Best Drone Team Competition

Apply to participate

Watchtower reviews every submission and presents qualified companies to the 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) for final selection. Applications close July 13, 2026. Fields marked with an asterisk are required.

1. Administrative information

Primary point of contact

Full name *

Title or position

Company name *

Business address

City

State

ZIP code

Company website

Primary email *

Primary phone *

Alternate phone

Do you want to add a second point of contact?

Secondary point of contact

Full name

Title or position

Phone

Administrative details

CAGE code (if applicable)

UEI / DUNS (if applicable)

Business type *

If other, please specify

Country of incorporation

State of incorporation

Eligible to do business with the U.S. Government? *

Has your company previously supported DoD, Army, or other U.S. Government efforts?

If yes, briefly describe relevant support experience

Additional team members (base access roster)

This information facilitates base access for the event. Individuals not included on the access roster will not be permitted entry. DoD CAC holders are exempt and do not need to be listed. You may provide this now or after selection.

Do you want to add team members to the base access roster now?

Member 1 full name

Member 1 driver's license number

Member 2 full name

Member 2 driver's license number

2. Company information

Company overview / mission statement

Year established

Number of employees

Relevant experience with unmanned systems, robotics, autonomy, training, or counter-UAS. Include prior military, robotics, or defense technology events.

Relevant certifications / clearances / compliance standards

4. Technology Readiness Level eligibility

All proposed solutions, hardware or software, must meet a minimum maturity threshold of TRL 5 or higher to be considered for field evaluation. Components must be integrated with realistic supporting elements and testable in a simulated or relevant environment. Breadboard or laboratory concepts below this threshold are not eligible.

Declared Technology Readiness Level (TRL) *

Describe the evidence for your declared TRL, including whether the system has been integrated with realistic supporting components and tested in a relevant or simulated environment, with dates and outcomes.

Links to supporting technical validation materials, test summaries, images, or documentation

5. Approved capability categories

To be eligible, your solution must fall within one or more approved domains: UAS (strictly Group 2 and below), multi-domain robotics, counter-UAS, software solutions (robotics integration, C2, swarming, multi-platform data fusion), software-based training (VR/AR/simulation), navigation and targeting (GPS-degraded/denied autonomy and automated target ID), and communication and radios (low-latency, secure data, telemetry, and video links).

Primary capability category *

Secondary capability category

6. Product / capability submission

Provide details on the product, system, software, or capability you want to showcase at the competition.

Product / solution name *

Product version / model

Product type

If other, please specify

Short product description and how it fits your selected capability category

Intended operational use case

Key features / differentiators

Is the product currently fielded, piloted, or commercially available?

Power, size, weight, and deployment requirements

Safety, training, logistics, sustainment, and export-control considerations

7. Demonstration and competition planning

Type of demonstration requested

Space / footprint required

Number of on-site personnel attending

Connectivity, setup, teardown, and special handling needs for your demonstration

Does your demonstration involve hazardous systems, batteries, munitions, or regulated emissions?

If yes, explain in detail

RF frequency and spectrum profile

Power needs at your station

Does your demonstration involve active counter-UAS defeat (RF jamming, spoofing, kinetic intercept, or directed energy)? *

If yes, describe the defeat method and any range authorization you will need

8. Additional supporting information

Unique value and anticipated operational benefit to 1SFC mission sets

Known limitations, dependencies, or constraints

Additional comments

9. Certification and signature

Typed signature (full name) *

Date *

I certify that all hardware we demonstrate complies with NDAA Section 848 and the American Security Drone Act, and that no platform or critical component comes from any entity on the DoD 1260H List or the FCC Covered List, including DJI, Autel, and their affiliates.I acknowledge that U.S. Government personnel may operate our systems during the evaluation, that this is done at our own risk, and that the U.S. Government assumes no liability for any damage, loss, or destruction of our equipment.I acknowledge the event data and media policy. Our systems will not transmit imagery, telemetry, or positional data to external servers during the demonstration, and we will not record other vendors' systems, personnel, or range infrastructure without authorization.I certify that the information in this application is accurate to the best of my knowledge and that I am authorized to submit it on behalf of my company. I understand the capability must meet the minimum eligibility requirements described above.

Application received.

Thank you. If your capability is a fit, we'll reach out about next steps.

Questions in the meantime? Email drone@watchtowerus.org.

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