Current Competition

Current Competition

Clear skies begin with clear rules. Here’s all the information you need to get started.

Access 2026/2027 Rules

Proposal Score and Design Report Score: The Proposal score and Design Report score will be combined in a Total Report Score. The Total Report Score will replace the Design Report score in the total Competition Score and is defined as: Total Report Score = 0.15 X Proposal Score + 0.85 X Design Report Score.

Take on This Year’s Mission

The objective for this year is to design, build, and test a UAV with a towed sensor. Missions will include delivery of the UAV, transportation of sensors in shipping containers, and surveillance by deploying, operating, and recovering a towed sensor.

COUNTDOWN TO COMPETITION
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15 APRIL 2027  |  10:00 A.M. CT

Competition Schedule

  • Proposal Submission Window Open: 15 October 2026, 8 a.m. ET
  • Proposal Submission Window Closed: 31 October 2026, 5 p.m. ET
  • Team Notifications Sent: 21 November 2026 (no later than)
  • Final Report Submission Window Open: 1 February 2027, 8 a.m. ET
  • Final Report Submission Window Closed: 19 February 2027, 5 p.m. ET
  • Design/Build/Fly Competition Fly-Off: 15–18 April 2027 | Tucson, AZ

PLEASE NOTE: All schedule deadlines are strictly enforced.

DBF Fly-Off Preliminary Schedule

  • Thursday, 15 April: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
  • Friday, 16 April: 7 a.m.–6 p.m.
  • Saturday, 17 April: 7 a.m.–6 p.m.
  • Sunday, 18 April: 7 a.m.–6 p.m.

PLEASE NOTE: All deadlines are strictly enforced.

Primary Sponsors

Aiaaf Logo 250