SBIR Signal

Development of Directed Energy Systems for Space-Based Applications

SBIR topic from AFWERX, solicitation 26.BX. Closes 2026-07-22.

Component (WERX)
AFWERX
Agency
USAF
Program / Phase
SBIR
Solicitation #
26.BX
Topic #
DAF26BX03-DV505
Status
Closed
Pre-release date
2026-06-03
Open date
2026-06-24
Close date
2026-07-22 · Add to calendar · See all deadlines
Set-aside
—
NAICS
—
AFWERX / SpaceWERX open-topic brief

Topic brief

AFWERX / SpaceWERX-style open topics reward clear dual-use technology and a crisp problem framing. Treat DAF26BX03-DV505 as a customer-problem essay tied to Air Force / Space Force mission pull — not a generic SBIR dump.

WERX open-topic focus: Lead with the mission problem and dual-use path. See also AFWERX open topics and the monthly DSIP guide.

Who this is for

  • Dual-use tech firms targeting Air Force or Space Force end users
  • Teams that can show commercial traction or dual-use path
  • Companies following the monthly DSIP / WERX open-topic cadence

Capture playbook

  1. Frame the warfighter / operator problem in one paragraph before tech
  2. Show dual-use or commercial path alongside defense application
  3. Check peer AFWERX open topics closing the same cycle
  4. Use the monthly open-topic digest to avoid missing the drop
  5. Run match + scorecard before allocating proposal bandwidth

pWin cues

  • Specific end-user pain and measurable outcome
  • Technology maturity appropriate to the phase
  • Evidence of speed — AFWERX culture rewards execution

Watch-outs

  • Generic dual-use claims without a named mission thread
  • Missing the monthly cycle because you only checked SBIR.gov weekly
  • Ignoring related open topics that dilute or concentrate competition

Peer open topics

Topic brief FAQ

Where are AFWERX open topics listed?

Live lists are on /afwerx-open-topics and the opportunities feed; monthly digests summarize the open cycle.

How does the monthly DSIP drop work?

DoD SBIR/STTR topics often release on a monthly cadence via DSIP. See the AFWERX DSIP guide on the blog.

Is open topic the same as a traditional SBIR topic?

Open topics are broader problem statements; traditional topics are often more narrowly specified. Read evaluation criteria carefully.

Readiness scorecard Capability match Monthly open-topic digest All topic briefs

Go / No-Go decision pack

One-click pack: competitive field, conversion signal, related awards, and (Pro) a full GO / MAYBE / NO-GO verdict against your capability.

Open scorecard Match my capability

Pro unlocks full Go/No-Go verdicts and named incumbents. Compare plans

Incumbent detector

No adjacent award history found for this topic yet. Use the decision pack and scorecard to build your own go/no-go case, and re-check after the next data refresh.

Description

SpaceWERX, in partnership with Space System Command (SSC) and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), are seeking innovative solutions to enable the development of directed energy systems for dual-use applications in space. These systems can include High Energy Laser (HEL) systems or particle accelerators (neutral or charged particle beams). This effort aims to bridge the gap between terrestrial directed energy capabilities and the unique requirements of the space environment to provide a multi-mission, dual-use architecture. The goal is to close key capability gaps such as space-qualification, power and thermal management, beam control, and pointing accuracy for space-based systems capable of transferring high energy flux to targets of interest needed to support the Space Force’s future architecture.

View / apply on DoD DSIP ↗

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