DIRECT TO PHASE II: Rotational Launcher for Shipboard Systems

The Department of Defense, specifically the Navy, is seeking innovative solutions for a Direct to Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) opportunity focused on developing a shipboard Accelerator-Based Launch System for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The objective is to create a launching system capable of deploying UAVs at speeds exceeding Mach 1, achieving distances greater than 70 km without consuming onboard fuel, thereby enhancing mission flexibility and operational capabilities for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) missions. This initiative aims to address the limitations of current UAV launching systems, which are constrained by fuel dependency and large footprints. Interested parties must submit their proposals by February 5, 2025, with the opportunity details available at the official SBIR website.