SSC taps Northrop Grumman’s refueling systems as ‘preferred standard’

SSC taps Northrop Grumman’s refueling systems as ‘preferred standard’
SSC taps Northrop Grumman’s refueling systems as ‘preferred standard’

Northrop Grumman has been working the Space Systems Command, DARPA and the Defense Innovation Unit to develop the capabilities to refuel and service satellites on orbit under several different study efforts.

DARPA, Aurora Flight Sciences started building radical prototype plane

DARPA, Aurora Flight Sciences started building radical prototype plane
DARPA, Aurora Flight Sciences started building radical prototype plane

DARPA and Aurora Flight Sciences’ X-65 prototype aims to pioneer a new type of aircraft that maneuvers using pressurized air instead of physical flight control surfaces.

‘Off to the races’: DARPA, Harvard breakthrough brings quantum computing years closer

‘Off to the races’: DARPA, Harvard breakthrough brings quantum computing years closer
‘Off to the races’: DARPA, Harvard breakthrough brings quantum computing years closer

Quantum bits are potentially powerful but notoriously error-prone. Now a Harvard team says it has found a way to prevent mistakes — by manipulating individual atoms with laser beams — making quantum processing much more efficient.

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Rapidly evolving threats demand 21st Century Security solutions

Rapidly evolving threats demand 21st Century Security solutions
Rapidly evolving threats demand 21st Century Security solutions

Innovative, interoperable capabilities networked seamlessly across all domains will be required to maintain the edge and deter future conflict.

DARPA picks 14 vendors for lunar economy-building study

DARPA picks 14 vendors for lunar economy-building study
DARPA picks 14 vendors for lunar economy-building study

Technologies being explored include “lunar power; mining and commercial in-situ resource utilization; communications, navigation, and timing; transit, mobility, and logistics; and construction and robotics,” according to DARPA.

Space-BACN sizzling along as DARPA awards Phase 2 contracts in laser link project

Space-BACN sizzling along as DARPA awards Phase 2 contracts in laser link project
Space-BACN sizzling along as DARPA awards Phase 2 contracts in laser link project

Long-range, high-speed optical communications will be critical for the service’s plans for a “hybrid architecture” that would see networks of old and new military satellites, as well as commercial and allied networks, all communicating seamlessly to shift vast quantities of data around the world in near real-time.

Space Force orders 21 new National Security Space Launches: 11 to ULA, 10 to SpaceX

Space Force orders 21 new National Security Space Launches: 11 to ULA, 10 to SpaceX
Space Force orders 21 new National Security Space Launches: 11 to ULA, 10 to SpaceX

The planned launches, which will take place starting in FY26, include sending a second SILENTBARKER watchdog satellite jointly developed by the service and the National Reconnaissance Office to geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO).  

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True all-domain operations? It happened at Northern Edge ‘23

True all-domain operations? It happened at Northern Edge ‘23
True all-domain operations? It happened at Northern Edge ‘23

Collins Aerospace and Raytheon successfully demonstrated a suite of sensing and networking technologies that are foundational to Combined Joint All Domain Command and Control.

AFRL picks 3 contractors for JETSON effort to develop fission powered spacecraft

AFRL picks 3 contractors for JETSON effort to develop fission powered spacecraft
AFRL picks 3 contractors for JETSON effort to develop fission powered spacecraft

The Space Force sees nuclear fission reactors as a solution to replace solar panels for operations in the darkness of deep space.

Boeing nabs DARPA contract for hypersonic interceptor testing

Boeing nabs DARPA contract for hypersonic interceptor testing
Boeing nabs DARPA contract for hypersonic interceptor testing

Under its Glide Breaker project, DARPA wants to develop a prototype kill vehicle to intercept incoming hypersonic vehicles in their glide phase, before they begin high-speed maneuvers.

General Atomics LongShot drone for DARPA to start flight tests in December

General Atomics LongShot drone for DARPA to start flight tests in December
General Atomics LongShot drone for DARPA to start flight tests in December

DARPA views LongShot — an unmanned aircraft system dropped from a bomber or fighter that can launch missiles of its own — a potentially useful for both the Air Force and Navy.

3 ways DARPA aims to tame ‘strategic chaos’ with AI

3 ways DARPA aims to tame ‘strategic chaos’ with AI
3 ways DARPA aims to tame ‘strategic chaos’ with AI

Combat is too complicated and chaotic for existing AI to analyze, and DARPA is trying to figure out the best way to combine algorithms with human expertise.

DARPA, White House launch $20M AI, cybersecurity challenge

DARPA, White House launch $20M AI, cybersecurity challenge
DARPA, White House launch $20M AI, cybersecurity challenge

The Biden administration also unveiled a new executive order targeting US investment in Chinese AI, quantum and microelectronic tech.

DARPA, NASA tap Lockheed Martin to design, build DRACO nuclear rocket for deep space missions

DARPA, NASA tap Lockheed Martin to design, build DRACO nuclear rocket for deep space missions
DARPA, NASA tap Lockheed Martin to design, build DRACO nuclear rocket for deep space missions

The Space Force is interested in DRACO primarily as an option for allowing it to undertake rapid on-orbit maneuvers, but also for potential future missions out to the Moon, Mars and beyond.