Due: September 26, 2025

The Drone Dominance Innovation Challenge, presented in partnership with the Vertical Lift Consortium, accelerates next-generation capabilities in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in alignment with the White House Executive Order to strengthen U.S. leadership in the field. This open innovation competition invites visionary innovators to submit cutting-edge prototypes, software solutions, and operational models that enable safer, smarter, and more secure drone operations.

Finalists will pitch live at the Defense TechConnect Innovation Summit, where they’ll deliver a five-minute presentation followed by two minutes of Q&A from a panel of expert reviewers representing industry, investment, and government. Awardees will split a prize pool of $50,000.

Key Focus Areas:

• Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) UAS Operations: Airspace Deconfliction and Collision Avoidance
• AI-Augmented Waiver and Approval Systems
• Supply Chain and Domestic Manufacturing
• Counter-UAS: Detection, Security, and Data Links
• Launch and Control Solutions