The U.S. Army xTech Program is now accepting concept white paper submissions for the xTechCounter Strike competition, which will award up to $2.5 million in cash prizes and potential follow-on agreements and contracting opportunities.

The Problem

This will come as no surprise to the Israelis: ​The U.S. Army believes the rapid proliferation of small unmanned aircraft systems will pose a growing threat to U.S. and allied forces. According to the Army, “Current detection and defeat capabilities are often insufficient in complex terrain and fast evolving threat landscapes.”

The Solution

The Army is looking for innovative, mature, ready-to-deploy (TRL 6+) C-UAS technologies that enhance force protection, increase situational awareness, and provide adaptable, scalable solutions. The exercise will test capabilities to effectively detect and defeat, or disrupt Group 1-3 UAS (UAS weighing up to 1320 lbs. with a travel speed of up to 250 kts). Among the evaluation criteria:

• ​Passive UAS Detection: Optionally-manned Passive Detect capability that provides Early Warning, with the capability to pass air-track data to an active sensor (Tx On/Off automatic) while decreasing radar emissions.  

1. ​Active UAS Detection: Optionally-manned Active Detect capability that can receive airtrack data from a passive sensor, discriminate aerial targets, and provide fire solution to kinetic or no-collateral damage drone defeat.  

2. ​Defeat of UAS (Non-kinetic, kinetic, and other): Unmanned kinetic defeat or no collateral-damage capability that can be cued by an active sensor and engage automatically or on-order from a FAAD-based operator at a lower cost than the enemy target.  

3. ​Threat-simulated UAS: Unmanned (Group 1-3) UAS that simulates existing threat capabilities (RF emissions, Acoustic signature, radar signature, etc.).  

Awards

The U.S. Army intends to award up to $2.5 million in cash prizes. Up to 15 finalists will be selected at the end of Part 1 (cash prize of $50,000), with the opportunity to participate in the Part 2 Finals live experimentation event with a panel of U.S. Army, DoD and NATO experts in November 2025. Up to five final winners will be selected to receive an additional cash prize of $350,000 each. Final winners may be considered for addition to the Global Tactical Edge Acquisition Directorate Marketplace, making them eligible for potential follow-on agreements and contracting opportunities.

Submissions

Close Sept. 12.

Next Steps

Details on the competition are here, and a full RFI is also available. and you can submit your application here.

Difficulty

You need a CAGE code to apply, or a NATO Cage Code if you’re based in Israel. Here are instructions.

Questions

Questions should be addressed to usarmy.xtech@army.mil.