• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Echodyne radars in DARPA programme testing

  26th November 2019

  Echodyne’s radar technology was deployed as part of a test flight for DARPA’s Aerial Dragnet programme in San Diego during October.Echodyne's EchoGuard and EchoFlight radars …

• Land Warfare

  Raytheon working on Subterranean Surveillance project

  13th November 2019

  Raytheon is working on a DARPA Subterranean Surveillance project to create new methods for detecting buried explosives using synthetic biology.Under its DARPA contract, Raytheon is …

• Digital Battlespace

  AOC 2019: DARPA makes its case for Mosaic Warfare

  29th October 2019

  In an effort to move away from overarching CONOPS or C2 structures, DARPA has used the platform of AOC 2019 to make its case for …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Northrop Grumman takes part in DARPA swarm test

  28th October 2019

  Northrop Grumman has detailed its participation in DARPA’s second unmanned vehicle (UxV) swarming field experiment. The experiment leveraged the command, control and collaboration capabilities of …

• Digital Battlespace

  LEO to provide ‘game changing’ capability

  7th November 2019

  Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technology is set to provide a ‘game-changing’ capability for armed forces demanding flexible and cost-effective connectivity almost anywhere in the …

• Digital Battlespace

  AOC 2019: Mercury Systems positions for increased demand in COTS tech

  29th October 2019

  With the aid of its own custom solutions, Mercury Systems is looking to position itself as an enabler for commercial electronics companies that had previously not considered …

• Naval Warfare

  Metal toughness has deep-diving Riptide UUV in its element

  27th September 2019

  BAE Systems has developed two new prototypes of its Riptide UUV using aluminium and titanium that allow the system to dive to far greater depths, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Pacific 2019: MCM figures highly in Australian expo

  10th October 2019

  Australia is acquiring a number of Bluefin UUVs from General Dynamics Mission Systems, as the country seeks to improve its mine countermeasures (MCM) capabilities. Other …

• 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 …

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]

  Background Requirement As explained by GA-ASI in February 2026, LongShot is envisaged as an air-launched UAV that will fly from larger, mostly crewed aircraft and ...

• 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 ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Arctic Security Cutters (7-11) [USCG]

  Programme Background Requirements The Arctic Security Cutter (ASC) programme aims to increase the US presence and capability in the Arctic to counter Russian and Chinese ...

• 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 - 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

  X-68A

  The X-68A is a developmental, host-platform-agnostic air-launched effect (ALE). After developmental contracts were first awarded in 2021 under the LongShot programme, General Atomics (GA-ASI) emerged as the preferred supplier ...

• 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 - UUVs

  BlueWhale

  BlueWhale (ELI-3325) is an autonomous uncrewed underwater vessel (UUV) developed by Israel's Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). It is designed for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Mine Countermeasures (MCM) and ...

• 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

  Lamprey MMAUV

  The Lamprey Multi-Mission Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (MMAUV) is a UUV designed by Lockheed Martin. The UUV is intended as an autonomous companion submersible to a ...

• 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

  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.

• 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 ...