DefenceTalkWarfighters in aircraft, on ships and in ground vehicles have benefited tremendously from technological advances in recent decades, with advanced capabilities ranging from real-time situational awareness to precision armaments. But many of these benefits depend on equipment with substantial size, weight and power requirements, and so have remained unavailable to dismounted infantry squads who must […]https://www.defencetalk.com/squad-x-technologies-technological-advances-infantry-squad-62870/

DefenceTalkA total of $3.5 million in prizes will now be awarded to the top three finishers in the DARPA Robotics Challenge (DRC), the final event of which will be held June 5-6, 2015, at Fairplex in Pomona, Calif. The new prize structure was created in recognition of both the significant progress already demonstrated by teams […]https://www.defencetalk.com/darpas-upgraded-atlas-robot-to-go-wireless-robotics-challenge-62064/

DefenceTalkIt’s a Hollywood sci-fi fantasy that has long eluded the Pentagon: a flying “mothership” that launches smaller aircraft. The Pentagon’s research agency put out a request to industry this month to outline how a large cargo plane could release drones to spy on or attack an enemy and then return to the flying aircraft carrier. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-military-looks-for-the-elusive-mothership-61028/

DefenceTalkMilitary air operations typically rely on large, manned, robust aircraft, but such missions put these expensive assets-and their pilots-at risk. While small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) can reduce or eliminate such risks, they lack the speed, range and endurance of larger aircraft. These complementary traits suggest potential benefits in a blended approach-one in which larger […]https://www.defencetalk.com/wanted-ideas-for-transform-planes-into-aircraft-carriers-in-the-sky-60986/

DefenceTalkOne of the key goals of DARPA’s Ground X-Vehicle Technology (GXV-T) program is improving the survivability of ground-based armored fighting vehicles by increasing vehicle agility. Vehicle agility involves the ability to autonomously avoid incoming threats, either by rapidly moving out of the way or reconfiguring the vehicle so incoming threats have a low probability of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/armored-ground-vehicles-could-sprint-dodge-and-shield-their-way-out-of-danger-60570/

DefenceTalkFor the past 100 years of mechanized warfare, protection for ground-based armored fighting vehicles and their occupants has boiled down almost exclusively to a simple equation: More armor equals more protection. Weapons’ ability to penetrate armor, however, has advanced faster than armor’s ability to withstand penetration. As a result, achieving even incremental improvements in crew […]https://www.defencetalk.com/new-ground-x-vehicle-technology-program-aims-to-protect-with-less-armor-60378/

DefenceTalkThe U.S. military said Tuesday it has awarded contracts to three companies to design an experimental spaceplane conceived as a reusable, unmanned booster with costs, operation and reliability similar to modern aircraft. The companies selected to develop the XS-1 spaceplane are Boeing, working with Blue Origin; Masten Space Systems, working with XCOR Aerospace; and Northrop […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-military-awards-contracts-to-design-reusable-spaceplane-60176/

DefenceTalkMany of the advances that contribute to national security resulted from early investment in developing new technologies, the director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency told Congress yesterday. Dr. Arati Prabhakar represented the Defense Department at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing called to address concern that the national investment in research and development had […]https://www.defencetalk.com/darpa-sows-seeds-of-technological-surprise-director-says-59483/

DefenceTalkLogos Technologies has received a small business innovation research (SBIR) grant from DARPA (the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) to develop a military-use hybrid-electric motorcycle with near-silent capability. When fully matured, the technology will allow small, distributed military teams to move long distances quickly and stealthily across harsh enemy terrain. Developed in partnership with San […]https://www.defencetalk.com/darpa-awards-contract-to-develop-stealthy-military-motorcycle-for-special-forces-59311/

DefenceTalkFor generations, new designs for vertical takeoff and landing aircraft have remained unable to increase top speed without sacrificing range, efficiency or the ability to do useful work. DARPA’s VTOL Experimental Plane (VTOL X-Plane) program seeks to overcome these challenges through innovative cross-pollination between the fixed-wing and rotary-wing worlds, to enable radical improvements in vertical […]https://www.defencetalk.com/vtol-x-plane-program-takes-off-59078/