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Submission deadline was January 25, 2026, which has now passed (today is 2026-03-16).
DIU AI Orchestrator for Drone Swarms is sponsored by Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). The DIU AI Orchestrator for Drone Swarms is a prize competition from the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) that funds the development of voice-controlled AI systems capable of commanding autonomous drone and robotic swarms for national security applications.
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DIU and DAWG Launch Autonomous Vehicle Orchestrator Prize Challenge January 13, 2026 (Washington, D. C.) - Autonomous systems are maturing into distributed, multi-domain forces across the Department of War.
As this arsenal grows, so does the need for an operationally viable Autonomous Vehicle Orchestrator – a layer of technology that can translate a battlefield commander’s intent from voice, text, and haptic input into machine execution.
To support this critical DoW need, the Defense Innovation Unit, the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group (DAWG), and the United States Navy are launching a $100,000,000 prize challenge to prototype market-ready solutions to establish a robust, scalable and vehicle-agnostic capability for understanding, tasking and coordinating autonomous systems at the fleet level.
“The Department’s fleet of autonomous vehicles is the future of warfighting - but they are nothing without the intelligence and experience of the operator. This Prize Challenge will deliver a human-machine interaction layer that will directly impact the lethality and effectiveness of these systems,” said Hon. Michael Dodd, Acting Deputy Director of DIU and Assistant Secretary of War for Critical Technologies.
The challenge will include iterative sprints, tackling increasingly complex portions of the problem. “We want orchestrator technologies that allow humans to work the way they already command – through plain language that expresses desired effects, constraints, timing, and priorities – not by clicking through menus or programming behaviors,” said LtGen Frank Donovan, Director of the DAWG.
“We must ensure the human - the ethical decision maker - always maintains a clear understanding of what the system is doing and why. As we continue down this path, we want to integrate effects at increased speed and tempo, at a time and place of our choosing, to overwhelm our adversaries.
” Vendors will only be eligible for selection prior to the first sprint, and, upon successful completion of the previous sprint, can progress to the next sprint. Vendors who are not able to complete the sprint will not move forward. “This solicitation’s approach is the new standard—we’re moving fast to deliver tangible capabilities to the warfighter.
Selected performers will be shoulder‑to‑shoulder with operators, and they will be proving that their capability works in an operational environment,” said Hon. Emil Michael, Acting Director of DIU and Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering. “If a company can deliver, they will receive substantial rewards.
If they can’t, we will move on. The ones who show they can perform will move immediately into follow‑on contracts so we can field these capabilities at scale for our fighting force. ” Up to $100,000,000 in awards are available for this effort and the government anticipates multiple awards.
The Challenge will be open through January 25th, 2026.
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: US companies, innovators for DoD applications. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows up to $100 million in prizes. Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
DIU AI Orchestrator for Drone Swarms is funded by Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Yes — this listing is flagged as national in scope, so applicants across the U.S. may apply, subject to the sponsor's other eligibility criteria.
Applications go through the funder's official portal — the Apply Now link on this page goes there directly.
Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) Massed Modular Aircraft Commercial Solutions Opening for Autonomous and AI-Enabled Uncrewed Aircraft is sponsored by U.S. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). The Defense Innovation Unit's Massed Modular Aircraft Commercial Solutions Opening seeks commercial solutions for low-cost, mass-producible, modular uncrewed aircraft with autonomous flight and AI-enabled coordination for collaborative, attritable operations.
Counter UAS Sensing for Homeland and Mobile Defense (C-UAS Low-Cost Sensing Challenge) is sponsored by Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). This opportunity from the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes related to Counter UAS Sensing for Homeland and Mobile Defense. It is presented as a 'Low-Cost Sensing Challenge' and aims to bring mature, commercially viable C-UAS technologies to the Department of Defense.
DoD Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (MURI) is sponsored by Department of Defense (DoD) - Office of Naval Research (ONR). The Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (MURI), administered by the Department of Defense Office of Naval Research, supports basic research in science and engineering at U. S.
SBIR SF254-D1206: Knowledge-Guided Test and Evaluation Frameworks for proliferated Low Earth Orbit Constellations is sponsored by U.S. Air Force. DOD SBIR topic SF254-D1206: Knowledge-Guided Test and Evaluation Frameworks for proliferated Low Earth Orbit Constellations. Component: U.S. Air Force. Command: SDA. Solicitation: DoD SBIR 2025.4. Phase(s): D2PII, II, SPII. Status: Pre-Release. Open date: 3/4/2026.
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