High-Efficiency Expeditionary Group 2 and Group 3 VTOL UAS for Long-Range Distributed ISR/SOF Operations

SBIR topic DAF27BZ02-DV018 (U.S. Department of Defense – Air Force), Phase I and II. Open to U.S. small businesses. Opens: December 2, 2026. Closes: January 6, 2027. Runway independence provides substantial operational flexibility for ISR/SOF missions but creates significant technical penalties in aircraft weight, propulsion complexity, energy consumption, endurance, payload, reliability, and cost. The research challenge is to minimize these penalties while enabling a persistent, expeditionary autonomous aircraft capable of operating from austere and distributed locations. The Government seeks emerging VTOL technologies combining reliable vertical operations with efficient forward flight, extended endurance, useful payload capacity, resilient communications, and autonomous mission execution. Solutions may employ tilt-wing, tilt-rotor, lift-plus-cruise, tailsitter, distributed propulsion, hybrid propulsion, or other technically viable architectures. Companies should specifically highlight demonstrated capabilities, current maturity, projected performance, and remaining technical risks in the following areas: VTOL Endurance: Capability to achieve 12-15 hours of flight time is critical. Offerors should identify payload, speed, altitude, loiter profile, environmental assumptions, and propulsion configuration associated with demonstrated or projected endurance. Propulsion: Gas-powered propulsion is of particular interest for meeting extended sortie-duration requirements. Fully electric, hybrid-electric, or alternative propulsion solutions are acceptable if they can meet the required sortie duration and mission-performance objectives. In-Flight Recharge: Technologies enabling in-flight energy replenishment or recharge are of interest, including architectures supporting a six B.A. battery configuration, where applicable. Payload: Adjustable and modular payload capacity with a minimum desired capability greater than 60 pounds while maintaining an 12-15-hour…