DIU Seeks Commercial Sensors to Close Small-Drone Detection Blind Spots

The Defense Innovation Unit has released a targeted solicitation asking industry for next‑generation sensing solutions capable of finding and following small unmanned aircraft that often evade legacy defenses. The notice separates requirements into two distinct mission threads: installation-scale, radar‑centric networks aimed at persistent homeland protection, and compact, mobile packages intended for maneuver units operating in expeditionary and contested settings. For fixed sites the emphasis is on standoff detection, onboard classification to reduce false alarms, clutter rejection and networked architectures that scale across a base footprint. For tactical users DIU calls for low‑signature, ruggedized sensor packages that can function while vehicles move, tolerate GPS disruption, and survive degraded RF and EMC conditions. Practical demands—rapid setup, redundant sensing nodes, vehicle compatibility and a modest logistics footprint—underscore DIU’s intent to field systems that operators can deploy and sustain without large specialist teams. The solicitation sets a demonstrable timeline with Phase 2 testing at Yuma Proving Ground in spring 2026 and makes clear that successful prototypes may receive direct follow‑on production awards to speed transition into service. That transition incentive favors commercially mature products and partnerships that combine innovative small firms with systems integrators capable of meeting producibility, sustainment and certification expectations. The effort fits into a broader acquisition pattern in which DIU and other customers are moving from experimentation toward milestone‑driven prototyping, operator‑centered evaluations and faster production pathways—approaches that reward manufacturability, auditable supply chains and integrated sustainment and training offerings. For industry, the request for capability is both technical and industrial: vendors must pair radar, RF sensing, passive detection and AI classification with secure, interoperable software, open interfaces and plans for production readiness. Key execution risks include certification and export controls, access to representative test infrastructure, supply‑chain constraints and integration with airspace management and lawful engagement frameworks. Operationally, a distributed layer of lower‑cost, networked sensors would help close persistent coverage gaps, reduce operator workload through improved fidelity and complicate adversary use of low‑signature or swarm UAS. By tightening technical expectations while offering a predictable demonstration‑to‑production path, DIU aims to accelerate commercial innovation into defense and homeland security missions without creating a prolonged requirements waterfall.