Startups deliver commercial technology to allies, solving challenges for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.
Startups Mistral Inc. and Zoltix received a total of $150,000 USD in awards for their respective first-place solutions pitched in the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and Singapore Ministry of Defence (MINDEF)’s two-part joint challenge. This effort sets a path to adopt and scale the novel unmanned aerial systems (UAS) communications and counter-UAS (CUAS) technologies from the companies to solve operational challenges faced by both militaries.
This is the first collaboration to come out of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Defense Innovation Cooperation between the Singapore MINDEF and the Department of Defense (DoD). The joint challenge consisted of two award opportunities for companies to identify and scale dual-use technologies for operational demands.
The first prize challenge sought startups to help ships operating close to shore continuously detect, track, identify, and disrupt unauthorized drones.
The second prize challenge sought startups to provide resilient communications with small commercial drones during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions.
Out of 49 companies from across the globe that proposed solutions for the challenge, 10 companies were selected for a final pitch event to compete for the opportunity to receive prize awards for their technologies.
Mistral Inc. received $80,000 USD with its CUAS Victus C2 Gateway solution, combining detection, tracking, and disruption technologies — including radio frequency (RF) sensors and both kinetic and non-kinetic effects — into a single cost-effective package that meets operational requirements. A standout feature of Mistral’s solution is its ability to integrate with existing defense systems, avoiding the creation of proprietary silos and ensuring compatibility with current operational tools.
The challenge provided access to defense experts and optimizing our CUAS Victus C2 Gateway system’s open architecture for scalability and future mission adaptability,” explained Mistral Inc. Senior Vice President of Business Development Yoav Banai. “Operational testing proved our solution's effectiveness in addressing real-world maritime security challenges, enhancing our credibility as a trusted vendor.
The Victus C2 Gateway system addresses the need for a SWAP solution capable of operating effectively in contested environments. Mistral’s integration of open architecture ensures the solution’s adaptability for future mission requirements, enhancing its value to warfighters.
Zoltix was awarded $70,000 USD, providing a solution using radio operations through automatic sensing and self-adjustment, while delivering insights into spectrum activity.
Zoltix’s adaptive communication system enables small commercial drones to maintain secure and stable connections in RF-contested environments. The system’s ability to dynamically sense and adjust frequencies addresses a critical need for reliable drone communications during HADR missions and in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) challenged environments.
The solution we provided has the potential to enhance the warfighter's security and resilience in contested environments as the use of UAS continues to increase,” shared Zoltix CEO and Co-Founder Matt Ryan. “Without a communication solution that can dynamically adapt, learn and inform, the warfighter will be at risk of losing critical UAS assets and communications during contested engagements.
Zoltix’s technology also integrates seamlessly with existing drone platforms, reducing the need for custom modifications. This ensures scalability across a wide range of operations, enabling warfighters to maintain situational awareness and mission-critical communication.
By refining commercial technologies to meet operational demands, converging access to national security and private sector expertise, and onboarding non-traditional companies, startups participating in the challenge delivered results that can be quickly leveraged in defense markets. Additionally, the challenge opened doors for future collaboration and growth opportunities, exposing the companies to new potential defense customers.
Other companies from the DIU U.S.-Singapore Joint Challenge receiving $130,000 awards, in total, are listed below:
Black River Systems Company, Inc., based in New York, adapted its low-cost Ninja CUAS based solution for port and ship-board protection.
Aurelius Systems, Inc., based in San Francisco, CA., developed edge-deployed CUAS directed energy solutions to protect warfighters from Group 1 and 2 unmanned aerial systems (UAS) as they operate.
Domo Tactical Communications (DTC), based in Virginia, utilized its technology to help warfighters operate small drones with uninterrupted communications in contested environments through low latency, making it highly effective in noisy RF environments.
TILT Autonomy, based in North Carolina, leveraged its frequency hopping spread spectrum technology for a low-cost UAS communication platform.