By Eleanor Kent, Army FUZE  

WASINGTON ‒ The Army FUZE xTech Program, in partnership with U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUF-AF) and the Global Tactical Edge Directorate (G-TEAD), launched the xTech|Edge Strike: Ground competition to identify and accelerate mature, ready-to-deploy autonomous ground-system and launched-effects technologies. Offering a total cash prize pool of $2 million , the competition provides potential follow-on contract opportunities and consideration for addition to the G-TEAD Marketplace. Small and large business worldwide can submit eligible solutions that enhance force protection, increase situational awareness, and deliver adaptable capabilities for Soldiers operating in contested environments. 

The competition aligns with ongoing Army efforts to rapidly integrate commercially driven innovation into formations operating at the tactical edge. By expanding collaboration with nontraditional industry partners and accelerating the transition of promising capabilities into operational use, the program strengthens pathways for fielding technology that meets emerging Army needs. Led by the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology (ASA(ALT)), xTech|Edge Strike: Ground aims to identify mature technologies of technical readiness level (TRL) 6 or higher that detect, identify, track, and neutralize threats, deliver precision fires, emplace obstacles and defensive p0sitions, carry and distribute supplies, or evacuate casualties‒all while minimizing Soldier exposure.  

Competition Overview 

xTech|Edge Strike: Ground features a two-part format that moves from concept submission to a live, Army-led experimentation event, where participants will compete for cash prizes, engage with Department of War (DoW) experts, and refine their solutions to meet Army demand signals. 

Part One: Concept White Paper  

• Submission window: Dec. 19, 2025 – Jan. 7, 2026 
• Eligible vendors must submit a four-page concept white paper and pre-recorded five-minute video outlining their technology, viability, and demonstrating its suitability for participation in a live experimentation event. 
• Up to 15 applicants will receive $25,000 each and an invitation to Part Two, the live experimentation event in Grafenwöhr, Germany.  

Part Two: Finals Experimentation Event  

• Finalists will participate in a live experimentation event in March of 2026, showcasing their solutions to a panel of Army and DoW experts. 
• Up to five winners will receive a cash prize of up to $275,000 and all other finalists that participate in the experimentation event will receive an additional $25,000 for their participation.  
• The government may award follow-on contracts to one or more competition winners, determined based on funding availability. 

Eligibility Requirements  

xTech|Edge Strike: Ground is open to nonprofit and for-profit organizations, including large and small businesses, in both domestic and foreign territories. Vendors must obtain a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code or North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) code to process payments and must be incorporated in and maintain a primary place of business in the U.S. or a foreign country.  

Vendors must not be U.S. federal government entities, foreign government entities, or employ a U.S. federal employee acting within the scope of their employment. Additionally, vendors must not currently be under contract, agreement, or providing similar capabilities to the government for related work. 

About the Army FUZE xTech Program 

The Army FUZE xTech Program is the Army’s premier tool for scouting and accelerating dual-use technologies that directly enhance Soldier readiness and mission success. Through dynamic prize competitions like xTechSearch, xTech identifies breakthrough solutions and opens doors for nontraditional companies to engage with and deliver capabilities to the Army. Since its launch in 2018, xTech has awarded over $30 million in non-dilutive cash prizes across 48 competitions – fueling innovation pipelines and delivering transformative technologies that matter on the battlefield. 

Learn more at the Army FUZE xTech website: https://fuze.army.mil/. 

About Army FUZE  

Army FUZE is the Army’s integrated innovation ecosystem. It brings together four flagship innovation programs – xTech, Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer, Manufacturing Technology, and the Technology Maturation Initiative – under a coordinated and synchronized framework to accelerate advanced capabilities, strengthen the industrial base, and deliver readiness at the speed of relevance. FUZE operates with a venture capitalist mindset, scouting broadly, taking calculated risks, and scaling the most promising technologies. This approach ensures taxpayer dollars are directed toward solutions with both Army operational relevance and commercial viability, while creating clearer pathways and reduced barriers for industry participation. 

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