The U.S. Army is seeking innovative electromagnetic spectrum operations solutions from eligible small businesses across the U.S. through the Global Tactical Edge Acquisition Directorate (G-TEAD) U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF) Accelerated Capability Event (ACE) 27-02: Spectrum Enabled Warfare Powered by xTech. This platform offers participants the opportunity to engage with the Department of War (DoW), earn prize money and submit a Direct to Phase II Army Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) proposal. G-TEAD USAREUR-AF ACE 27-02: Spectrum Enabled Warfare Powered by xTech is a focused open-topic competition designed to identify cutting-edge technology solutions that will drive significant advancements in military capabilities while addressing complex challenges and enhancing national security.
The U.S. Army FUZE Program, in partnership with the USAREUR-AF, is executing the Spectrum Enabled Warfare competition as part of the G-TEAD Accelerated Capability Event (ACE) series. This competition addresses Army’s need to gain and maintain spectrum superiority by identifying high-potential solutions and accelerating transition through funding and integration into live USAREUR-AF-led exercises. Integrating into a USAREUR-AF-led exercise is critical to: (1) validate capabilities under operationally realistic conditions, (2) inform acquisition and integration decisions, and (3) address near-term gaps to sense, understand, exploit, attack, and protect across a contested electromagnetic environment and connected cyberspace.
The operational challenge on the Eastern Flank is the enablement of U.S. Army forces, operating within a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and joint coalition framework, to sense, understand, exploit, attack, and protect across a contested electromagnetic environment and connected cyberspace. To deter peer aggression and preserve freedom of maneuver, V Corps must protect tactical command and control networks while delivering synchronized, non-lethal and lethal effects at depth against adversary command, control, communications, and targeting architectures.
Gaining and maintaining spectrum superiority against dense anti-access / area denial systems requires a modular, coalition-interoperable architecture that operates in congested radio frequency (RF) environments, executes multi-echelon precision effects, and hardens friendly formations against persistent electromagnetic and cyber disruption during competition, crisis, and conflict. The Army requires capabilities that are scalable, upgradeable, and intuitive for Soldiers across military occupational specialties, and maintainable at the tactical edge without routine reliance on field service representatives for minor repairs or adjustments.
The Army is seeking to evaluate capabilities to participate in one of three demonstration tracks (eligible for SBIR follow-on contacts) as part of this Spectrum Enabled Warfare ACE:
- Capability 1: Electromagnetic Support / Tactical Surveillance
- Capability 2: Autonomous Network Management
- Capability 3: Electromagnetic Environment Visualization and Battle Damage Assessment Tools
Phase I
This topic is accepting DP2 submissions with a cost limit of $2,000,000 and a period of performance of 12-18 months. Only finalists and final winners of G-TEAD USAREUR-AF ACE 27-02: Spectrum Enabled Warfare Powered by xTech competition are permitted to submit a proposal for this topic. In order for proposers to submit a DP2 proposal, they must provide 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 testing and experimentation with end Users in a realistic field environment. Feedback from testing and experimentation will be provided directly to Small Businesses to iterate rapidly on recommended modifications or improvements for Army operational use. In addition, companies will work with Army partners to develop a draft technology transition and commercialization plan for DoW and commercial markets.
Phase III Dual Use Applications
Complete the maturation of the company’s technology developed in Phase II to technology readiness level 8/9 and produce prototypes to support scaling and fielding of the technology with the Army and pursue commercialization pathways.
Duration: 12-18 months
Close Date: 10/30/2026
Amount Up To: Up to $2,000,000
Full competition details including details on the topic areas of interest can be found in Appendix A section of the G-TEAD USAREUR-AF ACE 27-02: Spectrum Enabled Warfare Powered by xTech RFI at www.xtech.army.mil/competitions.
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