DARPA selects Lockheed Martin for ACE programme
ACE aims to better inform pilots with group-level situational awareness and coordinated targeting responsibility. (Photo: US DoD)
Lockheed Martin has been awarded an $11,7 million contract for the Air Combat Evolution (ACE) Technical Area 4 Phases 2 and 3.
The agreement includes the development of full-scale experimentation platforms capable of implementing the ACE algorithms and technologies.
The works will be carried out in Fort Worth, Texas and Tucson, Arizona, with an expected completion date of December 2023.
ACE is run by DARPA and aims to better inform pilots with group-level situational awareness and coordinated targeting responsibility.
ACE Technical Area 3 Phase 2, which focused on learning how to create a symbiosis between air battle managers and the AI-based battle management system, was run by Dynetics, a subsidiary of Leidos.
Dynetics developed a matured approach to battle management, where a single pilot can act as a commander for large-scale and collaborative air warfare.
Phase 1 carried out works on AI architecture design for large force battle management in a Mosaic Warfare construct.
More from Air Warfare
-
Australia’s revised defence investment plan: what it means for air warfare
The Australian government’s 2026 National Defence Strategy has unveiled a major spending uplift planned for the Royal Australian Air Force, focused on upgrading its air combat and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, as well as upping investment in uncrewed aerial systems.
-
What does the FY2027 US budget signal for the country’s future airpower plans?
The record-breaking defence budget request focuses on bolstering some core next-generation aircraft programmes across each domain, although questions remain on the US's commitment to some key defence programmes.
-
Can UK interceptor efforts keep pace with the rising drone threat?
The recent acquisition announcement for Cambridge Aerospace’s Skyhammer solution is a key step in the UK’s efforts to bolster its counter-UAS capabilities, but more still needs to be done to tackle even smaller drone threats.
-
Denmark air focus: $2.64 billion UAV market blends US imports with Nordic cooperation
While Denmark appears to be more committed to UAVs than most of its Nordic neighbours, its procurement efforts are likely to be split between American-made systems for its larger requirements and Nordic partnerships for smaller platforms.
-
France earmarks further $11.6 billion for missiles and drones amid rearmament push
The revised funding allocation will see up to 23% of the additional budget put towards stockpiles of munitions, with the country’s GDP spending expected to reach 2.5% by 2030.