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September 6, 2025
FIRST Tech Challenge Teams to Use Teamwork and STEM Skills to Uncover Innovations in Archaeology with DECODE presented by RTX
More than 115,000 Middle and High-School Students Worldwide Will Dig into an Archeology-Themed Game During the 2025-2026 Season of FIRST® Tech Challenge
MANCHESTER, N.H., September 6, 2025 – FIRST®, a robotics community that prepares young people for the future, celebrated the launch of its 2025-2026 FIRST® Tech Challenge season, DECODETM presented by RTX, with a game reveal on the FIRST Tech Challenge YouTube Channel on September 6. This year, students will explore how the technological advances and collaborations across STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields are used to help archaeologists dig deeper into their discoveries than ever before.
DECODE is part of the 2025-2026 season, FIRST® AGETM presented by Qualcomm. Throughout the season, teams will use STEM and collaboration skills to unearth new findings about themselves and our collective communities to help build a better world. Teams will collaborate and innovate as they design, build, program, and operate robots to complete unique objectives in this archaeology-inspired, thrilling head-to-head challenge.
“We’re proud to continue our partnership with RTX to bring FIRST Tech Challenge students a new season rooted in discovery and exploration,” said Chris Moore, CEO, FIRST. “This year’s archaeology-themed challenge invites students to uncover the past while building skills for the future — from engineering and programming to storytelling and data analysis. Through their journey with FIRST, students experience the excitement of STEM and gain a clearer perspective of the many career paths just waiting to be explored.”
Registration for the 2025-2026 DECODE season is now open.
As the presenting sponsor for the DECODE season, RTX directly supports FIRST events, programs, and thousands of teams globally, through funding and time donated by employees. RTX is doing its part to bring innovation, collaboration, and STEM education to students all over the world.
“At RTX, we advance technologies like remote sensing and underwater acoustics that are used by archeologists around the world, and DECODE is a natural connection for us,” said Dantaya Williams, executive vice president and chief human resources officer, RTX. “But more importantly, DECODE is a challenge that sparks excitement and curiosity in students, and that’s where the magic happens. These students will learn critical thinking and analytical skills, creativity, problem-solving and teamwork – the very attributes needed in organizations today and the workforce of the future.”
FIRST Tech Challenge is a widely accessible robotics program designed for students in grades 7 through 12 in which teams design, build, code, and operate sophisticated robots to play a themed game in an alliance format. Guided by adult coaches and mentors, students develop STEM skills and practice engineering principles, while realizing the value of hard work, innovation, and working as a team.
In addition to gameplay, designing and building robots, FIRST Tech Challenge participants raise funds, design and market their team brand, and do community outreach to earn awards during the competition season.
FIRST Strategic Partner, RTX, is the Season Presenting Sponsor for the 2025-2026 FIRST Tech Challenge season, DECODE. DECODE is part of the 2025-2026 FIRST AGE season, sponsored by Qualcomm. Google.org also supports the FIRST Tech Challenge program with funding to expand program access and advance AI education
About FIRST®
FIRST® is a robotics community that prepares young people for the future. FIRST provides life-changing, team-based K-12 robotics programs that give young people the skills, confidence, and resilience to build a better world. Boosted by a global support system of volunteers, educators, donors, and sponsors, teams operate under a signature set of FIRST Core Values to conduct research, fundraise, design, build, and showcase their achievements during annual challenges.
An international not-for-profit organization founded by accomplished inventor Dean Kamen in 1989, FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) has a proven impact on STEM learning, interest, and skill-building well beyond high school. Participants and alumni of FIRST programs gain access to education and career discovery opportunities, connections to exclusive scholarships and employers, and a place in the FIRST community for life. Learn more at firstinspires.org.
About RTX
RTX is the world's largest aerospace and defense company. With more than 185,000 global employees, we push the limits of technology and science to redefine how we connect and protect our world. Through industry-leading businesses – Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon – we are advancing aviation, engineering integrated defense systems for operational success, and developing next-generation technology solutions and manufacturing to help global customers address their most critical challenges. The company, with 2024 sales of more than $80 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.