NATO's HQ SACT is seeking innovative solutions for persistent airfield denial through Innovation Challenge **** must submit solutions (applications, tools, systems, concepts, devices) by July 20, 2026, 5 PM ET. The challenge focuses on technologies that can autonomously or operator-directedly engage aircraft, runways, and support infrastructure to disrupt enemy air campaigns. Solutions must operate in GPS-denied and EW-contested environments, across all weather conditions, and demonstrate a credible path to rapid fielding. Finalists will be invited to a pitch day in Warsaw, Poland, for a chance to win monetary awards up to $250,000, awarded upon completion of a subsequent demonstration. All submissions must be releasable to the public, and participants bear all costs associated with response and participation. This RFIP does not constitute a commitment to a future RFP.
The deadline for submission is July 20, 2026, 5:00 PM Eastern Time.
Monetary awards may be paid 10% upon selection as winners on pitch day, with the remaining 90% payable only upon completion of a subsequent demonstration of the winning solution during an HQ SACT event, experiment, trial, or other relevant activity, subject to a separate agreement.
Solutions will be evaluated based on performance, autonomy, integration, logistics, resilience, risk, and cost, as well as technical and operational parameters, relevance, diversity, demonstration method, and complexity of challenges.
This RFIP is open to any organization officially registered with relevant government authorities, headquartered in a NATO nation or Ukraine, and whose beneficial owners are also from a NATO nation or Ukraine.
The deadline for submission is July 20, 2026, 5:00 PM Eastern Time.
Submissions that surpass page limits, do not meet mandatory technical and operational parameters, or do not demonstrate quality and compliance with criteria may be disqualified.
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