Tag: DARPA

DARPA Funds Sikorsky to Convert Black Hawk Into Drone

Aerotime reports, “American aircraft manufacturer Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, will convert a United States Army UH-60M Black Hawk into a drone. The company received a $6 million award from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to install the company’s ALIAS/MATRIX flight autonomy system onto the helicopter, essentially converting it into a drone.”
Full Story (Aerotime)

DARPA Announces 6 New Designs for Uncrewed VTOL Military Aircraft

SPACE reports, “The U.S. military could soon have new uncrewed aircraft that carry weapons and take off and land vertically. The vehicles could undergo test flights as early as 2026. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has announced it is moving into a new testing phase for proposed experimental aircraft in which designs will be assessed for risk and analyzed for efficiency.”
Full Story (SPACE)

 

Video

DARPA’s AdvaNced airCraft Infrastructure-Less Launch And RecoverY X-Plane program
(DARPAtv; YouTube)

NASA, DARPA, Sikorsky Design Air Taxi Software

ExecutiveGov reports that NASA is working with DARPA and Sikorsky “to develop and test autonomous software designed for future self-flying air taxis.” NASA said the research is “led by NASA’s Advanced Air Mobility program, which aims to take transportation to new heights by innovating passenger and freight flights in dense traffic environments and other scenarios.” AAM’s mission is “to ensure a safe, accessible, automated, yet affordable air transport in hard-to-reach urban and rural areas.” The three organizations “are currently designing software using scripted flight paths as well as customized test tablets and ground control room simulations to understand the technology’s behavior and response to air-to-air encounters.” The software will eventually “be installed and tested on Sikorsky’s modified S-76B helicopter, labeled the Autonomy Research Aircraft, and its Optionally Piloted Vehicle Black Hawk helicopter.”
Full Story (ExecutiveGov)

Lockheed Martin Contracted by NASA to Design, Test New Nuclear-Powered Propulsion System

The New York Times reports NASA and DARPA have announced that Lockheed Martin has been selected “to design, build and test a propulsion system that could one day speed astronauts on a trip to Mars.” The nearly $500 million program “is named DRACO, short for the Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations.” The DRACO development “is to culminate with a flight test of the nuclear-thermal engine.” Kirk Shireman, a vice president at Lockheed Martin, “said the launch was currently scheduled for late 2025 or early 2026.”
Full Story (The New York Times)

Lockheed Martin Tapped by DARPA for Next Design Phase for Aircraft Using “Active Flow Control”

Politico reports that Lockheed Martin and Aurora Flight Sciences “have been tapped by DARPA for the next design phase for an aircraft using ‘active flow control,’ which replaces traditional features such as rudders and flaps with actuators or effectors.” Both companies have already “completed conceptual designs of a flight demonstrator for the Control of Revolutionary Aircraft with Novel Effectors project.” DARPA also announced that it has “selected BAE Systems to develop a conceptual design.” Lockheed Martin and Aurora, a subsidiary of Boeing, are “expected to wrap up work next year, when DARPA will award an undetermined number of contracts for continued development.”
Full Story (Politico)

DARPA Seeks Private-Sector Input on Capabilities to Build Large Structures on the Moon

Space News  reports that the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is seeking input from the space industry “about their capabilities to manufacture large structures on the moon” for a new project, which was announced Friday, called, “Novel Orbital and Moon Manufacturing, Materials and Mass-efficient Design.” DARPA Defense Sciences Office Program Manager Bill Carter said in a statement that the agency is looking to “develop foundational materials, processes, and designs needed to realize in-space manufacturing of large, precise and resilient Defense Department systems.” The agency is inviting “companies that have technologies in this area” to join a webinar scheduled for February 26. DARPA “does not intend to issue any contracts now but is doing market research for a future solicitation.”
Full Story (Space News)

DARPA Tests AI Dogfighting in Two-Versus-One Simulations

FlightGlobal reports that DARPA’s Air Combat Evolution program tested team dogfighting between AI-controlled fighters in a software simulation in February. The “Scrimmage 1” was run by Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, and tested AI algorithms in a two-versus-one simulated engagement. DARPA Strategic Technology Office Program Manager Col. Dan Javorsek said, “These new engagements represent an important step in building trust in the algorithms since they allow us to assess how the [artificial intelligent] agents handle clear avenue of fire restrictions set up to prevent fratricide; This is exceedingly important when operating with offensive weapons in a dynamic and confusing environment that includes a manned fighter, and also affords the opportunity to increase the complexity and teaming associated with manoeuvring two aircraft in relation to an adversary.”
Full Story (FlightGlobal)

DARPA Taking Proposals for Developing “Novel or Unique” Attempts at Personal Flying Devices

The Washington Times reports that DARPA “is taking another crack at personal flying devices, inviting companies to send their proposals for developing and demonstrating ‘novel or unique approaches to personal battlefield mobility.’” Officials “said entries could be a modification of existing prototypes – such as the Bell Rocket Belt – or could embrace entirely new designs.” Agency officials also “said the platforms would be used on a variety of missions, including urban combat, search-and-rescue, and deploying special forces troops into a battlefield.” However, the military would “prefer a platform with a low profile,” and a soldier “must be able to assemble it within 10 minutes using only simple tools – or better yet, no tools at all.”
Full Story (Washington Times)

Blue Origin, Lockheed Martin Selected by DARPA to Develop Spacecraft for Nuclear Propulsion Demo

Space News reports that DARPA “selected Blue Origin and Lockheed Martin to develop competing spacecraft concepts for a demonstration of nuclear thermal propulsion, the agency announced April 12.” The contracts were awarded under the demonstration rocket for agile cislunar operations (DRACO) program. Through the program, DARPA is looking “to demonstrate nuclear thermal propulsion technology – using a nuclear reactor to heat up rocket fuel to generate thrust.” Lockheed Martin’s “contract value is $2.9 million and the Blue Origin’s is $2.5 million.”
Full Story (Space News)

DARPA to Test Nuclear-Powered Spacecraft

Space News reported that the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) plans to “send to orbit a spacecraft powered by a nuclear propulsion system.” The technology “could give the U.S. military an advantage over enemies by making satellites more maneuverable and less vulnerable to attack.” DARPA’s Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) spacecraft is scheduled to launch in 2025.
Full Story (Space News)

2024 ASCEND to Accelerate Our Off-World Future with Axiom Space, Boeing, DARPA, Lockheed Martin, NASA, Northrop Grumman, NRO, ULA, and U.S. Space Force

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 7, 2024 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) today announced dozens of speakers who will appear at its upcoming ASCEND event, 30 July – 1 August, Caesars Forum, Las Vegas. ASCEND is the world’s premier outcomes-focused, interdisciplinary space event designed to accelerate building our off-world future.

Powered by AIAA, ASCEND serves as the nexus for addressing the most important opportunities and challenges that come with increased activity in space today. Over 200 industry luminaries from across the civil, commercial, and national security space sectors, adjacent industry representatives, and next-generation thinkers from around the world are scheduled to speak. Confirmed speakers include:

  • A.C. Charania, Chief Technologist, NASA
  • Carissa Christensen, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, BryceTech*
  • Debra Emmons, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, The Aerospace Corporation
  • Barbara Golf, Strategic Advisor for Space Domain Awareness, Space Systems Command, Los Angeles Air Force Base, U.S. Space Force (USSF)
  • Janet Grondin, CEO, Stellar Solutions
  • Matt Kozlov, Managing Director, Techstars
  • Michael López-Alegría, Chief Astronaut, Axiom Space
  • Sandra Magnus, TraCSS Chief Engineer, MITRE/Office of Space Commerce*
  • Tom Marshburn, Chief Medical Officer, Sierra Space
  • Rob Meyerson, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Interlune*
  • Maj. Michael Nayak, USAF, Program Manager, DARPA
  • Shawna Pandya, Director, International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS)*
  • Nelson Pedreiro, Vice President, Advanced Technology Center, Lockheed Martin Space
  • Mark Peller, Senior Vice President, Vulcan Development and Advanced Programs, United Launch Alliance (ULA)
  • Christopher Scolese, Director, National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)
  • Lt. Gen. John Shaw, USSF (Ret.), Former Deputy Commander, U.S. Space Command
  • Lauren Smith, Senior Program Manager, Satellite Refueling, Northrop Grumman*
  • Lee Steinke, Chief Operating Officer, CisLunar Industries
  • Melanie Stricklan, Executive Director, Space Workforce 2030, Space Foundation
  • Mandy Vaughn, CEO and Founder, GXO
  • Kurt Vogel, Associate Administrator, Space Technology Mission Directorate, NASA
  • Kelly Weinersmith, Co-Author, A City on Mars
  • Matthew Weinzierl, Senior Associate Dean and Chair, MBA Program; Joseph and Jacqueline Elbling Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School*
  • Noelle Zietsman, Vice President and Chief Engineer, Boeing Exploration Systems*

*Member of the 2024 ASCEND Guiding Coalition

Many more speakers will be announced as they are confirmed. In addition, hundreds of technical papers and collaborative sessions are scheduled, featuring expert researchers and innovators that anchor the event with the long-term thinking required to build a sustainable off-world future.

“This year, we’re co-locating ASCEND with the AIAA AVIATION Forum in one venue. These two signature AIAA events will deliver full technical programs, visionary discussions, and industry networking our community counts on. With a central Expo Hall serving as the bridge between both events’ communities, we believe attendees will be energized by this unique experience. We look forward to welcoming thousands of aerospace professionals and students from across the aerospace sector,” said AIAA CEO Dan Dumbacher.

Registration for the 2024 ASCEND event is open. Early bird rates end on 10 June. Journalists from around the world are invited to cover 2024 ASCEND; press passes are available for credentialed media by request. For more information, visit ascend.events, or follow ASCEND on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

Media Contact: Rebecca Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell

About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit aiaa.org, or follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.