Army competition selects five small businesses to submit proposals for novel software-defined radios | Article

WASHINGTON – The US Army’s xTech SBIR Waveform Challenge, a competition designed to seek transformative technologies from small and non-traditional businesses, has selected five small businesses to submit proposals for Direct to Phase II SBIR awards to help develop their transformative technology solutions for software defined radio stations.

The five winning businesses, who will each receive a $50,000 cash prize, were selected from a pool of 10 finalists. They are:

• ANDRO Computational (Rome, NY) for the Waveform Agile System Palette (WASP)
• Equip Solutions (Rolling Meadows, IL) for the Sidekiq VPX425: A Multi-Channel CMOSS-Compliant SDR Platform Enabling the Deployment of SCA-Based Tactical Communications Waveforms
• Perceptronics Solutions (El Segundo, CA) for a reliable CMOSS-Aligned SDR for multiple tactical waveforms
• R-DEX Systems (Atlanta, GA) for Next Generation Open Subsystems for Improved Development, Deployment and Sustainment of Tactical Radio Waves
• Skylark Wireless (Houston, TX) for G5G-MSRP: Generic 5G Modular SDR Reference Platform

The xTech SBIR Waveform Challenge, which is sponsored by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, will support the U.S. Army’s modernization priorities by helping to address key capability gaps in the separation of hardware and software waveforms .

“By moving to SDR, we’ve gained incredible flexibility and the ability to use multiple different radio waves on common radio platforms,” ​​said Col. Garth Winterle, program manager for tactical radios in the U.S. Army Executive Office’s Command Control Communications-Tactical Program. “All five winners of the xTech Waveform Challenge presented highly innovative approaches to help accelerate our ability to bring new SDR capabilities to the field sooner and potentially at a lower cost.”

“Modernization requires innovation, and SDR technology is an area where xTech can help bridge the gap between the Army and small business innovation,” said Dr. Matt Willis, director of the Army Awards Competitions and the Army SBIR Applied Program. “The mission-critical funding provided by this particular challenge will further develop these solutions and put them right where they need to be, which is in the hands of the warfighter.”

This summer, PEO C3T will host a Waveform Immersion Day as part of the xTech Waveform SBIR Challenge. This event will facilitate conversations and opportunities for effective collaboration between the various government and industry stakeholders in the radio software space. Sessions will include presentations from Waveform winners, explanation of initiatives from PEO C3T leaders and technical experts, and networking opportunities with leading industry integrators.

Representatives of core integrators who would like to join the Waveform initiative and engage in conversation with the Waveform winners should write to: [email protected]. xTech Twitter and LinkedIn social media platforms will post more event information as it becomes available.

Click here for more information on the Army’s xTech program.

The Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology provides the American soldier with a critical edge in every mission by developing, acquiring, deploying, and sustaining the world’s best equipment and services, and by using technology and capabilities to meet the current and future needs of the Army.