ZeroMark Wins SBIR Phase II Contract with U.S. Army
The U.S. Army has taken another step toward securing maritime defense against autonomous vehicles.
Last week, ZeroMark, Inc. was awarded a U.S. Army xTech Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program Phase II contract to provide our Vanguard technology to U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC). This award will enhance the USARPAC’s defense against unmanned underwater and surface vehicles with the support of ZeroMark’s AI-enabled fire control systems.
Built On Army Requirements
Throughout this contract, the Army has made it clear: the US is committed to combatting autonomous vehicles both on land and at sea.
Unmanned surface vessels (USVs) and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) in the INDO-PACIFIC theater have already been used by near peer adversaries to support unlawful territorial claims, reconnaissance, and offensive tactics. The U.S. Army is sourcing the most advanced technical solutions to address these risks Additionally, the ability of our adversaries to utilize USVs and UUVs for the detection and targeting of US forces across the Pacific has required the Army to source the most advanced technical solutions to address these risks.
The ZeroMark Vanguard Maritime Defense System offers the solution. Vanguard is one of ZeroMark’s two signature AI-enabled fire control systems designed as a modular defense capability that helps forces detect, track, and respond to unmanned threats operating on or near the water. By focusing on scalable, cost-effective interception and flexible response options, the system gives operators options to quickly identify and combat UUVs and USVs while in a dynamic environment.
“This award allows us to push Vanguard forward with the U.S. Army and move quickly from development into operational capability,” said ZeroMark Founder and CEO, Joel Anderson. He emphasizes that “low-cost drones have introduced a dangerous asymmetry across modern battlefields and maritime environments. Vanguard reverses that equation by giving remote weapon systems the autonomy to detect, track, and defeat aerial threats—so U.S. and allied warfighters can stay focused on the fight, not the drone overhead.”
Accelerating Innovation Through Partnership
ZeroMark’s goal is simple but critical: help units protect critical assets, maintain freedom of maneuver, and keep maritime operations secure through Vanguard's layered defense strategy.
Programs like SBIR are a big part of how innovative small companies get the chance to tackle real problems facing the military. They make it possible to move quickly and turn promising technologies into capabilities that can actually support warfighters.
