# 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.
Published 2026-11-06 by TGOs. Canonical: https://tgos.io/news/2026/11/06/army-seeks-portable-counter-drone-kit-for-africa-task/
The Army opened a competition Nov. 6, 2026, for a rapidly deployable counter-drone kit.[1] 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]
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.[1] Up to 15 finalists will receive $25,000 each.[1] The soldier exercise is anticipated for February 2027.[1] 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.[1] 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]
## Why it matters
The prize competition offers a possible route to follow-on work: up to $5 million in other transaction agreements.[1] The opportunity phase is in March 2027.[1] Follow-on agreements remain at the government's sole discretion, subject to available funds and applicable laws and regulations.[1]
## Sources
1. Army xTech competition page, G-TEAD SETAF-AF ACE 27-01
2. sam.gov