UKDI Competition: Tactical Power Challenge

A UKDI competition launched in partnership with the British Army to support innovative technologies help meet rapidly growing battlefield power demands.

UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) – formerly the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) – is part of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD). UKDI funds research that offers a high potential benefit to defence and security in the UK and which thereby supports UK economic growth and prosperity.

This UKDI competition is running this competition on behalf of the British Army and with support from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl). The challenge seeks innovative solutions to improve the generation, storage, distribution and management of electrical power for deployed forces.  The challenge is being run in partnership with Australia’s Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) and aligns with parallel work being undertaken by both nations to modernise tactical power provision for deployed forces.

Modern military operations rely increasingly on electrically powered capabilities, including communications systems, uncrewed systems, sensors, electronic warfare equipment, counter-UAS technologies and edge computing. As operational power demands continue to rise, the Army is seeking innovative solutions that can provide flexible, resilient and deployable energy. This new innovation opportunity is designed to identify and develop technologies capable of supporting future deployed operations.

The challenge consists of two complementary opportunities:

Innovative Tactical Power Solutions 

The Army is inviting proposals for development from Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 4 up to TRL 6 that can be developed into future tactical power capabilities. Successful innovators will progress through a staged assessment process and may receive funding to mature and demonstrate their technologies, with project activity expected to conclude by March 2028. This approach helps innovators quickly understand whether their idea is a good fit for the competition, saving time and effort when applying.

Immediate Power Problem

Additionally, the Army would like to better understand the technology that is currently available to help solve the immediate power demand. This is a non-funded market engagement activity seeking technologies that are already at TRL 6 or above and have the potential to address current operational requirements with a strong chance of commercialisation within the next 12 months. Those that are of greatest interest may be invited by the Army to a demonstration opportunity in the UK (location likely to be Warminster, Wiltshire led by the Army’s Experimentation and Trials Group). There will only be one stage to this aspect of the challenge. Stage 2 instructions do not apply to Immediate Power Problem.

The British Army is seeking innovative solutions that can improve the provision, storage, recharge, distribution and management of electrical power across the tactical battlespace. It is interested in technologies including: 

• Safer alternatives to lithium-ion battery chemistries with equal or greater energy density.
• High-speed charging technologies.
• Innovative electrical power generation systems.
• Power storage, management and distribution solutions.
• Technologies that support silent operation and reduced logistical burden.
• Soldier-carried and localised power generation capabilities.
• Integrated tactical power systems and enabling components.

Both complete systems and individual components are welcome. Solutions should support distributed operations and provide commanders with the ability to manage electrical power as a deployable resource across dispersed formations.