DIU CSO #Specular MIST Prize Challenge

DIU Solicits Modular Maritime Payload Solutions for USVs

This opportunity from the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), in partnership with the Department of the Navy Rapid Capabilities Office and Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, seeks advanced maritime payload solutions for Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs). - Government Buyer: - Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) - Department of the Navy Rapid Capabilities Office - Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific - OEMs and Vendors: - No specific OEMs or vendors are named; the solicitation is open to all qualified vendors, including small businesses and non-traditional defense contractors - Products/Services Requested: - Threat Radar Simulators: - Must emit complex S-band signals from moving vessels - Require remote operation and marinized design for USV integration - Active Electronic Attack Systems: - Must provide real-time adaptive jamming and autonomous electromagnetic warfare - Designed for autonomous USV deployment - Passive Electronic Surveillance Systems: - Remotely operable RF sensing and cybersecurity for crewed and uncrewed platforms - Must be compatible with Navy landing zones - Unique/Notable Requirements: - Solutions must feature modular, open-system architectures and software-defined radio capabilities - Emphasis on Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) optimization - Technical requirements include specific radar waveform parameters, environmental resilience, and NSA CSfC cybersecurity compliance - Multi-phase process: proposal submission, live at-sea demonstration, and post-demo maturation - $5,000,000 total cash prize pool with potential for follow-on contracts or prototype agreements

Description

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), in collaboration with the Department of the Navy Rapid Capabilities Office and Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, is seeking innovative, scalable, and cost-effective solutions to modern maritime training and operational challenges. The challenge focuses on developing autonomous and containerized payloads for integration onto manned and autonomous Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) to provide operational advantages in contested maritime environments. Submissions are open across three lines of effort: Threat Radar Simulators, Active Electronic Attack, and Passive Electronic Surveillance, with a multi-phase competitive process including proposal submission, live at-sea demonstration, and post-demo maturation. The challenge offers a total cash prize pool of $5,000,000 and potential follow-on contracts or prototype agreements.

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