ARM Institute Calls for Defense Manufacturing Technology Projects

The Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute has launched Project Call 27-01 seeking robotic technologies that can address key U.S. defense manufacturing needs.

The initiative focuses on technologies with strong potential to support the U.S. Department of War and transition into its commercial or organic industrial bases.

The ARM Institute is particularly interested in dual-use technologies that can support military applications while also benefiting the wider U.S. manufacturing sector.

Proposals must have a defense focus and fall between Technology Readiness Levels 4 and 7.

Projects must also include a final demonstration in a production-relevant or representative environment.

The institute identified several priority defense areas, including castings and forgings, submarines, surface naval vessels and uncrewed aerial systems.Other focus areas include collaborative combat aircraft, munitions, missiles, hypersonic weapons and the rapid expansion of defense production.

The call also targets technologies that can support rapidly changing defense system designs and other validated high-priority defense programs.

Technical areas include AI-enabled robotics, rapid robot re-tasking and multi-robot and human collaboration.

The ARM Institute is also seeking advances in supervised autonomy, adaptive path planning, real-time control and mobile robotics.

The institute encouraged applicants to include government program offices or relevant program stakeholders where appropriate.

Successful projects are expected to demonstrate clear transition pathways toward defense production and related supply chains.

The ARM Institute said validated transition plans can help reduce acquisition barriers and costs for the U.S. Department of War.

Concept papers must be submitted through the ARM Member Community by September 16, 2026.

The institute will host an informational webinar on August 19 to provide additional details about the project call.

Invitations for the presentation phase are expected around October 13, with presentations and supporting documents due December 2.

Project presentations are scheduled for around December 9, with final selections expected on December 11.

Subaward execution must be completed before February 1, 2027, when selected projects are expected to begin.

The project period of performance is scheduled to end on January 31, 2028.

Through the initiative, the ARM Institute aims to connect manufacturers, robotics developers and defense stakeholders to accelerate technologies that could otherwise face funding or engineering barriers.