U.S. Army awards Pliant USD 249,996 xTechSearch SBIR contract
The U.S. Army awarded Pliant a USD 249,996 Phase I SBIR contract tied to the xTechSearch 9 finalist open-topic competition.
Evidence notes
- Contract W51701-26-C-A089 supports a six-month Phase I research program.
- The award was recorded on April 9, 2026 and performance began April 13.
- The contract identifies Pliant as an xTechSearch 9 SBIR finalist selected through a 29-bid competition.
Company context
Pliant Energy Systems develops amphibious robots and propulsion systems based on undulating flexible surfaces. Its platforms can swim, crawl and transition between water, sand, snow and ice for nearshore sensing, inspection and mine-countermeasure missions. Its first-party profile lists 24 granted patents and research support from ONR, DOE, NSF, USDA and NYSERDA; NATO DIANA selected the company for its 2026 programme.