Asymmetric Collaborative Counter Swarm

This Department of the Army SBIR solicitation (ARM26TX04-NV001) seeks to develop and integrate decentralized, distributed Artificial Intelligence (AI) software to command and control friendly, homogeneous Group 1 or Group 2 Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) swarms. The objective is to defend designated areas by collaboratively countering numerically superior enemy drone swarms in 1-to-N engagement scenarios. Key technical requirements include executing AI algorithms within strict Size, Weight, Power, and Cost (SWaP-C) limits (compute payload under 2 lbs) and enabling friendly platforms to actively share targeting data in permissive networks. In communication-denied or degraded environments, the system must utilize passive collaboration to maintain operational effectiveness. Individually, each platform must be capable of degrading or destroying multiple enemy drones within a 10-meter range using kinetic or non-kinetic effectors to significantly reduce the enemy's collective combat power. This project focuses entirely on software and algorithmic development rather than creating new hardware. Phase I (up to $300,000 for 1–6 months) requires a feasibility study of proposed algorithms, sensor packages, and performance trade-offs. Phase II involves developing and demonstrating a prototype system on existing Program of Record or custom-built UAS hardware, using simulation for large-scale tests and physical hardware for smaller swarm evaluations. Phase III focuses on dual-use commercial applications, specifically protecting critical domestic infrastructure against unauthorized drone incursions.