United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Special Operations Forces Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (SOF AT&L) has announced the Advancing Naval Capabilities through Holistic Opportunities and Resources (ANCHOR) Initiative.
Using Other Transactional Authority (OTA) acquisition, the ANCHOR Initiative’s purpose is to form a sphere of technological excellence made up of participants from industry, non-profit organizations, and not-for-profit entities able to rapidly and efficiently propose and carry out, through maximum practicable competitive procedures, the development of prototype solutions that sustain and expand strategic superiority within broadly stated special operations focus areas of interest. It is intended that Participants will perform a strategically important role in developing solutions focused on the development, demonstration and transition of resilient and dynamic technological capabilities critically necessary for the Nation’s Special Operations Forces.
Focus areas include:
Focus Area 1: Unmanned Systems. Across the maritime domain, USSOCOM is increasingly leveraging unmanned and autonomous systems to push the limits of where and how its forces can operate. Integrating unmanned aerial, surface, and underwater platforms enables longer persistence in contested and denied environments, surveillance and reconnaissance in high-risk areas, and enhanced situational awareness without exposing personnel to unnecessary danger. USSOCOM is particularly interested in capabilities that improve cross-domain coordination, reduce the logistical footprint of deployed forces, and deliver reliable data and effects in dynamic maritime conditions. Innovations in autonomy, sensing, endurance, and resilient communications are key to enabling the next generation of maritime unmanned systems that support USSOCOM’s evolving role in multi-domain operations.
Focus Area 2: Counter-Unmanned Systems. To stay ahead of rapidly evolving unmanned threats, USSOCOM is prioritizing capabilities that can sense, understand, and respond to hostile systems before they impact the mission. As autonomous and remotely operated platforms become more accessible and adaptive, the need for agile, layered defense systems has become essential to preserving operational security and freedom of action. USSOCOM is interested in technologies that detect, track, and neutralize unmanned threats—from individual platforms to coordinated swarms—within the constraints of maritime special operations. Solutions optimized for size, weight, and power; capable of functioning in contested electromagnetic environments; and effective against both kinetic and electronic attack vectors are of particular interest. These capabilities are critical to enabling mission assurance, safeguarding personnel, and maintaining tactical advantage in multi-domain maritime operations.
Focus Area 3: Command, Control, Communications, Computer, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C5ISR). At the core of USSOCOM’s future force design is a resilient C5ISR enterprise that connects sensors, shooters, and decision-makers across every domain. Next-generation C5ISR systems are expected to integrate multi-source intelligence, resilient communications, and cyber-secure data networks, enabling USSOCOM operators to sense, process, and act faster than the adversary. USSOCOM is particularly interested in technologies that strengthen edge connectivity, leverage AI-enabled analytics for real-time situational awareness, and ensure data integrity across denied or degraded environments. Seamless integration of cyber defense, intelligence fusion, and tactical communications allows operators to maintain command and control across dispersed forces while enabling intelligence collection and dissemination at the speed of relevance. These evolving C5ISR capabilities form the backbone of multi-domain maritime operations, empowering USSOCOM to outpace emerging threats and sustain operational advantage across every phase of mission execution.
Focus Area 4: Scalable Effects. In parallel, USSOCOM is pursuing scalable effects that provide flexible options to influence, degrade, or defeat adversary capabilities while managing risk and escalation. These effects span both kinetic and non-kinetic options, enabling commanders to match the level of impact to mission objectives, risk tolerance, and escalation considerations. USSOCOM is particularly interested in solutions that offer tunable effects—from reversible disruption and temporary degradation to permanent disablement—while limiting collateral damage and, when required, managing attribution. Technologies of interest include directed energy, electronic warfare, cyber-enabled effects, and precision engagement tools that can be employed from distributed maritime platforms and integrated with existing C5ISR architectures to deliver coordinated, scalable effects in support of complex operations.
Focus Area 5: Human Performance. Optimization of human performance is a critical force multiplier for USSOCOM, directly impacting operational readiness, mission effectiveness, and organizational capability retention. Comprehensive physical conditioning programs that address the multifaceted demands of maritime special operations serve to enhance baseline performance while simultaneously reducing the incidence of acute and chronic injuries that can sideline operators during critical mission windows. Cognitive performance enhancement through mental acuity training, stress inoculation, and neurological health monitoring addresses the complex decision-making requirements of special operations while mitigating psychological burnout that can compromise judgment and tactical effectiveness. This holistic approach to human performance optimization directly contributes to USSOCOM ‘s ability to retain experienced personnel by extending their operational careers, reducing medical attrition rates, and maintaining the institutional knowledge and tactical expertise that takes years to develop, thereby preserving USSOCOM’s most valuable asset while maintaining operational readiness across extended deployment cycles and high-tempo operations.
Focus Area 6: Human-Machine Teaming. Human-Machine Teaming represents a transformative capability for USSOCOM, enabling intuitive control of unmanned systems through natural human interfaces and providing immersive training environments for high-risk scenarios. Natural control methods, such as voice commands and gesture recognition, enable USSOCOM operators to direct autonomous systems while maintaining tactical readiness and operational security. This reduces the cognitive burden of system management, allowing operators to focus on tactical decision-making and leverage machine capabilities for surveillance, reconnaissance, and support functions. Augmented and virtual reality technologies revolutionize USSOCOM training by enabling operators to repeatedly practice complex, high-risk scenarios without the logistical constraints and safety risks associated with live training exercises while building operator proficiency in human-machine coordination. This combination of natural system control and immersive training capabilities enhances tactical proficiency while optimizing the division of tasks between human judgment and machine processing power, ultimately improving mission effectiveness in the complex and demanding maritime special operations environment.
Responses are due Jun 01, 2026 4:30 PM EDT.
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