Flameless Ration Heater Alternative (Magnesium-Free)

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), within the Department of Defense, is seeking an SBIR solution for a magnesium-free flameless ration heater to replace the current military ration heating approach. The effort covers development and validation of a safe, cost-effective, environmentally benign heater that can match or exceed current FRH performance without producing flammable gases, with Phase I focused on feasibility and Phase II on pilot-scale production and demonstration models. Key context includes the need to avoid the fire and explosion hazards associated with hydrogen gas, reduce hazardous-waste disposal burdens, and address supply chain vulnerability by using a domestically sourced solution, with evaluation centered on performance validation, cost viability, and transition readiness. This is a pre-release opportunity under DLA26BZ02-NV003, with the submission deadline set for June 24, 2026 at 4:00 PM UTC.