It’s a wrap: Space-BACN satellite laser link program shifts from DARPA to DIU
Space-BACN's optical inter-satellite links and related tech are transitioning to the Defense Innovation Unit for a future on-orbit pathfinder, according to industry execs.
DIU, Navy tap Anduril to prototype Dive-XL autonomous submarine
The Dive-XL prototype Anduril will be demonstrating is similar to the Ghost Shark Extra Large Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (XL-AUVs) being delivered to the Royal Australian Navy.
DIU offers $100M in prizes for voice-controlled AI-enabled drone swarm ‘orchestrator’
Instead of needing a specially trained human to remote pilot each drone or robot-boat, the Pentagon wants any servicemember to be able to give orders in plain English.
Pentagon rolls out major reforms of R&D, AI
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth consolidates tech offices under Pentagon CTO Emil Michael, launches new AI initiatives from swarms to sims to GenAI, and breaks up the sprawling Advana database.
DIU seeks microreactors from industry as Army IDs bases for nuclear power
The Janus Program is a joint effort between the Army and the Department of Energy that aims to stand up commercial nuclear microreactors at domestic military bases over the next few years.
Startup Obviant wins $99M from DIU for AI acquisition data analytics
If Obviant’s prototype succeeds, the contract allows for expanding its use across the armed services and joint Combatant Commands — potentially complementing or competing with the Pentagon’s own Advana analytics.
Army picks Anduril for counter-drone fire control system
Anduril’s win paves the way for the defense tech firm to replace Northrop Grumman’s FAAD C2 system, which provides a common picture for operators to detect and defeat air-based threats.
Nuclear power might be coming to an Army base near you, and sooner than you think
“Realistically, it's gonna take us a few months to do all this. But we are planning to put a draft RFP out within a few weeks, so we're gonna move very quickly,” an Army official said.
DIU asks industry for ‘non-kinetic’ tech to help Coast Guard, Navy disable small boats
In its solicitation, the Defense Innovation Unit explicitly cited the border patrol mission that the White House has prioritized since taking office.
The Earth Observation industry’s biggest threat isn’t China, it’s Washington
There are four steps the US can take to ensure it doesn't lag behind China and other adversaries in Earth Observation satellites, writes Payam Banazadeh in this op-ed.
‘Be uncomfortable’: Navy wants new USV to challenge the ‘status quo’
In an exclusive interview with Breaking Defense, two senior Navy officials said they’re willing to accept some industry friction and take “calculated risks” to get the Modular Attack Surface Craft program right.
DoD R&E chief says Pentagon will trim ‘critical technology’ list
"The idea is to concentrate back to a number that we really believe is critical," Emil Michael said.
Doug Beck out as DIU chief
Beck, a former Apple executive, was appointed to DIU by President Joe Biden in 2023.
Next X-37B mission to carry quantum sensor, laser link experiments
Quantum sensors hold promise to serve as the core for new systems for positioning, timing and navigation (PNT) that could provide an alternative, or even replace, today's Global Positioning System satellites.