The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), in partnership with U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM), has launched a new challenge to find scalable, low-cost solutions for detecting, identifying and tracking UAS. The initiative aims to advance the Department of Defense’s counter-UAS capabilities while moving beyond the expense and scalability issues associated with traditional radars, optical sensors and radio frequency systems.
DIU Director Doug Beck discussed the agency’s commitment to supporting NORTHCOM’s strategic mission:
“We are proud to put all of the tools in our tool box – from our early onramp network of entrepreneurs to our deep commercial engagement and team of dual fluency experts – to work in support of NORTHCOM’s critical efforts to build DOD’s strategic C-UAS capabilities,” he said. “This work will significantly enhance our ability to detect and track threats, and will help our NORTHCOM teammates secure the homeland.”
Matthew Way, DIU’s Counter-UAS Lead, said the joint force urgently needs more affordable counter-UAS sensor options:
“DoD needs more options for low-cost C-UAS sensors that can augment our more exquisite capabilities to provide earlier warnings and indicators,” he said. “We understand there may be trade-offs in detection range and accuracy to drive down costs versus positively enabling a distributed sensing concept.”
The initiative aligns with NORTHCOM Commander General Gregory Guillot’s broader vision of a layered defense network:
“Establishing a layered domain awareness network from seabed to space to detect and track threats approaching North America is critical to immediate and future mission requirements, because you can’t defeat what you can’t see,” General Guillot told lawmakers during a recent Senate hearing.
A panel of subject matter experts will review applications and select up to 10 finalists. These finalists will receive a share of the funding to participate in NORTHCOM’s Falcon Peak exercise, set for September 2025. Top performers at the event will compete for additional prize funding with up to $1 million in awards available.
RELATED CONTENT: DIU and JCO seek low-collateral C-UAS solutions under Replicator 2
