The US military needs cheaper, more scalable unmanned systems, and it's paying small businesses and even individual engineers to build them. I pulled real, open opportunities from DIU.mil and SBIR.gov to show you exactly what the government is funding right now, including drone swarm software, counter-drone interceptors, low-cost autonomous aircraft, and a long-range listening device for human intelligence, with some contracts paying up to $300,000 just for a feasibility study. I also break down the overlooked SBIR/STTR strategy that can put you ahead of most of the competition before you ever submit a proposal.

Get the GovClose Certification: https://www.govclose.com/sales-certificationOur students learn the government contracting skills to :1. Start their own consulting business that can earn up to $400k as a "solopreneur" advising businesses that sell to the government.2. Land high paying sales executive jobs with companies in the public sector.3. Increase government contracting revenue for companies selling to the US government.Watch Next: the most profitable government contracting business you've never heard of: https://youtu.be/bsMTu_4JRy4?si=a_wgqi50_-ZDpQD20:00 The Government Will Pay You to Build Drones in Your Garage1:44 Where to Find Opportunities: diu.mil (Defense Innovation Unit)2:42 Real Opportunity: Masten Modular Aircraft4:43 Former DoD Acquisitions Officer, $82B Managed6:01 Where to Find SBIR Opportunities: sbir.gov7:04 How to Track When SBIR Topics Drop by Agency8:22 Real Opportunity: Low-Cost Kinetic Defeat for Counter-UAS9:47 SBIR Phase 1, 2, and 3 Explained10:24 Phase 1 Pays Up to $300K for a Feasibility Study11:00 Phase 2 Can Reach $2 Million (or $30-40M in Super Phase 2)11:48 The Sub-$6,000 Counter-Drone Interceptor Target12:53 Real Opportunity: GBAM — Ground-Based Affordable Mass14:15 The DIU Challenge Barrier to Entry (and How to Beat It)16:56 Real Opportunity: Long-Range Listening Device for HUMINT20:06 The Secret Sauce: SBIR vs. STTR Explained21:24 Case Study: How Bryce Landed University STTR Partners23:15 Meet Bryce: Former Google Engineer Turned GovClose Consultant24:24 Real Opportunity: Asymmetric Collaborative Counter-Swarm AI27:36 Why These R&D Programs Matter (and How to Get Started)––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––RESOURCES MENTIONED––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––GovClose Program Overview (free 20-minute training): https://www.govclose.comSTTR Partnership With Bryce: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brycessorensen/––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––ABOUT RICK HOWARD––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––Rick Howard is a retired USAF Lieutenant Colonel and former DoD acquisitions officer who managed over $82 billion in federal contracts. He is the founder of GovClose and the DoD Contract Academy, with 400+ graduates working as government contract consultants, federal account executives, and business owners winning federal contracts.Rick Howard expresses his opinions as a former government contracting officer and presents public data on government contracts that he analyzes. GovClose makes no guarantees whatsoever about federal spending data or government contracts. Government contracting data changes constantly, and we make no claims of perfection when presenting data. All data can be looked at from different angles, and it is up to the viewer to do their own research, their own data analysis, and decide if government contracting is for them.Disclaimer: This video reflects Rick Howard's personal opinions and independent analysis of publicly available government data. It does not represent an official position, endorsement, or statement of the U.S. Air Force or the Department of Defense.