The U.S. Army is seeking innovative low-cost, medium range cruise missile and uncrewed aerial system interceptors for the Integrated Fires Protection Capability (IFPC) system from eligible small and large businesses across the U.S. through the xTech|Disrupt Fires competition. This platform offers participants the opportunity to engage with the U.S. Department of War (DoW), earn prize money and potentially receive a follow-on contract award or agreement. The U.S. Army FUZE xTech Program, managed under the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA(ALT)), is partnering with Capability Program Executive (CPE) Defensive Fires to deliver the xTech|Disrupt Fires competition. The Army recognizes that the DoW must enhance engagements with industry by (1) understanding the spectrum of world-class technologies being developed commercially that may benefit the DoW; (2) integrating the sector of non-traditional innovators into the DoW Science and Technology (S&T) ecosystem; and (3) providing expertise and feedback to accelerate, mature, transition, and scale technologies of interest to the DoW. The xTech|Disrupt Fires competition will consist of three (3) rounds:
Call for concept white papers;
Semifinals technology pitch at the 2026 Association of the United States Army (AUSE) Annual Meeting & Exposition; and
Finals demonstration event
The competition will award up to $20,000,000 in cash prizes throughout the competition to selected participants. The award structure is as follows:
Semifinalists (Part 1): Up to nine (9) semifinalists will be selected at the conclusion of the Part 1 submission evaluation period for an opportunity to conduct a pitch of their solution to a panel of Army and DoW subject matter experts (SMEs) at the 2026 AUSA Annual Meeting & Exposition in Washington, D.C. in October 2026.
Finalists (Part 2): Up to four (4) finalists will be selected at the conclusion of the semifinals to receive a cash prize of $1,000,000 each and an opportunity to demonstrate their solution to a panel of Army and DoW SMEs, anticipated to occur in Q4 2027.
Winners (Part 3): Following the finals, up to four (4) winners will be selected to receive an additional cash prize of $4,000,000 each and may be considered for potential follow-on agreements and contracting opportunities.
Additional details on prize structure can be found in Section VII of the RFI. In addition to non-dilutive cash prizes, participants will have the opportunity to engage with Army and DoW representatives through information-sharing and networking opportunities. The xTech|Disrupt Fires competition is conducted in accordance with 10 U.S.C. § 4025, which authorizes the use of prize competitions to stimulate innovation and identify promising technologies for national security applications. Requirements for competition under 10 U.S.C. § 3201 are satisfied upon completion of the challenge and use of prize authority. As such, this competition serves as a competitive down select mechanism that enables government organizations to engage with finalists and winners through a variety of follow-on acquisition pathways, including but not limited to:
10 U.S.C. § 4114 – Selection of contractors for prototype projects
10 U.S.C. § 4022 – Prototype projects
10 U.S.C. § 4023 – Procurement for experimental purposes
10 U.S.C. § 4001 – Research and development
10 U.S.C. § 4021 – Other Transaction Authority (OTA)
10 U.S.C. § 3458 – Authority to acquire innovative commercial products and commercial services using general solicitation competitive procedures
15 U.S.C. § 3703 – Technology innovation partnerships
15 U.S.C. § 638 – Small Business and Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs
Government organizations are encouraged to consider leveraging these statutory authorities to pursue follow-on awards with companies identified through the xTech competition process. This approach supports rapid technology maturation, accelerates the transition of innovative capabilities to the field, and promotes collaboration with non-traditional and small business performers. While the authority of this program is 10 U.S.C. § 4025, the xTech|Disrupt Fires competition may generate interest by another U.S. Army, DoW or U.S. Government (USG) organization for a funding opportunity outside of this program (e.g., submission of a proposal under a Broad Agency Announcement). The interested organization may contact the participant to provide additional information or ask for a request for proposal in a separate solicitation. Finalists of the prize competition may be invited to submit a separate proposal for further development of their proposed technology solution based on the needs of the Army. The Army may use a contract mechanism of their choice and will notify the participants accordingly. No license to any U.S. Government-owned IP is granted by virtue of participation in or winning the prize competition. All xTech|Disrupt Fires competition submissions may be reviewed by Government personnel and authorized nongovernmental evaluators supporting the competition. Nongovernmental evaluators will be subject to applicable nondisclosure, conflict-of-interest, access-control, and use restrictions. The Government will not disclose properly marked proprietary information outside the Government except as authorized by law and the participant’s submission agreement. Information will not be disclosed to a foreign government or foreign person unless the disclosure is separately authorized and consistent with applicable export control, security, and foreign-disclosure requirements. The Army FUZE xTech Program intends to provide feedback from evaluators to participants during each part of the competition. The purpose of providing this feedback is to help accelerate the transition of the technology to a U.S. Army end-user by providing insight into the best applications for the technology, suggestions for product improvement for U.S. Army use and recommended next steps for development. However, the Government will not respond to inquiries regarding this feedback. Problem Statement The U.S. Army is interested in cutting-edge technology solutions that will drive significant advancements in military capabilities while addressing complex challenges and enhancing national security. Specifically, the U.S. Army is seeking an integrated missile system, including an All-Up Round and modular canister design that is compatible with the Integrated Fires Protection Capability (IFPC) Increment 2 launcher. The interceptor must be lethal against advanced threats, including cruise missiles, uncrewed aerial systems, and fixed and rotary winged threats. The interceptor system must integrate with the IFPC system of systems, including the Army’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS), and the Sentinel A4 radar. Further details will be provided to selected finalists approved to receive controlled information.
