DON26BZ01-NV025ActiveSBIR

Leveraging Machine Learning for Advanced Passive Sonar Tracking

Department of DefenseNAVY

AI Overview

This SBIR seeks machine learning solutions to enhance passive sonar tracking, classification, and localization for anti-submarine warfare systems. The effort aims to improve detection speed, tracking persistence, and target classification accuracy beyond current algorithmic capabilities.

This summary is AI-generated from the official solicitation.

Key Details

Agency
Department of Defense
Funding Amount
Release Date
March 2, 2026
Due Date
June 3, 2026

Official Description

Passive sonar systems employ a standardized signal processing pipeline to track, classify, and localize underwater contacts. This automated process, often referred to as "automation," begins after front-end processing generates visual displays for sonar operator analysis and automated processing. Existing algorithms that track energy signatures on these displays typically include Kalman filters, probabilistic multi-hypothesis trackers, and particle filters. However, these traditional tracking me...

Change History

Q&A UpdatedMay 20, 2026 at 12:01 PM

Leveraging Machine Learning for Advanced Passive Sonar Tracking

Q4 was answered: Navy prefers sensor-agnostic solutions in Phase 1 applicable to submarine/surface ship sonar, fixed arrays, and sonobuoys rather than specific acoustic receivers.

Q&A UpdatedMay 14, 2026 at 7:39 PM

Leveraging Machine Learning for Advanced Passive Sonar Tracking

**Summary of Q&A Changes:** Added answer to Q1 clarifying that Phase I has no real-time or latency requirements; these will be addressed in Phase II. Updated answer to Q2 to clarify that both single-sensor performance improvement AND multi-sensor fusion are desired objectives (previously ambiguous). All other Q&As (Q3-Q7) remain unchanged.

Q&A UpdatedMay 14, 2026 at 3:00 PM

Leveraging Machine Learning for Advanced Passive Sonar Tracking

**Changes to Q&A Section:** Added 2 new questions: Q1 on real-time vs. delayed processing requirements, and Q2 on whether the objective is to replace existing trackers or perform ML-based fusion with existing single-sensor trackers. Previous Q&A items were renumbered accordingly (Q1-Q5 became Q3-Q7).

Q&A UpdatedMay 11, 2026 at 6:49 PM

Leveraging Machine Learning for Advanced Passive Sonar Tracking

Added 1 new Q&A clarifying eligibility: U.S.-based primes cannot use Australian subcontractors; all R&D work must be performed in the United States per DoW Section 1.4.d. All other Q&As renumbered accordingly; technical content unchanged.

Q&A UpdatedMay 8, 2026 at 3:42 PM

Leveraging Machine Learning for Advanced Passive Sonar Tracking

Added 1 new Q&A (Q1) asking whether the topic addresses specific acoustic receivers (sonobuoy, LVA, etc.) or is sensor-agnostic, with no answer provided yet. Previous Q&As renumbered accordingly (Q2-Q4).

Status ChangedMay 6, 2026 at 1:47 PM

Leveraging Machine Learning for Advanced Passive Sonar Tracking

Status changed from Pre-Release to Open

Q&A UpdatedApr 27, 2026 at 8:33 PM

Leveraging Machine Learning for Advanced Passive Sonar Tracking

Added answer to Q1 recommending Sonar Simulation Toolset (SST) for DoD agencies/contractors, with technical report link. No recommendation provided for non-DoD entities. Q2 and Q3 answers remain unchanged.

Q&A UpdatedApr 27, 2026 at 12:47 PM

Leveraging Machine Learning for Advanced Passive Sonar Tracking

Added 1 new Q&A: Q1 requests Navy recommendations for open source acoustic data generators for algorithm development (answer not yet provided). Previous Q&As renumbered as Q2-Q3 with no answer changes.

Q&A UpdatedApr 22, 2026 at 10:25 PM

Leveraging Machine Learning for Advanced Passive Sonar Tracking

Q1 received a new answer clarifying that performance baselines should be relative to operational systems (sonobuoys, submarine sonar, etc.) or state-of-the-art trackers (Bayesian, Kalman filter, particle filter) if operational algorithms are inaccessible.

Q&A UpdatedApr 22, 2026 at 7:38 PM

Leveraging Machine Learning for Advanced Passive Sonar Tracking

Added Q1 asking for baseline performance levels for tracking, classification, fusion, and localization metrics referenced in the proposal guidelines.

Q&A UpdatedApr 21, 2026 at 3:40 PM

Leveraging Machine Learning for Advanced Passive Sonar Tracking

Q1 answered: Government will not provide data for Phase I, but will distribute recorded data (element time series/display surfaces) in Phase II if awarded. Applicants encouraged to use their own recorded or simulated data.

Q&A UpdatedApr 20, 2026 at 4:38 PM

Leveraging Machine Learning for Advanced Passive Sonar Tracking

Q&A about government data provision for Phase I algorithm development, including data availability and format specifications.

Date ChangedApr 14, 2026 at 3:03 AM

Leveraging Machine Learning for Advanced Passive Sonar Tracking

Close Date changed from 2026-04-22 to 2026-06-03

Date ChangedApr 14, 2026 at 3:03 AM

Leveraging Machine Learning for Advanced Passive Sonar Tracking

Open Date changed from 2026-03-25 to 2026-05-06

Status ChangedApr 14, 2026 at 3:03 AM

Leveraging Machine Learning for Advanced Passive Sonar Tracking

Status changed from Removed to Pre-Release

Opportunity RemovedMar 3, 2026 at 4:25 PM

Leveraging Machine Learning for Advanced Passive Sonar Tracking

Opportunity DON26BZ01-NV025 no longer available

Opportunity AddedMar 2, 2026 at 11:14 PM

Leveraging Machine Learning for Advanced Passive Sonar Tracking

New opportunity: Leveraging Machine Learning for Advanced Passive Sonar Tracking

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