per LoE, but may submit separate solution briefs for multiple LoEs. Please ensure any submission brief clearly indicates the specific LoE being applied to.

Compelling sensor and clock solutions should have the following properties:

• Sensitivity & SWaP: Potential to reach sensitivity & SWaP metrics that unlock capabilities beyond current state-of-the-art for concrete DoW ISR applications.
• Prototype Readiness: Existing prototypes mature enough for initial testing in operational conditions at a U.S. government facility within three to nine months after contract award.
• Transition Readiness: Clear path to achieving the above-mentioned sensitivity and SWaP goals within two to three years, as well as ruggedness and hardening requirements appropriate to the targeted DoW application.
• Open Systems Architecture: Sensor systems and component technologies adhering to sensor open system architecture (SOSA) principles and best practices.

Informative submissions should contain the following information if applicable and available:

• Dual-use viability in specific commercial markets (see Table 1 for example magnetometer applications).
• Total operational bandwidth and instantaneous bandwidth of the sensor.
• Previous lab test or field test results.
• Previous or ongoing integration efforts on defense or commercial platforms.
• Proprietary control and tuning software and how it would interface with existing DoW hardware.

LoE 1: Magnetometers

The DoW seeks commercial solutions to prototype magnetometers for strategic ISR needs. Magnetometers detecting signals above 100 Hz are of potential interest, with solutions expected to operate in specific frequency ranges that are relevant to targeted DoW and commercial applications (see Table 1 for example commercial applications).

Table 1 – Dual-Use (Commercial) Applications

LoE 2: Gravimeters

The DoW seeks commercial solutions to prototype scalar absolute gravimeters and single-component gravity gradiometers for warfighter needs suitable for static, low-dynamics (e.g., maritime), or high-dynamics (e.g., airborne) contexts. Representative operational metrics are provided in Tables 2-4 based on potential applications in each context. Submissions should specify expected sensor performance in targeted DoW and commercial applications. Example commercial applications include mineral surveying, oil & gas field monitoring, and detection of sink holes or underground voids.

Table 2 - Static Gravimeter Metrics

⁽¹⁾ 1 µGal = 1 x 10^-8 m s^-2

⁽²⁾ 1 E = 1 x 10^-9 s^-2



Table 3 - Low-Dynamics Gravimeter Metrics

Table 4 - High-Dynamics Gravimeter Metrics

LoE 3: Portable Clocks

The DoW seeks commercial solutions that progress prototyping, manufacturing, integration, and field testing of portable clocks for warfighter needs that achieve the operational metrics given in Table 3. Submissions may propose solutions focused on (a) scaling clock manufacturing, or (b) integration of existing prototypes into new and legacy platforms. Platforms of relevance include Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) capabilities, resilient communications, as well as coherent sensor network applications. For the latter category of submissions, solutions may optionally focus on ruggedization of existing prototypes to military specifications and hardware/software interfaces that enable fusion of portable clock outputs with existing timing infrastructure on DoW platforms. System integration submitters can assume tactical clock RF outputs of 10 MHz, 100 MHz and 1 PPS, with the SWaP metrics indicated in Table 5.

Table 5 - Portable Clock Metrics

LoE 4: Component Technologies

The DoW seeks commercial solutions to reduce the SWaP and improve the manufacturability of the current generation of quantum platforms described in LoEs 1-3 or less mature but relevant quantum sensors for ISR applications such as Rydberg electric field sensors. Maturation of components such as chip-scale lasers, micro-optics, photonic integrated circuits, cryogenics, and vapor cells that are necessary to enable operational utility of quantum sensors and clocks.

Compelling solutions will have one or more of the following characteristics:

• Clear insertion pathway to quantum sensor or clock technical solutions, which may occur in mid-course development spirals. 
• Modular and broad applicability to multiple types of quantum platforms.
• Production that can scale to mature manufacturing/microfabrication processes involving trusted manufacturers/foundries, if they are not already mature.
• Contributes to quantum supply chain robustness.

Proposal Format and Content

In addition to content detailed in the Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) process document, vendors are requested to submit proposals in the form of a solution brief (PDF file format preferred) that summarizes the following primary information:

• The LoE being applied to.
• Compliance to the characteristics/requirements related to the LoE, as stated above.
• Applicability, but not necessarily exclusivity, to specific domains, as stated above.
• Current and target TRLs/MRLs of existing and planned product architectures, including details of existing prototypes indicating prototype and transition readiness.
• Level of ruggedness in terms of vibration, shock, environmental, and ingress resistance.
• Differentiable innovation(s) and IP vs. the current industry state-of-the-art.

As applicable, vendors may include an addendum (not counted towards the recommended page/slide limit) to their solution briefs summarizing only the following secondary information:? List of any active contracts with the U.S. and foreign governments/organizations.

• Business relationships with any quantum system integration partners or OEMs.
• Identification of any critical subcomponents or commodities that are foreign-sourced, and the supplier and place of origin.
• Identification of any individual or institutional investors in their company with heritage from, or investments in, adversarial nations listed in 15 CFR 791.4.  

DIU Presents: Specular MIST Prize Challenge

Overview of the Event

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), in collaboration with the Department of the Navy Rapid Capabilities Office (DONRCO) and Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, seeks to identify innovative, scalable, and cost-effective solutions to address modern maritime training and operational challenges. Traditional acquisition timelines no longer support the urgent needs of our warfighters. To maintain maritime superiority, the Specular MIST Challenge accelerates the prototyping and fielding of transformative technologies that deliver an operational advantage at speed.

A critical component of this modernization effort is the deployment of autonomous and containerized payloads to generate combat power at speed and scale. This initiative focuses on accelerating the development, prototyping, and production of a portfolio of payloads for integration onto manned and autonomous Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs), providing adaptable, lethal, and decisive advantages in contested maritime environments.

A team of subject matter experts will evaluate applicants across a multi-phase competitive process, down-selecting companies to participate in a live At-Sea Challenge demonstration event.

Problem Statement

Current maritime training frameworks and operational capabilities often rely on rigid, distribution-limited, or cost-prohibitive payloads that lack the flexibility to scale. To enable cost-effective sensing, training emulations, and electronic warfare capabilities across autonomous platforms, the DoD requires modular payloads optimized for Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) that feature open-system architectures and software-defined capabilities.

Submissions are open across three distinct Lines of Effort (LOEs):

• LOE 1: Threat Radar Simulators - Develop a fleet of maritime-suitable threat radar simulators to provide dynamic threat target presentations for modern training challenges. Emulators must emit complex S-band signals from a moving vessel, operate remotely, and be marinized to support future integration with autonomous USVs.
• LOE 2: Active Electronic Attack (EA) - Integrate modern active EA capabilities onboard autonomous USVs to execute autonomous electromagnetic warfare operations. Microwave Radio Frequency (RF) technology must sense, digitize, and react to the environment without operator input, featuring real-time adaptive jamming against multiple simultaneous signals.
• LOE 3: Passive Electronic Surveillance - Provide remotely operable electronic surveillance capabilities at scale to crewed and uncrewed surface platforms. Must sense and process the RF environment with remote operator input, providing state-of-the-art cybersecurity compatible with the existing Navy landing zone.

Technical Attributes

Solutions for LOE 1 & 2 should be designed with a modular, open-system architecture. A focus should be placed on real-time reprogramming and software-defined RF capabilities to deliver tunable solutions. Submissions must address the following focus areas:

• Tunable & Scalable: Demonstrate a modular open systems architecture with software-defined radio programming for maximum tunability and rapid technology insertion. Address your plan for solution availability, production capacity, and unit cost for 1, 10, 50, 100, and 300 units, beginning 6 months after Challenge completion.
• Integration: Address unmanned platform integration design, payload optimization (Size, Weight, and Power), and demonstrate the ability to account for vessel motion (roll, pitch, yaw) to ensure accurate payload pointing.
• Environmental Conditions: The solution must feature a resilient design addressing maritime conditions, elevated temperatures, and ship vibration while maintaining performance. It must also address power and thermal management to ensure efficient thermal dissipation for high-power components.
• Command and Control (C2): Detail a common C2 architecture capable of operating the primary payload and co-located systems remotely. For LOEs 1 and 2, The solution must demonstrate the ability to ingest target positioning data and automatically adjust antenna position accordingly. For LOE 3, the solution must be capable of operating with multiple layers of encryption while underway, while supporting data transfer of recorded wideband RF.

Specific Technical Requirements

The following Specifications must be met to have a viable solution.

For LOE 1: Threat Radar Simulators: 

The emulator must meet the following minimum technical specifications:

• The system must provide an Effective Radiated Power (ERP) of 50 dBW operating at a 10% duty cycle.
• The radar waveform must support a pulse width ranging from 0.5 to 55 µs, a pulse repetition frequency (PRF) between 50 and 5,000 pps, and utilize both unmodulated pulse and Linear Frequency Modulation (LFM) techniques. 
• The system must maintain a maximum harmonic level of 15 dBc and deliver a beamwidth capable of providing an instantaneous azimuth coverage of at least 10°, complete with elevation pointing capabilities.

For LOE 2: Active Electronic Attack (EA):

The system must demonstrate the ability to operate effectively in a contested electronic warfare environment. It must simultaneously detect and discern multiple discrete queued signals and provide adaptive jamming suppression in real-time without operator intervention.

For LOE 3: Passive Electronic Surveillance: 

The system must be meet the following minimum technical specifications:

• The system must feature radio frequency (RF) environmental sensing capabilities that encompass, at a minimum, the VHF and UHF bands. It must include subsystems providing position and timing, and deliver a total instantaneous bandwidth of at least 50 MHz. Additionally, the system architecture must be fully capable of hosting and operating government-provided software.
• Submissions will be judged by the degree to which they comply with the NSA’s CSfC requirements for data at rest and data in transit, frequency range coverage beyond the minimum specified here, and innovative design decisions leading to cost savings in production or for technological refresh.

Competitive Process & Evaluation Criteria

The challenge is structured into three progressive evaluation phases:

Phase 1: Proposal & Down-Select

-White Paper & Pitch Deck

Phase 2: At-Sea Live Demo

-Live demo at Southern California Event with Direct End-User Testing

Phase 3: Post-Demo Pathway

-Maturation Prizes and potential for Follow-on OTA prototype contract / Procurement

Phase 1: Proposal Evaluation & Down Selection

Initial evaluation of written submissions to select viable commercial technologies for live demonstration. Vendors selected to advance receive up to $250,000 to fund participation.

• Technical Viability & Alignment: Degree to which the solution meets the Technical Capabilities and individual LOE requirements.
• Team & Company Viability: Demonstrated capability, current production rates, and corporate expertise to successfully develop, deliver, and sustain the solution.
• Cost & Scalability: Feasibility of proposed pricing ranges across varying production volumes and lifecycle maintenance.
• Quality of Proposal: Clear, thorough explanation of how the technology fills current capability gaps and enhances operational effectiveness within the chosen LOE.

Phase 2: At-Sea Challenge Live Demonstration & Pitch Evaluation

Hands-on operational assessment under realistic conditions in Southern California, evaluated by a designated team of DoW end users. Down-selection to Phase 3 yields up to $1,000,000 per selected company and potential for follow-on prototype or production contract. Evaluated on Phase 1 criteria plus:

• Operational Effectiveness: Proven resilience and performance of the hardware/software when exposed to highly dynamic EM environment and maritime weather conditions.
• End-User Feedback: Ease of use, learning curve, and direct tactical feedback from operators testing the system. Selected companies must provide training documentation ahead of time to allow at least three operators to complete training prior to the event.
• Quality of the Pitch: Clear communication of the solution’s value proposition, commercial viability in non-defense markets, and responsiveness to technical or business questions from strategic advisors.

Phase 3: Post-Demonstration Pathway & User-Driven Iteration

High-performing vendors transition into unit-focused field assessments for extended evaluation, training, and rapid fielding. Prizes awarded in Phase 3 scale alongside direct feedback from operational units as they train with and deploy the systems.

• Rapid Delivery Capability: Ability of the vendor to manufacture and supply substantial numbers of operational systems shortly after completing Phase 2.
• TTP Impact: Measurable positive impact on unit Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs).

Challenge Timeline

Date Milestone

07/08/2026 Challenge Opens / Solicitation Release

07/22/2026 Phase 1 Submission Deadline (White Paper & Pitch Deck)

07/29/2026 Announcement of Invited Phase 2 Down-Select Participants

08/05/2026 Virtual Q&A Session for Selected Participants

09/10/2026 At-Sea Challenge Live Demonstration Event Begins (Southern California)

09/25/2026 At-Sea Challenge Live Demonstration Event Ends

10/23/2026 Prize Challenge Board Deliberations Completed

10/30/2026 Prize Challenge Winners Announced

Benefits of Participating

• $5,000,000 Total Cash Prize Pool: Funding distributed across phases to incentivize maturation and cover live demonstration participation.
• Direct Exposure: Operational engagement with leaders across multiple branches of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).
• Follow-On Pathways: High-performing vendors stand eligible for rapid fielding opportunities, including cash prizes under 10 USC 4025, system procurement for extended testing, or Prototype Other Transaction (OT) agreements under 10 USC 4022.