Automated Combat Assessment at the Edge

Combat assessment (physical and functional) provides tactically relevant information for re-strike and re-planning. The state of practice for traditional targeting involves generating after-action reports including battle-damage assessment hours after mission execution relying on multiple imagery collects (EO). This analysis is performed as a sequence of independent tasks that are outdated, time consuming, and lack automation. This does not meet timeline requirements for prosecution of advanced enemy threat systems as critical missions require battle damage assessment immediately post-strike, to inform planning for re-strike and to drive potential changes to operations. Despite advancements in technology, challenges still remain for speeding processes such as time-consuming and often incomplete nature of traditional damage assessment methods, limitations in remote sensing technologies, hindering data collection especially in remote or difficult-to-access areas, the lack of real time pre- and post-event satellite imagery for model training. This topic seeks the development of a system for the automation of damage assessment following the below operational realities: - Edge Processing Software. Software programs and data-sharing instructions designed to run directly on physical field equipment such as sensors and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). For multi-sensor, multi-modal data collection and processing, damage classification and assessment at the edge in (near) real time, and information sharing protocols under low SWaP and contested environments constraints. - AI/ML Software Model Development. AI/ML software designed to automatically classify military damaged. For damage classification (physical and functional) that is aligned to the CJCSI 3162.02 for DoD customers, confidence intervals aligned to the Intelligence Community Directive ICD 302, and performance metrics for accuracy, computation time, and sensors density & location. - Robust Testing and Evaluation. To ensure the operational effectiveness, suitability, and survivability of the aforementioned technologies, testing and evaluation would be conducted in a phased approach. Beginning with laboratory-based testing to verify basic functionality and performance, followed by increasingly complex testing in simulated and field environments. The goal is to ensure that the technologies developed for combat assessment are operationally effective, suitable, and can be confidently deployed in operationally relevant environments.

Program: STTR, Phase I and Phase II Agency: Department of War, Air Force Topic number: DAF26TZ06-NV007 Solicitation: 26.TZ Released September 2, 2026; proposals accepted from September 23, 2026 Closes October 21, 2026. Check the official solicitation for the exact due time. Award type: contract, not a grant. Official solicitation: https://www.dodsbirsttr.mil/topics-app/ Listed on SBIR.gov: https://www.sbir.gov/topics/13004. SBIR.gov copies agency solicitations and can lag behind them; the official solicitation is the final word.

Small businesses only: a for-profit US business with 500 or fewer employees, including affiliates.

More than 50% owned and controlled by US citizens or permanent residents (some agencies also accept majority ownership by venture capital, hedge fund or private equity firms; the solicitation says).

SBIR: the principal investigator is primarily employed by the business. STTR: the business partners with a US nonprofit research institution or university, which does at least 30% of the work.

Registered in SAM.gov before submitting.

Check the official solicitation for its own conditions, proposal limits and security review.