Department of the Navy Rapid Capabilities Office Disruptor Day: Electro-Optical and Infrared (EO/IR) Solutions

UPDATED 8/24/26 - Please see attached Q&A summary regarding the Industry Information Session, Naval Disruptor Days 2026: Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) and Passive Decoy (PD) Technologies which was held on 5 August 2026

UPDATED 8/18/26 - Please view the Q&A video re: this effort: https://dod.teams.microsoft.us/l/meetup-join/19%3adod%3ameeting_b3f6ae37090b40da959379ef52bfe4cb%40thread.v2/0?context=%7B%22Tid%22%3A%22e3333e00-c877-4b87-b6ad-45e942de1750%22%2C%22Oid%22%3A%2282331352-0718-4468-8912-ac7b758a7eac%22%2C%22IsBroadcastMeeting%22%3Atrue%2C%22role%22%3A%22a%22%7D&btype=a&role=a

I. INTRODUCTION

This Special Notice announces the Department of the Navy (DON) Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO) Disruptor Day. The purpose of this event is to identify and showcase enabling technologies for the next generation of Electro-Optical and Infrared (EO/IR) solutions.

Disclaimer: This announcement does not constitute a solicitation and shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government. Responses in any form are not offers, and the Government is under no obligation to award a contract as a result of this announcement. Any submission of information is strictly voluntary.

II. TOPIC DESCRIPTION

The DON RCO is seeking EO/IR capabilities that can detect a secondary drone target in the background of a scene while actively observing a primary drone target.

This announcement is not restricted to existing EO/IR solutions, and includes systems that can perform only the EO or the IR functions (collaborative opportunities toward a final solution may exist). The intent is to survey the industrial base for technologies that can address critical evaluation variables, including target size, range, angular velocity, angular acceleration, elevation, number of targets, and target geometry.

III. EVENT DETAILS

The Disruptor Day will occur in mid-September at Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, MD.

The event will combine a traditional industry day with a limited experiment on a unique Navy test range. The Disruptor Day format is anticipated to allow each vendor an approximately 1-2-hour window to brief their products and perform their experiment.

System & Setup Considerations:

• Systems must operate in both day and night scenarios, and in all weather conditions in a maritime environment.
• The EO/IR System Under Test (SUT) will be located in line with other simultaneous SUTs to minimize differences in range, elevation, and parallax errors.
• Primary Target: A Group 1 or Group 2 drone flies a racetrack parallel to the line of the SUT in the foreground at a variable range, elevation, velocity, and geometry.
• Secondary Target: A Group 2 or Group 3 drone flies a direct approach perpendicular to the line of the SUT, starting in the background and moving to the foreground at a variable range, variable elevation, variable velocity, and variable geometry.

Performance Objectives:
The EO/IR solution must demonstrate the capability to detect the secondary target drone at the fastest time possible, furthest range, highest frequency, longest duration, and with the lowest false target rate—without disrupting observation of the primary target. The primary target must be tracked continuously with at least a +/- 10 degree azimuth and elevation Field of Regard. When the secondary target gets within the field of regard of the primary the criteria above is required for the secondary target. 

Data Collection & Post-Experiment Review:
Participants are highly encouraged to record and return specific tracking data to the government following the experiment. (If the EO/IR SUT has multiple sensors, the sensor used to generate each data point must be noted). Required data points include:

• Time-stamped, uncompressed, non-contrast-enhanced frames of image data
• For every frame of sensor data collected during the test, whether the primary target is observed by the EO/IR system
• For every frame of sensor data collected during the test, whether the secondary target is detected
• For every frame of sensor data collected during the test, if a target or targets are detected, the pixel location of the target(s) detected; and if multiple targets are detected, the detection recognized as the secondary target detection must be noted
• Initial frame of target detection
• Time of initial target detection
• Final frame of target detection
• Time of final target detection
• Frame-correlated sensor pointing angle in inertial azimuth and elevation
• Frame-correlated field of view (FOV)
• Frame-correlated instantaneous field of view (IFOV)

Participants are encouraged to produce the following data after completing the experiment and return to the government if possible.

• Range to target
• 3D target location in sensor inertial space

Once this post-processed Disruptor Day data is provided to the government, the DON RCO may schedule a post-experiment data review discussion with the vendor. This review will evaluate True/False Positives, True/False Negatives, Target Recall, Target Precision, and Target True Positive Time.

IV. REGISTRATION

To Register for the Electro-Optical and Infrared (EO/IR) Disruptor Day, interested Vendors should submit a whitepaper to DisruptorDay@us.navy.mil  (additional detail in section V) by 1600 EDT on 14 August, 2026

Additionally, DON RCO will host a virtual Q&A session prior to the event to answer vendor questions. Attending the virtual Q&A Session is optional and not required for Disruptor Day registration.

Virtual Q&A session will be held: 1300 EDT, Wednesday, August 5, 2026

Sign-up for the Virtual Q&A session: https://forms.gle/rjZegU3PUzQxmSNE7

Sign-up Deadline for the Virtual Q&A session: 1200 EDT, on August 4, 2026

Pre-registration is REQUIRED for both the virtual Q&A and the Disruptor Day. No walk-ins will be permitted.

V. WHITEPAPER AND SYSTEM SPECIFICATION DATA SUBMISSION

To participate in Disruptor Day, vendors must submit a whitepaper to DisruptorDay@us.navy.mil  by 1600 EDT on 14 August 2026.

Based on these submissions, DON RCO will invite selected vendors to brief their products and perform a demonstration. Vendors unavailable to travel to Disruptor Day are still encouraged to submit a whitepaper for review regarding possible follow-on activities.

Whitepapers must be unclassified and include, limited to 3-to-5 pages, and include:

• A brief overview of the submitting vendor’s background and a point of contact
• The proposed enabling technology and a technical description, including any products to which the technology is currently applied
• The specific enabling technology the vendor would like to showcase or display at Disruptor Day

Participants are encouraged to provide the following information to enable an accelerated coordination of their technology demonstrations at Disruptor Day.

• Sensor Data: Night Vision Integrated Performance Model (NVIPM) Extensible Markup Language (XML) configuration files for their sensor, if available

• [UPDATED] Vendor Product Specifications Documents: Multi-Sensor EO-IR, Laser, Stabilized, Gimbaled Systems; Provide information in the Vendor Product Specification Form Word document located in the attachments section and fill out Appendix A through Appendix H; with a primary focus on Appendix H: METS3PEC.

• Laser Specifications (If Applicable): If utilizing a laser, provide Manufacturer Data, Laser Characteristics (Classification per ANSI Z136.1, Type, Wavelength, Power, PRF, Beam Divergence/Diameter), System Design (Interlocks, CFR 1040 deviations, Emergency Stops), and Operational Concept (Safe firing envelopes, eye protection).
• RF System Specifications (If Applicable): If utilizing an RF system, provide Manufacturer data, frequency, effective radiated power, pulsed/continuous status, and installation requirements. (Note: Systems that do not require RF in conjunction with the EO/IR solution are preferred).

VI. ATTENDANCE & SECURITY

All visitors attending Disruptor Day must be pre-registered and approved. No in-person, Day-of-Registration will be available. Check-in details will be provided upon registration confirmation.

• Receive Your Access Approval: Following the specification review period, DON RCO will send an email confirming your approval, scheduled experiment window, and providing check-in instructions.
• Range Safety & Security: Due to the live testing environment, attendees must adhere to all NAS Patuxent River base access and range safety protocols.
• Identification: For entry, you must present a valid, government-issued photo ID demonstrating U.S. citizenship.

VII. SIGNIFICANT DATES AND TIMES

• 1300 EDT on 05 August 2026 - Virtual Pre-Event Q&A Session
• 1600 EDT on 14 August 2026 – Whitepaper Submission Closes
• 1600 EDT on 04 September 2026 - Attendance & Demonstration approvals sent to applicants
• Week of 21 September 2026 - Disruptor Day Event Begins (NAS Patuxent River, MD)

VIII. POINTS OF CONTACT

Any questions regarding this announcement and associated event logistics should be submitted to: DisruptorDay@us.navy.mil