Contracts · Counter-drone
Army seeks portable counter-drone kit for Africa task force
The xTech competition offers up to $1 million in cash prizes. Submissions are due Nov. 17, with a soldier exercise anticipated for February 2027.
The Army opened a competition Nov. 6, 2026, for a rapidly deployable counter-drone kit. It must detect, track and defeat Group 1–3 small drones in austere environments, including remote airfields and contingency support locations near active host-nation civilian or military airports.1
The Army intends to award up to $1,000,000 in cash prizes
Submissions are due November 17, 2026 at 5:00 pm ET.
The U.S. Army intends to award up to $1,000,000 in cash prizes throughout the competition.
Any follow-on agreements are at the Government’s sole discretion and are subject to availability of funds and applicable laws and regulations.
Source: Army xTech, G-TEAD SETAF-AF ACE 27-01 C-UAS Fly Away Kit. As of November 6, 2026.
Sources
Entrants are evaluated in one of five capability areas: a consolidated kit, detection and identification, kinetic defeat, non-kinetic defeat and passive protection.1
Submitted capabilities must, where applicable, be operable by the site guard force after initial training, without dedicated counter-drone operators.1 The consolidated kit must fit on a single air-cargo pallet or in a transit case, with common power distribution and an operator interface.2
The Global Tactical Edge Acquisition Directorate runs the competition with U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa.1 Entries must go through the xTech portal by 5 p.m. Eastern on Nov. 17.1–2
The Army intends to award up to $1 million in cash prizes across the competition. Up to 15 finalists will receive $25,000 each. The soldier exercise is anticipated for February 2027. Finalists who successfully participate in the exercise, have their technology integrated into it and participate in the technology pitch will receive another $25,000 each after the event. Following the exercise and pitch, up to five final winners will receive an additional $50,000 each.1
The eligibility rule excludes entities currently providing similar capabilities to the government in the region under the same use case through a contract, agreement or other arrangement for work described in the problem statement.1
Any future operational use or physical testing remains subject to separate U.S. government, host-nation, spectrum, safety and airspace approvals.2
The prize competition offers a possible route to follow-on work: up to $5 million in other transaction agreements. The opportunity phase is in March 2027. Follow-on agreements remain at the government's sole discretion, subject to available funds and applicable laws and regulations.1
Sources (2)
- Army xTech competition page, G-TEAD SETAF-AF ACE 27-01 xtech.army.mil
- sam.gov sam.gov