• Digital Battlespace

  COTS hardware supports Blackjack risk reduction

  12th May 2021

  An orbital platform was used for a tactical maritime experiment by DARPA.

• Digital Battlespace

  Centauri gains a role in DARPA target recognition programme

  22nd April 2021

  The Moving Target Recognition programme ultimately aims to develop automatic algorithms that would enable synthetic aperture radars to detect mobile ground targets.

• Defence Notes

  DARPA funds research into next-generation PPE

  20th April 2021

  DARPA is working with industry on 'unburdening the warfighter' by developing advanced and ultra-lightweight personal protective equipment. Its Personalized Protective Biosystems programme pre-dates COVID-19, but it arguably assumes even greater importance for defence procurement in the context of the pandemic.

• Digital Battlespace

  Unified approach motivates OPIR planning

  17th May 2021

  New OPIR strategy relies on prototyping and experimentation to shape future investments.

• Defence Notes

  DARPA eyes nuclear propulsion for cislunar space-based surveillance

  12th April 2021

  General Atomics is working on the first phase of the Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) programme.

• Digital Battlespace

  Leidos supports mobile undersea acoustic surveillance

  23rd April 2021

  Leidos is supporting active and passive sonar systems for underwater acoustic surveillance.

• Digital Battlespace

  DARPA seeks to improve adaptive control of electromagnetic spectrum

  8th April 2021

  Wideband Adaptive RF Protection programme aims to develop wideband adaptive filtering and signal cancellation architectures.

• Defence Notes

  Battelle to work on SIGMA+ Phase 2

  16th April 2021

  DARPA programme seeks to create an advanced networked sensor to detect and identify biological weapons of mass destruction.

• Defence Helicopter

  ALIAS achieves first autonomous take-off

  30th March 2021

  DARPA and Sikorsky demonstrated supervised autonomy capabilities using a specially converted S-70 OPV Black Hawk.

• Naval Warfare

  Russians aim to prove size matters with Belgorod

  30th March 2021

  Almost 30 years after it was laid down, the longest nuclear-powered submarine in the world is scheduled to start state trials in May. Is it a case of 'better late than never'?

• Digital Battlespace

  SEAKR develops avionics system for Blackjack Phase 2 and Phase 3

  15th March 2021

  Pit Boss autonomous mission system for DARPA/USSF small satellite programme comprises a high-speed processor and encryption devices.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  DARPA confirms role for Lockheed in LongShot Phase 1

  8th March 2021

  US eyes an air-launched UAV capable of attacking targets from standoff range.

• Digital Battlespace

  Raytheon aids DARPA effort to improve battlefield airspace management

  12th February 2021

  US company will create software and sensors for de-conflicting friendly air assets and tracking airborne platforms.

• Air Warfare

  DARPA lines up LongShot

  10th February 2021

  If LongShot reaches fruition, it will provide the USAF with an alternative means of generating combat capability.

• Defence Notes

  Honeywell uses DARPA funding to develop more capable IMUs

  25th January 2021

  Micro-electromechanical technology enables higher-performance inertial measurement without adding to size and weight burden, says Honeywell.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  LongShot [USA]

  Programme Background Requirement According to DARPA, the objective of the LongShot programme is "to disrupt the paradigm of air combat operations by demonstrating an unmanned ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  AdvaNced airCraft Infrastructure-Less Launch And RecoverY (ANCILLARY) [US]

  Programme Background Aims & Timeline As stated by DARPA, the ANCILLARY programme aims to develop and fly an X-plane that will provide a "leap-ahead" in long-endurance, ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) [USA]

  Programme Background Requirement Originally conceived as a replacement for the F-22, the PCA was designed to counter various air threats, including integrated air defence systems ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military - UUVs

  Manta Ray

  Manta Ray is an uncrewed underwater vessel (UUV) developed by Northrop Grumman.

• Military - UUVs

  Bluefin-Knifefish

  The Bluefin-Knifefish UUV was initially developed for the Surface Mine Countermeasure UUV (SMCM UUV) programme for the USN’s Littoral Combat Ships. It is manufactured by General Dynamics ...

• Sea: procedural training

  UUV Training Simulator

  The Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) Training Simulator teaches users how to operate and control a UUV, specifically with reference to mine hunting. The UUV is ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  LongShot

  The LongShot is a developmental air-launched platform intended to increase the survivability of friendly crewed aircraft. In February 2021, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  XRQ-73

  The US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) unveiled the flying design of the XRQ-73 in June 2024. The aircraft has been developed under the  Series ...

• Sea: procedural training

  2 Sigma Digital Tutor

  A Digital Tutor that is designed to outperform schoolhouse instructors, bringing CTC training to a broad spectrum of sailors. Specifications include improving student outcomes for ...

• Military - USVs

  NOMARS

  The No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS) is a US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) effort to develop a first-of-its-kind large uncrewed surface vessel.

• Major networking projects

  CHAIN

  The Compartmented High Assurance Information Network (CHAIN) is described as a robust architecture that improves interoperability of IT systems among the military services and security ...

• Riptide Mk II

  At Oceanology International 2018, Riptide Autonomous Solutions presented its second-generation micro-UUV – the Mk II. The Riptide Mk II UUV has a maximum speed of ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  XV-24A LightningStrike

  The XV-24A LightningStrike, developed by Aurora Flight Sciences and its partners Rolls-Royce and Honeywell, was a project for a tilt-wing UAV powered by an electric-distributed ...

• Sea: sonar systems

  UUV-3500

  The Klein UUV-3500 side-scan sonar family is composed of the mid-depth (3000m) high-resolution, low-power, dual-frequency and the deep (6000m) variant which is a higher power ...

• Military - UUVs

  BlueWhale

  BlueWhale is an autonomous uncrewed underwater vessel (UUV) developed by Israel's Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).

• Military - UUVs

  Iver4 580

  The Iver4 580 is a UUV designed by L3Harris for commercial and defence survey operations.

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Shrike

  The Shrike was a micro, portable, rugged VTOL-capable UAV designed for frontline day/night ISR.  Development of the Shrike began in 2008 under a $4.6-million contract from ...

• Military - UUVs

  D19 UUV

  Naval Group's family of D19 drones are AUVs designated for varying taskings such as identification, surveillance, EW, mobile target, minelaying and MCM operations.