DASA launches Phase 2 (Cycle 5) of fast paced Themed Competition
Source: gov.uk (2025-06-03)

This competition seeks fast paced scalable proposals across five challenge areas

- DASA has launched Phase 2 (Cycle 5) of Innovation in Support of Operations
- Funded by the Ministry of Defence
- Cycle 5 closes on 5 August 2025 at 12:00 Midday (BST)
The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/defence-and-security-accelerator) is pleased to launch Phase 2 (Cycle 5) of our fast paced Themed Competition Innovation in Support of Operations. Run on behalf of the Ministry of Defence (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence), this competition is looking for innovative proposals that are cost competitive, designed for manufacture, and can be scaled in an approximate twelve-month timeframe.

Competition key information

Phase Two - expected to consist of three cycles:

All above time is BST.

Background: Why we need innovation in this area

The UK Government continuously evaluates insights from global events, to rapidly implement solutions that strengthen military and economic advantage.

This competition aims to identify and accelerate innovative solutions and techniques, ensuring they can be scaled and deployed faster than our adversaries.

If you think you have an innovation that could be deployed at pace, please read the full Competition Document (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/competitioninnovation-in-support-of-operations-phase-2-cycle-5) and submit a proposal

Competition challenges

This competition has five challenge areas:

1. UAS Propulsion

In this challenge area we are looking for:
- Novel means of propulsion for small to medium UAS.
- Novel means of manufacture/design of traditional UAS engines for small to medium UAS to increase scale of manufacture at a market leading price.
We are not looking for the UAS platforms themselves, but you will need to demonstrate your solution on a representative platform or in another appropriate form of demonstration.

2. 155mm Artillery Barrel Repair/Recondition

We are looking for innovative solutions to repair or recondition 155mm artillery barrels in order to extend barrel life under these conditions.

3. Autonomous navigation systems

In this challenge we are seeking autonomous navigation systems for air vehicles and/or maritime surface vessels.

4. Seekers

We are looking for novel systems directed against:
- RF transmitters at frequencies ranging from 200 MHz to 40 GHz
- Class I(d), Class II and Class III UAS *
- Medium to large maritime surface targets.
*Please refer to the table in the full Competition Document (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/competitioninnovation-in-support-of-operations-phase-2-cycle-5)

5.UAS defeat

This challenge relates to the ability to:

Detect UAS. We are seeking solutions to detect (and potentially defeat) UAS, including those that are not reliant on RF links.

Destroy UAS. We are looking for novel solutions to destroy UAVs around the Class 1(d) size, once detected.

Solutions proposed could address either the Detect or Destroy element of this challenge or both within a single solution.

These challenges are designed to identify innovations that could be deployed, at an appropriate scale, in operational areas within 12 months.

For full details of the competition Challenge Areas, please read the Competition Document (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/competitioninnovation-in-support-of-operations-phase-2-cycle-5)

Technology Readiness Levels (TRL)

For this competition we are seeking technology output and demonstration to reach at least technology readiness level (TRL) (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/defence-and-security-accelerator-terms-and-conditions-and-contract-guidance#what-dasa-funds) 6 by the end of the project.

If you think your innovation could meet one of the Challenges, why not read the full Competition Document (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/competitioninnovation-in-support-of-operations-phase-2-cycle-5) and submit a proposal?