• Uncrewed Vehicles

  CODE demos autonomy and collaboration

  23rd November 2018

  DARPA’s Collaborative Operations in Denied Environment (CODE) programme has demonstrated the ability of CODE-equipped UAS to adapt and respond to unexpected threats in an anti-access …

• Digital Battlespace

  DARPA eyes low-earth orbit for Blackjack programme

  6th November 2018

  The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is seeking a range of proposals for a new programme that will build a constellation of small, …

• Defence Helicopter

  DARPA advances OPV flight trials

  14th November 2018

  The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and Sikorsky recently trialled technology that can turn any helicopter into an optionally piloted vehicle (OPV), with …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Redesigned Bluefin-9 UUV launched

  30th October 2018

  General Dynamics Mission Systems has released the new re-engineered Bluefin-9 UUV, the company announced on 23 October. The vehicle combines high navigational accuracy, enhanced sonar …

• Defence Helicopter

  US Army demos ALIAS technology

  5th November 2018

  US Army pilots have carried out a series of demonstrations of technology developed by Sikorsky and DARPA, Lockheed Martin announced on 29 October. The flights …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Alion to support US Navy UUVs

  23rd October 2018

  Alion Science and Technology will support the US Navy’s Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (UUV) Family of Systems (FoS) under a new contract announced on 17 October. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  DARPA seeks proposals for third swarm sprint

  18th October 2018

  DARPA is seeking proposals for its third swarm sprint, which will focus on the topics of human-swarm teaming and swarm tactics, the agency announced on …

• Digital Battlespace

  DARPA receives first SeeMe satellite

  5th October 2018

  Raytheon has delivered the first Space Enabled Effects for Military Engagements (SeeMe) satellite to DARPA, the company announced on 3 October. The new satellite will …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  L3 Technologies acquires ASV Global

  28th September 2018

  L3 Technologies has acquired ASV Global, the company announced on 24 September. Based in Louisiana and the UK, the new company will be known as …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Riptide Autonomous Solutions Canada established

  14th September 2018

  Riptide has created Riptide Autonomous Solutions Canada in order to meet increasing demand in Canada for flexible AUV systems. The new subsidiary, based in the …

• Digital Battlespace

  US military investing $2 billion in 'next generation' AI

  10th September 2018

  The Pentagon's research wing said on 7 September that it was investing $2 billion to develop a new generation of artificial intelligence (AI) with ‘human-like …

• Digital Battlespace

  Northrop, DARPA set new wireless transmission standard

  28th August 2018

  Northrop Grumman and DARPA have set a new standard for wireless transmission by operating a data link at 100 gigabits per second (Gbps) over a …

• Digital Battlespace

  Five Eyes nations to benefit from comms enhancements

  10th September 2018

  Armed forces from across the Five Eyes community are set to benefit from a series of tactical communications enhancements allowing them to operate in command …

• Digital Battlespace

  DARPA reviews satellite servicing robot design

  22nd August 2018

  DARPA has concluded the preliminary design review of a satellite servicing payload for its Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) programme. According to DARPA, results …

• Digital Battlespace

  BAE to support CHASE programme

  13th August 2018

  BAE Systems has been selected by DARPA to develop data-driven, cyber-hunting tools that detect and analyse cyber threats to help protect extremely large enterprise networks, …

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

  Bluefin-Knifefish

  The Bluefin-21 UUV is being developed for the Surface Mine Countermeasure UUV (SMCM UUV) programme to equip the USN’s Littoral Combat Ships. 

• 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 - UUVs

  Echo Voyager

  In March 2016, Boeing Defense, Space & Security introduced the Echo Voyager UUV. It is a 51ft (15.5m) long vehicle that can operate autonomously for ...

• 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 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 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 ...

• Military - UUVs

  Iver

  Iver is a family of commercially developed, low-cost AUVs designed to carry out coastal applications such as sensor development, surveying, research and environmental monitoring. 

• Data links

  QNT

  The QUINT Networking Technology (QNT) programme is intended to develop robust, affordable, miniature networked data link technologies suitable for use on weapons and by tactical ...

• Military - UUVs

  Talisman L

  The Talisman Littoral (L) UUV uses the mission system of the larger Talisman M and repackages it into a two-man portable system for port and ...

• 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 UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  X-61A Gremlin

  Dynetics, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Leidos, is developing the X-61A Gremlin. This low-cost swarming drone can be outfitted with different payloads, launched by a mothership, recovered ...