RFI-DARPA-SN-26-33

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Tactical Technology Office issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking capabilities data on autonomous Group 1-3 drones and supporting storage containers, with responses due by 4:00 PM Eastern Time on May 15, 2026. This RFI is for market research and program planning only and does not constitute a formal solicitation; responses are not offers and will not bind the Government.

DARPA seeks information on two categories. For drones, respondents must address fully autonomous launch, recovery, storage, recharging, refueling, and pre/post-flight checkout capability; Autonomy Level 4 operation with no human participation except mission definition; long-endurance constellation capability spanning multiple days; continuous electrical power to payloads; low-cost Commercial-Off-the-Shelf construction; containerized storage compatibility; and constellation management software with path optimization and collision avoidance. For containers, DARPA seeks autonomous storage solutions conforming to standardized military formats (Conex, 463L pallets, Tricon, ISU) or innovative alternatives (suitcase or box-based systems) that provide fully autonomous drone storage, logistics management, launch, recovery, recharge, and refuel operations with integrated energy storage, communications, and compute capability. Responses must address constellations with up to 500 platforms and optimize for GPS-denied environments. All U.S.-manufactured and assembled platforms are required.

Respondents must use provided templates (Attachment #1 for drones; Attachment #2 for containers), limit responses to five pages maximum per category (ten pages total if responding to both), format submissions as Microsoft Word or unprotected PDF with 12-point font and 1-inch margins, and email responses to DARPA-SN-26-33@darpa.mil. Respondents must clearly mark proprietary information; DARPA will not publicly disclose such information and will not return submissions. Classified and unclassified submissions follow distinct handling protocols detailed in security attachment guidance.