• Naval Warfare

  DARPA researching marine creature responses for subsurface surveillance

  24th September 2019

  Bioluminescent plankton, black sea bass and snapping shrimp: just some of the living resources the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) hopes to tap …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  LRIP contract award for USN Knifefish UUV

  28th August 2019

  General Dynamics Mission Systems has been awarded $44.6 million contract modification to enter into low-rate initial production for the US Navy's Knifefish unmanned undersea vehicle (UUV). …

• Digital Battlespace

  BAE awarded DARPA contract for space machine learning

  15th August 2019

  BAE Systems has been awarded a US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) phase 2 contract to develop machine learning capabilities to help the US …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  US Navy selects Fusion UUV

  12th August 2019

  The US Navy has selected Strategic Robotic Systems’ (SRS’) Fusion unmanned underwater vehicle as its future explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) remotely operated vehicle (ROV), the …

• Defence Notes

  US hypersonic weapons programme moves forward

  30th July 2019

  Raytheon and DARPA have completed a successful baseline design review for the Tactical Boost Glide hypersonic weapons programme, the company announced on 29 July.The review …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  US Navy issues UUV contract modifications

  19th July 2019

  The US Navy has awarded two Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (UUV) contracts. General Dynamics Missions Systems was awarded a contract modification for engineering services in support …

• Digital Battlespace

  Podcast: Five Eyes Connectivity - Cyber

  26th September 2019

  Welcome to Shephard Studio’s special series on Five Eyes Connectivity, sponsored by our partner Viasat.  Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more. In the Five Eyes Connectivity podcast …

• Digital Battlespace

  BAE Systems wins DARPA work

  9th July 2019

  BAE Systems will integrate machine-learning (ML) technology into platforms that decipher radio frequency signals under a $4.7 million contract awarded by DARPA. The Controllable Hardware …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  US Army moving AI into robotic platforms

  28th June 2019

  The US Army has begun technical experimentation targeting the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) into its robotic platforms. Aspects of both current and planned AI …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  BAE Systems completes Riptide acqusition

  5th June 2019

  BAE Systems has completed the acquisition of key assets of Riptide Autonomous Solutions, the company announced on 3 June. Specialising in small UUVs, Riptide’s platforms …

• Military Logistics

  DARPA embarks on LogX programme

  23rd May 2019

  The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has launched the LogX programme to develop and demonstrate software for real-time logistics and supply chain system …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Sonardyne tech for Cellula Robotics UUV

  16th May 2019

  Sonardyne’s navigation, positioning and communications technology will support a new, fuel cell-powered long-range unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) being designed by Cellula Robotics for the Canadian …

• Defence Helicopter

  Optionally piloted Black Hawk begins flight tests

  7th June 2019

  Sikorsky has begun flight testing a UH-60 Black Hawk equipped with a new retrofit kit designed to turn the helicopter into an optionally piloted vehicle …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  L3’s Iver4 UUV demos long-endurance capability

  14th May 2019

  L3 Technologies’ Iver4 UUV has completed a long endurance mission lasting more than 14 hours in San Diego Bay, California, the company announced on 6 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Hunt is on for SeaFox support replacement

  17th May 2019

  A contract opportunity placed in May 2019 by the UK MoD will look to replace the support contract for the SeaFox mine disposal system currently …

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.