

xTechPacific will be used to identify small business concerns that meet the criteria for award. The deadline for submission to xTechPacific is April 2, 2025 at 5:00 PM EDT. Winners selected from the xTechPacific prize competition will be the only firms eligible to submit an SBIR proposal under the topic listed above. Proposals submitted to the topic listed above by non-winners of the xTechPacific competition will not be evaluated. See the full xTechPacific competition RFI here: https://www.xtech.army.mil/competition/xtechpacific/.
Objective
The U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) is interested in finding and developing capabilities that work for the Warfighter by experimenting early, often, and in-theater. USARPAC integrates experimentation to develop and test future capabilities and formations while concentrating on training forward. The Indo-Pacific is the most consequential region in modern history and this region contains the most rugged, distributed, and diverse terrain in the world; from hot, humid rainforests, low-lying coral atolls, to artic plateaus and mountain ranges.
USARPAC is interested in cutting-edge technology solutions that will drive significant advances in military capabilities while addressing complex challenges specific to the Indo-Pacific’s geographical uniqueness and enabling technologies that could help overcome the tyranny of distance. The capabilities and technologies proposed should be able to operate everywhere from tropics, jungle, archipelagos to extreme cold weather and high-altitude arctic conditions. The xTech competition and experimentation seek technological solutions that address these topic areas but are not limited to:
Electronic Warfare (EW) Domain Awareness and Sensing: The US Army seeks innovative, affordable and widespread EW domain awareness and RF sensing capabilities for operations in the Indo-Pacific region. The solution should provide persistent situational awareness using modular, platform-agnostic sensor payloads that can operate unattended for extended periods or user operated with minimal training and maintenance. The payloads should be designed to integrate seamlessly with existing ground, maritime, and aerial platforms, and function reliably in diverse Indo-Pacific environments, including tropical, high altitude, article, and dense urban areas/megacities.
Description
Detection of Buried Explosives and Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) in Magnetically Complex Environments Throughout the Indo-Pacific, volcanic islands feature iron-rich soil, which makes magnetic detection of buried metals and unexploded ordnance (UXO) extremely challenging. This environment allows threat actors to conceal munitions, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and other hazardous materials with relative ease. Additionally, many areas, such as Papua New Guinea and the Philippines, still contain legacy UXO, further complicating detection efforts.
To address these challenges, novel detection technologies must be developed that are effective in magnetically complex environments, adaptable to diverse operational conditions, and deployable across multiple platforms. Proposed detection technologies should be designed for various operational scales, from small, portable, and easy-to-use systems requiring minimal maintenance to more advanced solutions that can be integrated with Class 1 or 2 UAV systems.
Prototype solutions can initially be developed for ground or aerial use cases but must have the foundational capability to scan large areas in the future, with additional funding and development. Capabilities should emphasize high detection accuracy with low probably of false alarms in environments with iron-rich soils and other geological interferences.
The prototype should demonstrate minimal viable product (MVP) capability to detect representative inert munitions/UXO surrogates in relevant environment in Hawaii. Minimum threshold accuracy p(d) and other attributes, p(fa) and requirements can be determined during demonstration, evaluation, and development based on SWAP and technical readiness. The General Requirements include:
Detection Performance
Testing in High-Iron Soils
Data Processing and Analysis
Potential Sensor/Detection Ecosystems and Considerations
Non-Magnetic Detection Technologies
Spectroscopic Detection Technologies
Acoustic Detection Technologies
Chemical Detection Technologies
Advanced Defensive and Deterrent Capabilities for Army and Commercial Watercraft
The U.S. Army seeks affordable, non-exquisite, innovative solutions to enhance the protection of Army and commercial watercraft. These solutions should add defensive and deterrent capabilities to increase survivability and help surface vessels counter modern threats, including uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) and harassing less than lethal, escalation of force effects and emerging aerial UxS threats.
The Army is interested in modular and scalable technologies that provide a range of defense options, from non-lethal deterrents to low-cost weapons that neutralize threats. Companies can propose solutions in any of the five key areas listed below—they do not need to combine multiple functions into one system.
Proposed solutions should work on a variety of maritime platforms, including Army and commercial long-haul ships (such as Logistic Support Vessels – LSVs), surrogate or commercial maritime surface vessels, and be effective even on unarmored vessels. Potential Specifications and Key Performance Parameters include:
Cost-Effective Interceptor Systems for Hard-Kill or Soft-Kill Defense Against UxS and USVs
Non-Lethal Repellent and Disruption Systems for Vessel Protection
Ramming Protection Systems
Anti-Floating Barrier Technologies
Water Cannon Defense Systems
General Key Performance Parameters:
Electronic Warfare (EW) Domain Awareness and Sensing
The United States Army seeks low-cost and ubiquitous Electronic Warfare (EW) domain awareness and sensing capabilities for multi-domain operations against peer and near-peer threats in the Indo-Pacific Area of Responsibility (AOR). These capabilities should provide persistent situational awareness, leveraging attritable and modular/platform-agnostic sensor payloads for terrestrial sensing.
The sensors should operate unattended with extended power life or soldier carried, ensuring reliable functionality in austere environments with minimal sustainment support. Additionally, the solution must seamlessly integrate with existing ground, maritime, and aerial platforms using standardized interfaces and open architectures while being robust enough to function across the Indo-Pacific’s diverse operational landscapes, including desert, tropical, and megacity environments.
The proposed solutions should focus on developing modular, platform-agnostic sensor payloads designed for seamless integration with various military platforms. These payloads should feature long-duration, unattended operation capabilities, leveraging advanced battery technologies, energy harvesting, and low-power electronics to extend operational life.
Solutions must be designed to be compatible with existing interface standards and open architecture(s) across multiple domains. Minimum threshold accuracy and other attributes and requirements can be determined during demonstration, evaluation, and development based on SWAP and technical readiness. Key Requirements include:
Technology Areas and Components Include but not limited to:
To address these requirements, the following technology areas may be relevant:
Phase I
This topic is for Direct to Phase II (DP2) submission. Department of the Army will accept Direct to Phase II proposals for the cost of up to $2,000,000 for an 18-month period of performance.
In order for proposers to submit a DP2 proposal, they must provide the justification documentation to substantiate that the scientific and technical merit and feasibility described above has been met and describes the potential military and/or commercial applications. Documentation should include all relevant information including, but not limited to: technical reports, test data, prototype designs/models, and performance goals/results.
Phase II
Produce prototype solutions that will be easy to operate by a Soldier. These products will be provided to select Army units for further evaluation by the soldiers. In addition, companies will provide a technology transition and commercialization plan for DOD and commercial markets.
Phase III
Complete the maturation of the company’s technology developed in Phase II to TRL 6/7 and produce prototypes to support further development and commercialization. The Army will evaluate each product in a realistic field environment and provide small solutions to stakeholders for further evaluation. Based on soldier evaluations in the field, companies will be requested to update the previously delivered prototypes to meet final design configuration.
Submission Information
For more information, and to submit your full proposal package, visit the DSIP Portal.
SBIR|STTR Help Desk: usarmy.sbirsttr@army.mil
References:
xTechPacific will be used to identify small business concerns that meet the criteria for award. The deadline for submission to xTechPacific is April 2, 2025 at 5:00 PM EDT. Winners selected from the xTechPacific prize competition will be the only firms eligible to submit an SBIR proposal under the topic listed above. Proposals submitted to the topic listed above by non-winners of the xTechPacific competition will not be evaluated. See the full xTechPacific competition RFI here: https://www.xtech.army.mil/competition/xtechpacific/.
Objective
The U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) is interested in finding and developing capabilities that work for the Warfighter by experimenting early, often, and in-theater. USARPAC integrates experimentation to develop and test future capabilities and formations while concentrating on training forward. The Indo-Pacific is the most consequential region in modern history and this region contains the most rugged, distributed, and diverse terrain in the world; from hot, humid rainforests, low-lying coral atolls, to artic plateaus and mountain ranges.
USARPAC is interested in cutting-edge technology solutions that will drive significant advances in military capabilities while addressing complex challenges specific to the Indo-Pacific’s geographical uniqueness and enabling technologies that could help overcome the tyranny of distance. The capabilities and technologies proposed should be able to operate everywhere from tropics, jungle, archipelagos to extreme cold weather and high-altitude arctic conditions. The xTech competition and experimentation seek technological solutions that address these topic areas but are not limited to:
Electronic Warfare (EW) Domain Awareness and Sensing: The US Army seeks innovative, affordable and widespread EW domain awareness and RF sensing capabilities for operations in the Indo-Pacific region. The solution should provide persistent situational awareness using modular, platform-agnostic sensor payloads that can operate unattended for extended periods or user operated with minimal training and maintenance. The payloads should be designed to integrate seamlessly with existing ground, maritime, and aerial platforms, and function reliably in diverse Indo-Pacific environments, including tropical, high altitude, article, and dense urban areas/megacities.
Description
Detection of Buried Explosives and Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) in Magnetically Complex Environments Throughout the Indo-Pacific, volcanic islands feature iron-rich soil, which makes magnetic detection of buried metals and unexploded ordnance (UXO) extremely challenging. This environment allows threat actors to conceal munitions, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and other hazardous materials with relative ease. Additionally, many areas, such as Papua New Guinea and the Philippines, still contain legacy UXO, further complicating detection efforts.
To address these challenges, novel detection technologies must be developed that are effective in magnetically complex environments, adaptable to diverse operational conditions, and deployable across multiple platforms. Proposed detection technologies should be designed for various operational scales, from small, portable, and easy-to-use systems requiring minimal maintenance to more advanced solutions that can be integrated with Class 1 or 2 UAV systems.
Prototype solutions can initially be developed for ground or aerial use cases but must have the foundational capability to scan large areas in the future, with additional funding and development. Capabilities should emphasize high detection accuracy with low probably of false alarms in environments with iron-rich soils and other geological interferences.
The prototype should demonstrate minimal viable product (MVP) capability to detect representative inert munitions/UXO surrogates in relevant environment in Hawaii. Minimum threshold accuracy p(d) and other attributes, p(fa) and requirements can be determined during demonstration, evaluation, and development based on SWAP and technical readiness. The General Requirements include:
Detection Performance
Testing in High-Iron Soils
Data Processing and Analysis
Potential Sensor/Detection Ecosystems and Considerations
Non-Magnetic Detection Technologies
Spectroscopic Detection Technologies
Acoustic Detection Technologies
Chemical Detection Technologies
Advanced Defensive and Deterrent Capabilities for Army and Commercial Watercraft
The U.S. Army seeks affordable, non-exquisite, innovative solutions to enhance the protection of Army and commercial watercraft. These solutions should add defensive and deterrent capabilities to increase survivability and help surface vessels counter modern threats, including uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) and harassing less than lethal, escalation of force effects and emerging aerial UxS threats.
The Army is interested in modular and scalable technologies that provide a range of defense options, from non-lethal deterrents to low-cost weapons that neutralize threats. Companies can propose solutions in any of the five key areas listed below—they do not need to combine multiple functions into one system.
Proposed solutions should work on a variety of maritime platforms, including Army and commercial long-haul ships (such as Logistic Support Vessels – LSVs), surrogate or commercial maritime surface vessels, and be effective even on unarmored vessels. Potential Specifications and Key Performance Parameters include:
Cost-Effective Interceptor Systems for Hard-Kill or Soft-Kill Defense Against UxS and USVs
Non-Lethal Repellent and Disruption Systems for Vessel Protection
Ramming Protection Systems
Anti-Floating Barrier Technologies
Water Cannon Defense Systems
General Key Performance Parameters:
Electronic Warfare (EW) Domain Awareness and Sensing
The United States Army seeks low-cost and ubiquitous Electronic Warfare (EW) domain awareness and sensing capabilities for multi-domain operations against peer and near-peer threats in the Indo-Pacific Area of Responsibility (AOR). These capabilities should provide persistent situational awareness, leveraging attritable and modular/platform-agnostic sensor payloads for terrestrial sensing.
The sensors should operate unattended with extended power life or soldier carried, ensuring reliable functionality in austere environments with minimal sustainment support. Additionally, the solution must seamlessly integrate with existing ground, maritime, and aerial platforms using standardized interfaces and open architectures while being robust enough to function across the Indo-Pacific’s diverse operational landscapes, including desert, tropical, and megacity environments.
The proposed solutions should focus on developing modular, platform-agnostic sensor payloads designed for seamless integration with various military platforms. These payloads should feature long-duration, unattended operation capabilities, leveraging advanced battery technologies, energy harvesting, and low-power electronics to extend operational life.
Solutions must be designed to be compatible with existing interface standards and open architecture(s) across multiple domains. Minimum threshold accuracy and other attributes and requirements can be determined during demonstration, evaluation, and development based on SWAP and technical readiness. Key Requirements include:
Technology Areas and Components Include but not limited to:
To address these requirements, the following technology areas may be relevant:
Phase I
This topic is for Direct to Phase II (DP2) submission. Department of the Army will accept Direct to Phase II proposals for the cost of up to $2,000,000 for an 18-month period of performance.
In order for proposers to submit a DP2 proposal, they must provide the justification documentation to substantiate that the scientific and technical merit and feasibility described above has been met and describes the potential military and/or commercial applications. Documentation should include all relevant information including, but not limited to: technical reports, test data, prototype designs/models, and performance goals/results.
Phase II
Produce prototype solutions that will be easy to operate by a Soldier. These products will be provided to select Army units for further evaluation by the soldiers. In addition, companies will provide a technology transition and commercialization plan for DOD and commercial markets.
Phase III
Complete the maturation of the company’s technology developed in Phase II to TRL 6/7 and produce prototypes to support further development and commercialization. The Army will evaluate each product in a realistic field environment and provide small solutions to stakeholders for further evaluation. Based on soldier evaluations in the field, companies will be requested to update the previously delivered prototypes to meet final design configuration.
Submission Information
For more information, and to submit your full proposal package, visit the DSIP Portal.
SBIR|STTR Help Desk: usarmy.sbirsttr@army.mil
References: