DASA launches Phase Two of Innovation in Support of Operations competition

Image courtesy DASA

Run on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, this competition is looking for innovative proposals that are cost competitive, designed for manufacture, and can be scaled in an approximate 12-month timeframe.

Competition key information

(All above time BST)

DASA expects proposals to cost no more than £350,000
A number of proposals may be funded

The UK Government continuously evaluates insights from global events, to rapidly implement solutions that strengthen military and economic advantage and the competition aims to identify and accelerate innovative solutions and techniques, ensuring they can be scaled and deployed faster than our adversaries.

Competition challenges
Competition’s five new challenge areas:

1. UAS Propulsion
   In this challenge area DASA are looking for:
   – Novel means of propulsion for small to medium UAS.
   – Novel means of manufacture/design of traditional UAS engines for small to medium UAS to increase scale of manufacture at a market leading price.
    
2. 155mm Artillery Barrel Repair/Recondition
   
   DASA are looking for innovative solutions to repair, recondition and extend barrel life.
    
3. Autonomous navigation systems for UAS and USVs
   
   In this challenge DASA are seeking autonomous navigation systems for air vehicles and/or maritime surface vessels.
    
4. Seekers
   DASA are looking for novel systems directed against:
   – RF transmitters at frequencies ranging from 200 MHz to 40 GHz
   – Class I(d), Class II and Class III UAS
   – Medium to large maritime surface targets.
    
5. UAS defeat
   This challenge relates to the ability to:
   – Detect UAS. We are seeking solutions to detect (and potentially defeat) UAS, including those that are not   reliant on RF links.
   – Destroy UAS.  We are looking for novel solutions to destroy UAVs around the Class 1(d) size, once detected.

These challenges are designed to identify innovations that could be deployed, at an appropriate scale, in operational areas within 12 months.

For full details of the competition Challenge Areas, please read the Competition Document
Technology Readiness Levels (TRL)

For this competition DASA are seeking technology output and demonstration to reach technology readiness level (TRL) 6 by the end of the project.

For full Competition Document and to submit a proposal:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/competition-innovation-in-support-of-operations-phase-2