• Defence Notes

  Curtain rises on ACT-IV

  31st August 2021

  DARPA, USAF and Northrop Grumman hope digital AESA will enhance operational flexibility.

• Digital Battlespace

  Artificial intelligence becomes the critical enabler of future operations (Studio)

  27th August 2021

  The US and its allies have found themselves in the middle of an AI arms race, with the prize of decision dominance on the battlefield for whoever gets there first.

• Air Warfare

  IDEF 2021: 'Turkish DARPA' targets live tests for Kuzgun

  19th August 2021

  TÜBİTAK-SAGE displays modular guided munitions and guidance kits at IDEF 2021.

• Digital Battlespace

  How is Information Advantage countering new and emerging threats? (Studio)

  9th September 2021

  In the data-rich information age in which we live, the concept of Information Advantage has become a fundamental shift in how the armed forces prosecute warfare.

• Land Warfare

  Land Warfare magazine: UGVs, North African AFV market and more

  23rd June 2021

  Read the latest edition of Land Warfare for free in our app or on your desktop.

• Defence Notes

  Military explores potential of commercial SATCOM

  14th June 2021

  Commercial satellite constellations may find favour with the DoD for low Earth orbit solutions.

• Defence Notes

  DARPA eyes nuclear power for spacecraft

  24th May 2021

  Recently introduced reforms could enable the first demonstration flight of a nuclear thermal propulsion rocket in 2025.

• 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.

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 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 ...

• 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 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 ...

• 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 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 ...

• Data links

  TTNT

  The Tactical Targeting Network Technology (TTNT) programme is intended to develop, evaluate and demonstrate reconfigurable, affordable, robust, interoperable and evolvable communications technologies to support emerging ...

• Military UGVs

  Crusher

  The Crusher vehicle was designed by DARPA and the National Robotics Engineering Center to evaluate technologies, such as mobility and autonomy systems, applicable to the UGVs ...

• Air: helicopter radar, Air: surveillance radar

  FORESTER

  The Foliage Penetration (FOPEN) Reconnaissance, Surveillance, Tracking and Engagement Radar (FORESTER) is an airborne radar system that provides stand-off, persistent, wide-area surveillance for situational awareness ...

• Sea: tactical training

  Fleet Command

  Fleet Command was developed by Sonalysts, released in 1999, and published by Electronic Arts. Command-level combat simulation where the player is responsible for navy battle ...

• Air: surveillance and maritime patrol radar, Air: UAS radar

  AN/ZPY-5 VADER

  The Vehicle and Dismount Exploitation Radar (VADER) is an airborne radar system designed primarily for military applications. It is designed to track vehicles and foot traffic ...