• Training

  AI proves its mettle in AlphaDogfight

  21st August 2020

  The third and final competition in the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) AlphaDogfight Trials has now taken place to evaluate how AI algorithms …

• Digital Battlespace

  S2 to work on EM spectrum receiver for USN

  27th August 2020

  DARPA has selected S2 Corporation to build and demonstrate a prototype broadband electro-magnetic (EM) spectrum receiver system. A $9 million contract from the Naval Information …

• Land Warfare

  US Army researches new materials to enhance firepower of weapon systems

  8th September 2020

  Aware of the relevance of improving the firepower of its weapon systems, the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory (ARL) is running …

• Defence Notes

  China, computer chips and supply chains

  20th August 2020

  On 14 September 2019, the Islamic Republic of Iran launched an audacious unconventional military attack on critical infrastructure facilities in Saudi Arabia, at Abqaiq and …

• Digital Battlespace

  DARPA picks industry partner for SemaFor

  24th July 2020

  DARPA has enlisted industry support to defend against large-scale, automated disinformation attacks.  The agency on 23 July awarded SRI International a $10.99 million contract under …

• Land Warfare

  Lockheed gains OpFires contract modification

  20th July 2020

  Lockheed Martin has received a contract modification from DARPA to support Phase 3 of the Operational Fires (OpFires) Integrated Weapon System programme. The $7.45 million …

• Land Warfare

  US Army creates software suite to train robots in underground environments

  5th August 2020

  In order to improve the situational awareness in underground missions, the US Army's Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory (CCDC ARL) has released a …

• Digital Battlespace

  ARC platform supports manned-unmanned ammo resupply project

  21st July 2020

  High-tech firearm accessories and analytics specialist Armaments Research Company (ARC) has received a $1.5 million contract to continue supporting a project that uses distributed, AI-ready ground …

• Digital Battlespace

  DARPA machine-learning programme includes audit software

  14th July 2020

  BAE Systems has reached a software delivery milestone in the Competency-Aware Machine Learning (CAML) programme for DARPA. MindfuL software from BAE Systems (developed in collaboration …

• Air Warfare

  Aurora to assist DARPA future aircraft design concept

  22nd June 2020

  Boeing subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences has been awarded a $7.11 million contract from DARPA for work on the Control of Revolutionary Aircraft with Novel Effectors …

• Digital Battlespace

  DARPA aims to hit the sweet spot on data link compatibility

  25th June 2020

  NATO member states have various tactical data links (TDLs) at their disposal – notably HAVE QUICK I/II, Link 16 and the Situational Awareness Tactical Data …

• Training

  SCARS moves out of the blocks

  29th June 2020

  An L3 Harris Link Training and Simulation-led team has won the battle to secure the USAF's prestigious Simulator Common Architecture Requirements and Standards (SCARS) contract.  …

• Digital Battlespace

  SA Photonics awarded Blackjack payload contract

  10th June 2020

  SA Photonics on 9 June was awarded a $16.36 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the Blackjack Track A (payload) Phases 2 and 3 programmes. The contracting …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  BAE Systems to contribute to DARPA’s Squad X Programme

  3rd June 2020

  BAE Systems has been selected by Lockheed Martin to provide key autonomy and AI capabilities to the  DARPA Squad X programme. The contract is worth …

• Naval Warfare

  DARPA awards research contract for underwater sensing

  18th May 2020

  General Dynamics subsidiary Applied Physical Sciences (APS) has received a $18.82 million contract from DARPA for R&D; into undersea sensing systems, with an estimated completion date …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

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

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

  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, VTOL-capable ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• AEW&C

  AEW&C Aircraft [South Korea]

  Programme Background Requirement The requirement was initially reported in 2016 when it was noted as being part of a long-term development plan, however, reports from ...

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 ...

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

  AN/ZPY-5 VADER

  The Vehicle and Dismount Exploitation Radar (VADER) is an airborne radar system manufactured by Northrop Grumman. It is designed to track vehicles and foot traffic ...

• 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 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Light 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 ...

• 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 ...