SAM #NAWCAD-SN-26-TRUASII

NAVAIR seeks cargo UAS demonstrations for Marine Corps tactical resupply

NAVAIR’s Air Warfare Program Management Office is seeking industry demonstrations of cargo unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for Marine Corps tactical resupply. - Opportunity: The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), under the Department of the Navy’s Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Robotic and Autonomous Systems (DRPM RAS) 4.0, seeks applicants for the TRUAS Increment II technology demonstration. The amended notice places the demonstration at a location within the continental United States (CONUS); it no longer specifies Huntsville, Alabama. - What participants provide: Applicants bring their own cargo UAS; no OEM, model, part number, purchase quantity, or required commercial product is identified. The demonstration will assess ground setup and flight preparation, refueling, and autonomous flight capability. - Required flights: Without refueling, carry a 100-pound payload 40 nautical miles, detach the payload, and return 40 nautical miles empty; then carry at least 150 pounds 10 nautical miles, detach the payload, and return 10 nautical miles empty. Payloads may be detached manually or automatically. Up to three additional flights may be approved by the Government. - Key platform requirements: Meet minimum thresholds for KPP 1 (Operational Performance) and KPP 5 (Powerplant and Energy Source); maximum gross takeoff weight (MGTOW) up to 350 pounds is preferred. The announcement identifies heavy-fuel or hybrid power, autonomous operations, transit speed of at least 50 knots, flight altitude no higher than 1,000 feet above ground level, and a Mode 3/C transponder. Launch and recovery must not require a catapult, arresting net or cable, or other mechanical launch or recovery equipment. - Application and evaluation: Submit a 3–5 page technical white paper and completed questionnaire. Applicants must provide lost-link/return-to-home procedures, relevant technical information for spectrum authorization and facility access, and data validating theoretical range at both specified payload weights. Evaluation considers demonstrated KPP and KSA performance. - Schedule: Technical questions are due November 13, 2026; applications are due by 11:59 p.m. EST November 30, 2026; selected participants are to be notified by 11:59 p.m. EST December 18, 2026. Demonstrations are planned for the weeks of January 25 through February 5, 2027. - Potential outcome: The Government may select none, one, or multiple participants for potential Other Transaction (OT) prototype agreements; demonstration selection does not guarantee an award. Selectees must join the Naval Aviation Systems Consortium (NASC) to be eligible for an OT award, although membership is not required to apply or demonstrate. A successful prototype may support a follow-on production agreement or contract without further competition.

Description

Synopsis

The Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Robotic and Autonomous Systems (DRPM RAS) 4.0, Air Warfare Program Management Office (DRPM RAS 4.0 Air Warfare PMO), Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, desires to accelerate the identification of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and enabling technologies, prototyping integration, and fielding evaluation of potential solutions for the Marine Corps Unmanned Logistics System – Air (ULS-A) logistics distribution mission.

During the weeks of 25 January through 5 February 2027, Air Warfare PMO will sponsor a technology demonstration within the continental United States. The Government requests applications from industry to participate in this demonstration; successful performance during the demonstration may subsequently result in the award of an Other Transaction (OT) Prototype Agreement in accordance with 10 U.S.C. § 4022.

Announcement Information

TRUAS Increment II is intended to provide an organic aerial distribution capability for small-unit logistics support across the last tactical mile in Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations and Distributed Operations. To encourage broad demonstration participation and identify the full spectrum of commercial innovation, the Government invites submissions from all qualified participants, including non-traditional defense contractors and small businesses, whose applications satisfy the minimum threshold requirements, specifically, preference of a Max Gross Take Off Weight (MGTOW) up to 350 lbs and Key Performance Parameter (KPP) 1 – Operational Performance and KPP 5 - Powerplant and Energy Source.  See Table 1.  The Government reserves the right to select any, all, or none of the applicants for participation in the demonstration. 

Participants will be required to demonstrate ground set-up and flight preparation procedures for their UAS, perform refueling demonstration, and perform up to five autonomous flights. During the first flight, participating UAS must fly with a 100 lb payload a total of 40 nautical miles (nm), detach the payload (either manually or automatically), fly a return flight of 40 nm with no payload, and land at the original launch site.  During the second flight, participating UAS must fly with a minimum 150 lb payload a total of 10 nm, detach the payload (either manually or automatically), fly a return flight 10 nm with no payload, and land at the original launch site. The UAS must complete each required flight without refueling. Following the two required flights, participants may be given the opportunity to perform up to three additional flights to demonstrate unique features and/or capabilities, subject to Government approval.

The UAS must transit at an airspeed no less than 50 knots and an altitude no greater than 1,000 feet above ground level (AGL). The UAS must be capable of launching and recovering without a catapult, arresting net or cable, or other mechanical launch or recovery equipment. Participants shall ensure that their UAS is equipped with a transponder with a minimum of a Mode-3/C capability.

Participants, as part of their application, will be required to provide the Government with lost-link/return-to-home procedures to support range safety requirements. Participants will also be required to provide the Government with technical information to support coordination for frequency spectrum authorization, and Government facility access, if required. Participants must provide data that validates the maximum theoretical range of their UAS with 100 lb and 150 lb payloads. The Government, with assistance of contracted support personnel, will coordinate demonstration range set-up and provide coordination assistance for airworthiness certification and frequency allocation as required.

The Government may award an OT prototype agreement to the participant(s) whose UAS capability demonstrate the most advantageous combination of the KPP and Key System Attributes (KSA) requirements outlined in Table 1 and Table 2. To be considered for the demonstration, UAS capabilities must meet threshold minimum requirements for KPP 1 and KPP 5. During evaluation for potential OT award, the Government will prioritize capabilities that achieve KPP and KSA threshold and objective requirements. Government Evaluators will record performance data for each participant’s flight demonstrations. UAS will be ranked based on demonstrated ability to achieve threshold and objective requirements. The Government intends to select the highest-ranked UAS capability(ies) that offer the most advantageous utility to the Marine Corps logistical mission for potential OT prototype awards.   The Government reserves the right to consider partial solutions addressing a subset of the requirements and retains the flexibility to make an award even if not all KPP and KSA thresholds and objectives are fully met, provided the proposed solution successfully satisfies the Marine Corps logistical mission. The Government reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to award zero, one, or multiple OTs following this demonstration event.  Selection to participate in the demonstration does not guarantee an OT award. Selectees will be required to join the Naval Aviation Systems Consortium (NASC) in order to be eligible to receive an OT award; more information is available at www.nascsolutions.org.  In accordance with 10 U.S.C. § 4022, a successfully completed prototype project may result in the award of a follow-on production agreement or contract without further competition. 

In addition to the primary consideration for an OT prototype agreement, the Government will analyze flight performance data and, upon request, may share these results with the Army-managed Drones.Mil Marketplace team.  The marketplace provides a streamlined, pre-vetted pathway for other Department of War (DoW) and allied partners to procure platforms.

Interested and eligible applicants must submit a 3-5 page white paper that describes their technical approach and the technical maturity of their UAS together with the completed questionnaire found at https://nascsolutions.org/project/truas-increment-ii-cargo-uas-industry-demonstration/. There are no NASC Membership requirements and no associated fees required with the application submission or to participate in this demonstration.

Applications will be scored in accordance with the TRUAS Increment II Application Evaluation Rubric, which is available for download at  https://nascsolutions.org/project/truas-increment-ii-cargo-uas-industry-demonstration/. To ensure an eligible score for demonstration selection, applicants are encouraged to review this rubric and address eligibility criterion within their white paper and/or questionnaire response.

Applications for participation will be submitted to nascopportunities@nascsolutions.tech and accepted until 2359 EST on 30 November 2026. The Government may, but is not required to, seek clarifications or additional information from applicants regarding their application.

Notification to selected participant(s) will be issued via e-mail no later than 2359 EST on 18 December 2026; information regarding the demonstration venue will be provided within selection email.

Submit technical questions to nascopportunities@nascsolutions.tech by 13 November 2026.  Technical questions and answers related to the demonstration will be posted and updated on  https://nascsolutions.org/project/truas-increment-ii-cargo-uas-industry-demonstration/.

See attached announcement, TRUAS Increment II Demonstration Announcement, for full details related to this demonstration and its associated attachments.  

AMENDMENT 0001:  Location venue of the technology demonstration is revised within the announcement to state within the continental United States.  See attached amendment, TRUAS Increment II Demonstration Announcement Amendment 0001.  Changes are highlighted in yellow.   Additional Links:TRUAS Increment II Demonstration

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