1,000+ Opportunities
Find the right grant
Search federal, foundation, and corporate grants with AI — or browse by agency, topic, and state.
Page lists many individual opportunities with varying deadlines; no single grant matches the stored name/deadline
Robotics & Autonomous Systems (Multiple Opportunities) is sponsored by Department of Defense (DoD) various agencies (e.g., USSOCOM, U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, DARPA). The DoD offers various funding opportunities for basic and applied research in robotics and autonomous systems, including AI, cyber, mobility, and medical applications.
These broad agency announcements and open calls seek innovative solutions to advance U.S. defense capabilities. Specific topics include runtime assured autonomy for unmanned platforms, innovative autonomous and unmanned system solutions, and research in AI, cybersecurity, and space systems.
Get alerted about grants like this
Save a search for “Department of Defense (DoD) various agencies (e.g., USSOCOM, U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, DARPA)” or related topics and get emailed when new opportunities appear.
Search similar grants →Extracted from the official opportunity page/RFP to help you evaluate fit faster.
Innovation Funding Database Robotics & Autonomous Systems Funding We hear regularly from founders and companies that just missed the perfect multi-million dollar opportunity for them. Broad topics cover wide areas of interest where the government wants solutions. They’re open-ended and give you room to define how your idea fits the mission.
Explore Broad Topic Funding Specific topics describe clearly defined needs with exact technical goals or outcomes. They’re focused requests for solutions that meet specific requirements.
Explore Specific Topic Funding Broad Topic Opportunities: Either the deadline is approaching or there is a competitive reason for applying early (such as funds that will be awarded on a first come first serve basis) Engage SOF (eSOF) Capabilities of Interest – U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Deadline : Rolling deadline until December 31, 2026 Funding Award Size: Est.
$500K to $5M Description : Rolling submission program connecting commercial technologies to USSOCOM needs across AI, ISR, cyber, mobility, medical, and more, with multiple non-dilutive funding pathways. Deadline : Rolling Deadline Until September 30, 2026 Funding Award Size: Est.
$500K to $5M Description : Funding for basic and applied research across defense-critical areas including AI, materials, energy, cybersecurity, sensing, and space systems to advance U.S. Navy capabilities. DIU: Robotic Exclusion & Engagement Framework (REEF) Funding Award Size: $500k -$2m Description : Apply to the REEF CSO for funding to develop underwater detection, tracking, and defense systems for U.S. and UK applications.
Deadline: 2026-04-03 Ground Vehicle System Center (GVSC) Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) Deadline : April 6th, 2026 Funding Award Size: $500k - $2m Description : Apply for U.S. Army GVSC funding through a Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO). Open to innovative commercial technologies in autonomy, power systems, AI, and defense. Key deadline: April 6, 2026.
DevX Autonomy: Open Call Solicitation for Innovative AUS Solutions Funding Award Size: $500k - $2m Description : Apply to the Army Applications Lab DevX Autonomy Open Call for innovative autonomous and unmanned system solutions. Rolling submissions through 31 August 2026 with monthly deadlines.
ERDC: Civil Works Strategic Focus Areas - Commercial Solutions Openings (CSO) Deadline : December 31st, 2026 Funding Award Size: $500k - $5m Description : The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) is seeking innovative technologies for infrastructure, water modeling, AI, robotics, and ecosystem management.
Offensive Subsea and Seabed Warfare (SSW) Exercise Barb 26 Funding Award Size: $200 - $2m Description : COMSUBFOR seeks emerging technologies for Offensive Subsea and Seabed Warfare (SSW), including autonomous and remotely operated seabed attack systems. Deadline: March 22nd.
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) – Rapid Response to Weather Events Across Food & Agricultural Systems (A1712) – USDA NIFA Deadline : Within 45 calendar days of a qualifying weather event or disaster Funding Award Size: Up to $300,000 (12-month project period) Description : Rolling USDA funding for rapid extension and applied research projects that mitigate agricultural production, supply chain, and community impacts from recent weather-related disasters, including droughts, floods, hurricanes, wildfires, and extreme temperature events.
DIU - Containerized Autonomous Drone Delivery System (CADDS) Deadline : February 17, 2026 at 23:59:59 US/Eastern Time Funding Award Size: $300K to $5M+ Description : Apply for DIU funding for containerized autonomous drone delivery systems. OT prototype contracts with DoD. Deadline Feb 17, 2026.
Project WILLFUL – Next Generation Specialist Vehicles – Cyber & Specialist Operations Command (CSOC) Deadline : Submit ASAP while funds are available. Closes 1/1/27 Funding Award Size: Est. $500K to $5 million Description : Funding and collaboration to research, integrate, and demonstrate novel technologies on a high-mobility specialist vehicle platform to inform future UK land manoeuvre capabilities.
Science & Technology Long Range Broad Agency Announcement (LRBAA 24-01) – Department of Homeland Security Deadline : Submit ASAP while funds are available. Closes 5/31/29 Funding Award Size: Est. $500K to $5 million Description : Funding for scientific and technical research that enhances homeland security capabilities across DHS operational environments and mission areas.
Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) Office-Wide Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Deadline : White Papers Due June, 22nd Funding Award Size: Est. $500K to $5M Description: This BAA solicits innovative basic research, applied research, advanced technology development, and prototype efforts that advance naval aviation capabilities and directly support Department of the Navy mission needs.
Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) Multi-Spectral Sensing Technologies R&D (MuSTeR) BAA Deadline : White Papers Due May, 20th Funding Award Size: Est. $100K to $10M Description: The Air Force Research Laboratory is seeking innovative research and development in advanced radio frequency (RF) and electro-optical / infrared (EO/IR) sensing technologies to support future air, space, and command-and-control sensor systems.
Tactical Technology Office (TTO) Office-Wide BAA - DARPA Deadline : Executive Summary Due April 17, 2026 Funding Award Size: Est. $500K to $5 million Description : DARPA’s Tactical Technology Office seeks revolutionary defense technologies and systems that enable rapid design, manufacturing, sustainment, and disruptive battlefield capability across multiple focus areas.
Space Propulsion Research and Innovation for Neutralizing Satellite Threats (SPRINT) – U.S. Air Force Deadline : Submit white papers ASAP before funds are allocated. Funding Award Size: $100K to $10 Million+ Description : Funding for research and development of spacecraft propulsion technologies to improve resiliency and counter satellite threats, including chemical, electric, and multi-mode propulsion systems.
Science Transport and Robotic Innovation for Deployment and Exploration (STRIDE) – NASA (ROSES-2025) Deadline : March 31, 2026 Funding Award Size: $1M (Track A) to $3M (Track B) Description : Funding for U.S. companies to develop and demonstrate robotic surface and aerial mobility systems capable of transporting and deploying science payloads in Martian environments.
NAWCAD WOLF Airborne Systems Integration BAA – U.S. Navy (NAVAIR) Funding Award Size: $500K - $5M Description : Funding for research and development supporting advanced naval air platforms, sensors, computing, security, and mission systems for manned and unmanned aviation. FBI Enterprise Technology Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) – Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Deadline : Apply ASAP.
Rolling Deadline until May 16, 2026 Funding Award Size: $500k - $2m Description : Funding for innovative R&D solutions supporting FBI enterprise technology problem sets, including AI, cybersecurity, biometrics, counterintelligence, and data fabric.
AFRL Multiple Award Contract (AMAC) – Air Force Research Laboratory Deadline : February 27, 2026 Funding Award Size: $500 - $50 Million Description : Funding vehicle enabling AFRL to award unclassified science and technology research task orders across air, space, cyber, and cross-cutting defense domains.
Strengthening America’s Manufacturing and Defense Industrial Base (SAMDIB) – Cornerstone Consortium (DoD) Deadline : Rolling Submissions until September 30, 2027 Funding Award Size: $2M to $200M Description : DoD OTA funding for prototype projects that strengthen U.S. defense manufacturing capacity, workforce readiness, and supply chain resilience across priority industrial base sectors.
National Science Foundation Small Business Innovation Research Program (NSF SBIR/STTR) Deadline : Rolling Project Pitches Funding Award Size: $305K + $1. 25M+ in follow-on funding Description : Non-dilutive funding for early-stage startups to develop high-risk, high-impact technologies based on novel science or engineering, with strong commercial and societal potential.
Deadline : February 27, 2026 Funding Award Size: $500K+ Description : Funding for basic and applied research supporting Navy ship, submarine, and maritime technology priorities, including digital ecosystems, hydrodynamics, naval platform integrity, design, signature management, and unmanned systems. Deadline : Rolling Deadline. Funding Award Size: Est.
$2-$10 Million Description : Funding for research and development supporting military engineering, environmental science, infrastructure resilience, geospatial systems, computing, materials, energy, and related defense and civil works technologies. Defense Sciences Office (DSO) Office-wide BAA – DARPA Funding Award Size: Est.
$2 million Description : Funding for revolutionary basic or applied research that advances science, devices, or systems for national security applications. Emerging Weapons, Munitions Systems, and Soldier Lethality BAA Deadline : Just Extended to March 17, 2026. Funding Award Size: Est.
$1 to $10 million Description : This BAA funds new, innovative research concepts that advance the state of the art across the full spectrum of Army armaments, munitions, fire control, autonomy, energetics, advanced materials, soldier lethality, logistics, AI/ML, sensors, and related technologies. Proposed efforts must be scientific studies or experimentation that increase knowledge within the DEVCOM Armaments Center technical community.
Drone Dominance Program (DDP) – One-Way Attack (OWA) sUAS Procurement Deadline : The Request for Solutions (RFS) is expected December 17, 2025 with Gauntlet I beginning February 17, 2026 (est.) This is a multi-phase program running through January 2028.
Funding Award Size: $5 Million+ Description : The Department of War’s Drone Dominance Program seeks low-cost, U.S.-made small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) capable of One-Way Attack (OWA) missions. The program aims to rapidly scale American industrial capacity to produce cheap, attritable, combat-ready drones at volume. Companies compete in Gauntlet field events, and high-scoring systems receive fixed-price production orders.
Army Medical Operational Capabilities for 2040 BAA Deadline : Rolling Deadline Until 12/31/2030 Funding Award Size: Est.
$2 to $5 million Description : The U.S. Army Medical Capability Development Integration Directorate (MED CDID) is seeking innovative concepts, technologies, and solutions that enable tactical-level Army medical units (Corps and below) to clear the battlefield, maximize return to duty, and overcome contested medical logistics in the 2040 Future Operational Environment.
Solutions may address evacuation, prolonged care, diagnostics, advanced therapeutics, predictive and autonomous logistics, and cross-cutting enablers like AI/ML, human-machine teaming, and medical modeling and simulation DARPA Information Innovation Office (I2O) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Deadline : Rolling Deadline Until 11/1/26 Funding Award Size: Est.
$2 million Description : DARPA’s Information Innovation Office (I2O) is soliciting revolutionary research in information and computational technologies to provide decisive advantage for U.S. national security. Priority thrusts include: Transformative AI; resilient, adaptable, and secure software and complex systems; offensive and defensive cyber security and privacy; and fighting in the information domain.
Proposals must go beyond incremental improvements to current state of the art. Applications for Cyber Warfare: Genesis Deadline : September 29, 2030 Funding Award Size: $10 million to $50 million Description : Funding to develop cyber operations prototypes that can transition into operational DoD platforms to maintain U.S. superiority in the cyber domain.
The AFWERX & SpaceWERX Open Topic Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Deadline : Estimated: Q4 2025, Q1 2026 Funding Award Size: $75K to $1. 8 million Description : A flexible SBIR/STTR vehicle for technologies with commercial value that could provide similar value to the Space Force or Air Force.
Specific Topic Opportunities: Either the deadline is approaching or there is a competitive reason for applying early (such as funds that will be awarded on a first come first serve basis) Small UAS & Asymmetric Capabilities CSO Call 001 - Department of the Air Force Deadline : April 20, 2026 Funding Award Size: Est.
$500K to $5M Description : Funding for development of small, low-cost unmanned aircraft systems capable of autonomous, high-speed, long-range operations in contested environments for asymmetric warfare missions.
Aircraft Formation Flight Control Technology for Heterogeneous Formation Flight - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-NV004 Deadline : April 29, 2026 (Estimated) Funding Award Size: $240,000 (Estimated) Description : Funding to develop robust autopilot flight control for heterogeneous manned/unmanned formation “wake surfing,” enabling precise station-keeping in vortex upwash for 10–20% fuel savings with minimal added hardware and low/zero datalink dependency.
Modeling for Frontal Polymerization Curing Process - STTR Topic DON26TZ01-NV002 Deadline : April 29, 2026 (Estimated) Funding Award Size: $240,000 (Estimated) Description : Funding to develop scalable multiphysics modeling tools that predict frontal polymerization cure behavior (front temperature/velocity/cure) and resulting distortion/residual stress, while optimizing resin additives and preventing front self-extinguishing.
Low-Cost Multi-Mission Dip Sonar for Mine Warfare and Anti-submarine Warfare (Inner/Middle Zone) - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-NV005 Deadline : April 29, 2026 (Estimated) Funding Award Size: $240,000 (Estimated) Description : Funding to design a reduced-cost, multi-frequency helicopter dipping sonar that expands ASW inner/middle-zone coverage and adds aviation mine countermeasures (AMCM) capability in a single, retrofit-compatible transducer system.
Modular Payloads for UAS - SBIR Topic ARM26BX01-NV002 Deadline : April 29, 2026 (Estimated) Funding Award Size: $250,000 (Estimated) Description : Develop modular payload technologies for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) compatible with the Picatinny Common Lethality Interface Kit (CLIK) standard.
Solutions may include EO/IR sensing, communications relay, electronic warfare, signals intelligence, or cargo delivery payloads integrated across multiple UAS platforms.
Advanced Liquid Hydrogen Storage and Employment Methodologies for Unmanned Aerial Systems - STTR Topic DON26TZ01-NV003 Deadline : April 29, 2026 (Estimated) Funding Award Size: $240,000 (Estimated) Description : Funding to develop and demonstrate a cryogenic liquid hydrogen storage and delivery system for Navy/USMC UAS that achieves high mass fraction and low boil-off, improving endurance, range, and continuous payload power.
Automated Expeditionary Airfield Assembly - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-NV008 Deadline : April 29, 2026 (Estimated) Funding Award Size: $240,000 (Estimated) Description : Develop robotic systems to automate or assist the assembly of Expeditionary Airfield matting in austere environments, enabling autonomous navigation, heavy mat handling, and precise alignment to improve deployment speed, reduce manual labor, and enhance operational safety.
High-Gain Directional Low-Frequency Sonobuoy ArrayNAVY - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-NV006 Deadline : April 29, 2026 (Estimated) Funding Award Size: $240,000 (Estimated) Description : Funding to develop an A-size deployable low-frequency vertical line array of vector sensors for long-range passive ASW detection, directional sensitivity, and STANAG 4718 compliant communications in deep-water operations.
Tele-Operated/Autonomous Mechatronic Vehicle Kits for Use In Mixed Disaster Environments - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-NV031 Deadline : April 29, 2026 (Estimated) Funding Award Size: $240,000 (Estimated) Description : Funding to build modular “erector-set” mechatronic vehicle kits—swap-and-reconfigure motors, sensors, and software—for field-built tele-operated/autonomous systems that adapt to mixed disaster tasks (logistics, inspection, recovery) with rugged options (water/fire/cold).
Automated Ice Detection and Polar Navigation Tool (PolarNav) - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-NV027 Deadline : April 29, 2026 (Estimated) Funding Award Size: $240,000 (Estimated) Description : Funding to build a prototype GIS-based Arctic navigation planning tool that fuses onboard, airborne, satellite, and model data to forecast sea ice (12–96 hrs) and recommend optimized, vessel-aware routes through ice-infested waters.
Passive-Active Combo System for Unmanned Characterization of Littoral Environments - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-NV026 Deadline : April 29, 2026 (Estimated) Funding Award Size: $240,000 (Estimated) Description : Funding to develop a lightweight passive spectral imager + dual-wavelength topo-bathy LiDAR payload for Group 2 UAVs, enabling real-time littoral mapping, bathymetry to ~20m, and underwater target/terrain characterization with onboard processing and downlink.
Leveraging Machine Learning for Advanced Passive Sonar Tracking - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-NV025 Deadline : April 29, 2026 (Estimated) Funding Award Size: $240,000 (Estimated) Description : Funding to develop machine learning–based automation that improves detection, tracking, classification, and localization of underwater contacts using passive sonar data across multiple sensors and display systems for anti-submarine warfare operations.
Risk-Aware Regenerative AI-based Multimodal Visual-Tactical (ISRT) (Observant-AI) – Monitor, Understand, Alert, and Assist - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-NV023 Deadline : April 29, 2026 (Estimated) Funding Award Size: $240,000 (Estimated) Description : Funding to develop regenerative AI agents that fuse multimodal intelligence and sensor data to deliver real-time cross-domain situational awareness, risk assessment, and AI-assisted tactical decision support for naval operations.
Robocasting Ceramic Sensors - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-NV021 Deadline : April 29, 2026 (Estimated) Funding Award Size: $240,000 (Estimated) Description : Funding to develop low-cost robocasting (direct ink writing) manufacturing techniques for large-format textured piezoelectric ceramics used in undersea sensors, improving acoustic performance and enabling scalable domestic production of advanced sonar sensing materials.
High Voltage and Current Silicon-Carbide (SiC) Metal-Oxide Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor (MOSFET) for Fast Turn-On Current Applications - STTR Topic DON26TZ01-NV019 Deadline : April 29, 2026 (Estimated) Funding Award Size: $240,000 (Estimated) Description : Funding to develop SWaP-optimized silicon carbide MOSFETs (10kV+ blocking, 5–10kA pulsed current, <30ns low-jitter turn-on) with advanced packaging for high-power microwave pulsed switching.
Improved Portable Underway Replenishment (UNREP) Tester/Trainer - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-NV019 Deadline : April 29, 2026 (Estimated) Funding Award Size: $240,000 (Estimated) Description : Portable, self-powered pier-side UNREP tester/trainer to replace ship-to-ship in-port qualification testing, enabling dry cargo and liquid system testing/training without requiring an actual delivery ship or extra pier space.
Lightweight Beaching Ramp for Ships - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-NV018 Deadline : April 29, 2026 (Estimated) Funding Award Size: $240,000 (Estimated) Description : Funding to develop a durable, lightweight, corrosion-resistant articulated beaching ramp for Medium Landing Ships (LSM), supporting 70-ton vehicles, deploying in under 30 minutes, and lasting 30 years in harsh saltwater marine environments.
Non-Radio Frequency, Covert Maritime Transceiver - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-NV014 Deadline : April 29, 2026 (Estimated) Funding Award Size: $240,000 (Estimated) Description : Funding to develop a low-SWaP, covert, non-RF maritime transceiver (e.g., acoustic/IR/UV) enabling secure, interference-resistant communications over 5+ km with LPI/LPD and flexible data rates up to 10MB/s for contested environments.
Sensing to Measure and Validate Corrosion in Naval Systems - STTR Topic DON26TZ01-NV012 Deadline : April 29, 2026 (Estimated) Funding Award Size: $240,000 (Estimated) Description : Funding to develop a compact, battery-powered 3–5 µm MWIR hyperspectral video camera using photonic crystal/on-chip spectral multiplexing to capture high-definition, real-time (up to 125 Hz) hyperspectral video for mobile defense sensing platforms.
Compact Battery Operated Mid-wave Infrared (MWIR) Hyperspectral, High-Definition, Real-Time Video Camera Integrated with Photonic Crystal - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-NV011 Deadline : April 29, 2026 (Estimated) Funding Award Size: $240,000 (Estimated) Description : Funding to develop a compact, battery-powered 3–5 µm MWIR hyperspectral video camera using photonic crystal/on-chip spectral multiplexing to capture high-definition, real-time (up to 125 Hz) hyperspectral video for mobile defense sensing platforms.
Novel Computing for Streaming Radio Frequency in Low Size, Weight and Power Environments - STTR Topic DON26TZ01-NV007 Deadline : April 29, 2026 (Estimated) Funding Award Size: $240,000 (Estimated) Description : Funding to develop an ultra-low SWaP RF sensing compute engine that can continuously ingest and process ≥2 GHz instantaneous-bandwidth IF data on <5 lb platforms (engine <1.
5 lb, <150W), enabling onboard detection and RF data product formation for edge classification/localization with zeroization and encryption.
Automatic Cable Tester - STTR Topic DON26TZ01-NV005 Deadline : April 29, 2026 (Estimated) Funding Award Size: $240,000 (Estimated) Description : Funding to develop a low-cost, portable, universal automatic cable tester that verifies continuity, resistance, isolation (copper/RF), and fiber impedance via OTDR, and quickly generates simple QA reports for ship modernization.
Non-Proximate Chemical Analysis by Field Portable Mass Spectrometry and Robotics - STTR Topic DON26TZ01-NV004 Deadline : April 29, 2026 (Estimated) Funding Award Size: $240,000 (Estimated) Description : Funding to design and demonstrate a field-portable mass spectrometer with a rugged, flexible inlet mounted to a land robot arm for non-proximate, real-time chemical detection and remote red/green operator results.
Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) Maneuver Improvements - SBIR Topic DON26BZ01-NV001 Deadline : April 29, 2026 (Estimated) Funding Award Size: $240,000 (Estimated) Description : Funding to improve Amphibious Combat Vehicle water-to-land transition and surf-zone maneuvering by redesigning operator controls (HMI) and water propulsion hardware to reduce workload, increase responsiveness, and maintain or improve speed, bollard pull, fuel economy, and corrosion/maintenance performance.
CHORD - Collaborative Human Autonomy Operational Review - SBIR Topic DAF26BZ01-DV007 Deadline : April 29, 2026 (Estimated) Funding Award Size: $140,000 (Estimated) Description : Develop AI-enabled mission debriefing tools that fuse decision-making from human pilots and autonomous aircraft.
The system logs, analyzes, and visualizes autonomy decision chains using advanced analytics and human-machine interfaces to improve transparency, trust, and operational learning in human-autonomy teaming.
Autonomous Leader-Follower UAS Formation for Enhanced Mission Resilience and Reduced Operator Workload - SBIR Topic DAF26BZ01-DV002 Deadline : April 29, 2026 (Estimated) Funding Award Size: $140,000 (Estimated) Description : Funding to develop autonomous leader-follower drone formations enabling a single pilot to control multiple UAS.
Projects focus on AI flight control, resilient communications, formation management, target designation, and coordinated operations in contested or GPS-denied environments.
Intelligent Threat Aware Autonomy - SBIR Topic DAF26BZ01-NV006 Deadline : April 29, 2026 (Estimated) Funding Award Size: $140,000 (Estimated) Description : Funding to develop AI-driven autonomy that enables aircraft to model threat zones, avoid adversarial weapon engagement areas, optimize weapon usage, and coordinate with other platforms to complete missions in contested environments.
Runtime Assured Autonomy - SBIR Topic DAF26BZ01-NV008 Deadline : April 29, 2026 (Estimated) Funding Award Size: $140,000 (Estimated) Description : Develop runtime monitoring systems that detect and mitigate errors in AI-driven autonomy for unmanned platforms. Solutions ensure safe flight and mission execution by identifying faulty autonomous decisions and triggering corrective or fallback control actions in real time.
AI Framework for Multimodal Scene Construction and Data Generation - SBIR Topic DAF26BZ01-DV005 Deadline : April 29, 2026 (Estimated) Funding Award Size: $140,000 (Estimated) Description : Develop an AI framework that generates geo-specific multimodal scenes (RF and EO/IR) using geospatial, environmental, and sensor data to produce high-fidelity synthetic datasets for training autonomous systems and AI/ML models in realistic operational environments.
Low-Cost Modular Payload Vehicle for Agile Electronic Warfare Swarms with Ground Launch Capability - SBIR Topic DAF26BZ01-NV003 Deadline : April 29, 2026 (Estimated) Funding Award Size: $140,000 (Estimated) Description : Funding to develop a low-cost, ground-launched small UAS with standardized modular payload interfaces for rapid electronic-warfare reconfiguration and swarm (3–10) operations, carrying 5+ lb for 45+ minutes over 100+ km.
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Varies by specific opportunity, often includes commercial technologies, research institutions, and defense contractors. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates Estimated $500K to $5M (varies by specific opportunity) Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is rolling deadlines or periodic funding windows. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
Yes — AI tools like Granted can help research funders, draft proposal sections, and check compliance. However, always review and customize AI-generated content to reflect your organization's unique strengths and the specific requirements of the solicitation.
Review timelines vary by funder. Federal agencies typically take 3-6 months from submission to award notification. Foundation grants may be faster, often 1-3 months. Check the program's timeline in the official solicitation for specific dates.
Many federal programs offer multi-year funding or allow competitive renewals. Check the official solicitation for continuation and renewal policies. Non-competing continuation applications are common for multi-year awards.
Past winners and funding trends for this program
The DOD SBIR 26.2 Phase I Annual Solicitation is a competitive funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Defense supporting early-stage research and development of innovative technologies with potential defense applications. Phase I awards provide up to $250,000 to fund feasibility studies and proof-of-concept work across topics released by DoD components including DARPA, Army, Navy, Air Force, and more. Eligible applicants are U.S.-based small businesses with fewer than 500 employees. The application deadline is April 7, 2026. DoD releases SBIR solicitations on a monthly cycle, opening the first Wednesday and closing the last Wednesday of the following month. Successful Phase I awardees may compete for follow-on Phase II funding of up to $1,750,000.
Department of Defense SBIR 2026.2 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) is a grant from the U.S. Department of Defense that funds small business R&D projects addressing critical defense technology challenges through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The 2026.2 cycle includes topics from Army and Navy components with particular focus on advanced materials and protective equipment, including lightweight ballistic materials and shield innovations for personal and vehicle protection. Awards range from $250,000 to $1,700,000 depending on phase. Eligible applicants must be U.S.-based for-profit small businesses with fewer than 500 employees. The application deadline is May 15, 2026.