DARPA

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is a research and development agency of the United States Department of Defense. It was created on February 7, 1958, by President Dwight D. Eisenhower after the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1 in 1957. DARPA works with universities, companies, and government groups to develop new technologies for the military.

DARPA has helped create many important technologies we use today, such as weather satellites, GPS, drones, stealth technology, voice interfaces, the personal computer, and the internet. Because of its success, many other countries have started their own research agencies.

DARPA is led by Stephen Winchell and has about 220 government employees. These employees manage around 250 research and development programs, working on projects that push the limits of technology and science.

History

Early history (1958–1969)

The Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) was created in 1958 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower after the Soviet Union launched the first satellite, Sputnik. Its job was to work on new technology ideas that could help the military. It started with about 150 people and $520 million.

ARPA worked on many important projects. When NASA began in 1958, ARPA gave its space projects to NASA. This let ARPA focus on riskier research. ARPA helped start the Internet by supporting a network called ARPANET. It also worked on missile defense, nuclear test detection, and new computer ideas.

Later history (1970–1980)

In the 1970s, laws limited ARPA to projects that had clear military uses. This caused many scientists to leave for private companies. ARPA worked on technology for airplanes, ships, and space, as well as new computing ideas.

Recent history (1981–present)

In the 1980s and beyond, ARPA, later renamed DARPA, kept working on new technology. It explored fast airplanes, small satellites, and new ideas for defense. In recent years, DARPA has worked on computer security, new vehicles, and ideas for space travel. It has also started prize competitions to encourage new inventions.

Organization

DARPA has six main technical offices that manage its research projects, plus two special project offices. All of these offices report to the DARPA director.

The Defense Sciences Office (DSO) looks for new and exciting research ideas in science and engineering that could become important for U.S. national security. The Information Innovation Office (I2O) works to keep U.S. technology strong in areas where information is very important for the military. The Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) develops tiny, smart microsystems and parts to help the U.S. stay ahead in important military systems. The Strategic Technology Office (STO) focuses on technologies that affect large areas and many military services. The Tactical Technology Office (TTO) does advanced research on airplanes, space systems, and land vehicles. The Biological Technologies Office (BTO) started in 2014 to combine biology, engineering, and computer science for national security.

In the past, DARPA had other offices with different focuses. These offices have since changed or been combined.

Directors of DARPA have included many leaders over the years.

Projects

A list of DARPA's active and past projects can be found on the agency's website. Because DARPA works quickly, new projects start and end based on what the U.S. government needs.

Active projects

• AdvaNced airCraft Infrastructure-Less Launch And RecoverY X-Plane (ANCILLARY) (2022): This project aims to create a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) plane that can launch without special support. It would be light, carry a lot, and fly far. In June 2023, DARPA chose nine companies to design an uncrewed aircraft system (UAS).

• AI Cyber Challenge (AIxCC) (2023): This is a two-year competition to use artificial intelligence to find and fix problems in software. Companies like Anthropic, Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI help with this challenge. The final event was held at DEF CON in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2024 and 2025.

• Air Combat Evolution (ACE) (2019): ACE aims to make air combat reactions faster by using machines. It tests how well machines can work with humans in fights. Eight teams started in October 2019. In April 2024, ACE tested AI algorithms flying an F-16 against a human pilot.

• Air Space Total Awareness for Rapid Tactical Execution (ASTARTE) (2020): This project, worked on with the Army and Air Force, uses sensors and artificial intelligence to give a clear picture of the battlefield when troops are spread out across battlefields.

• Biomanufacturing: Survival, Utility, and Reliability beyond Earth (B-SURE) (2021): This project studies how well tiny living organisms can make drugs and nutrients in space. In April 2023, the International Space Station started testing how gravity affects these organisms.

• Big Mechanism: Cancer research. (2015) This project develops technology to understand causes of cancer by reading research papers. It focuses on signaling pathways. It has a follow-on program called World Modelers.

• Binary structure inference system: This extracts software information from code to help fix and maintain software (2020).

• Blackjack (2017): This project tests military satellite constellation technology using commercial satellite buses. It aims to show that smaller, cheaper satellites can perform military missions. Blue Canyon Technologies, Raytheon, and SA Photonics Inc. worked on it in 2020. On June 12, 2023, DARPA launched four satellites for a test in low Earth orbit on the SpaceX Transporter-8 rideshare.

• BlockADE: Rapidly constructed barrier. (2014)

• Causal Exploration of Complex Operational Environments ("Causal Exploration") – computer help for military planning. (2018)

• Collaborative Operations in Denied Environment (CODE): Software that lets UAVs share information in difficult environments to find and engage targets with less help from operators. (2015)

• Control of Revolutionary Aircraft with Novel Effectors (CRANE) (2019): This project tests a new aircraft design using air to control movement without traditional controls. In May 2023, DARPA named the test aircraft the X-65, which uses air nozzles to maneuver.

• Computational Weapon Optic (CWO) (2015): A computer scope for rifles that combines many features in one optic.

• DARPA Triage Challenge (DTC) (2023): This challenge creates new ways to assess medical conditions quickly to improve emergency response in both military and civilian settings.

• DARPA XG (2005): Technology for reliable military communications.

• Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) (2021): This project will test a nuclear thermal rocket (NTR) in space by 2027 with help from NASA and the U.S. Space Force.

• Detection system using CRISPR-based tests for diagnostics and surveillance

• Electronics Resurgence Initiative (ERI) (2019): This initiative supports U.S. security and economy by working with industry and universities. In 2023, ERI 2.0 began to improve domestic microelectronics manufacturing.

• Experimental Spaceplane 1 (formerly XS-1): In 2017, Boeing was chosen to build a reusable unmanned space vehicle, but ended its role in January 2020.

• Fast Lightweight Autonomy: Software that lets small UAVs fly quickly in complicated areas without GPS or remote control. (2014)

• Fast Network Interface Cards (FastNICs): Develop faster network systems to improve tasks like training machine learning models. Perspecta Labs and Raytheon BBN worked on this in 2020.

• Force Application and Launch from Continental United States (FALCON): A project to create a small satellite launch vehicle. (2008) Developed by AirLaunch LLC.

• Gamma Ray Inspection Technology (GRIT) program: Research to create small, portable devices that can find hidden nuclear materials using gamma rays. RadiaBeam Technologies LLC worked on it in 2020.

• Glide Breaker program: Technology to intercept high-speed hypersonic vehicles or missiles in the upper atmosphere. Northrop Grumman and Aerojet Rocketdyne worked on it in 2020.

• Gremlins (2015): Small, recoverable UAVs for flexible, low-cost missions. In October 2021, two X-61 Gremlin air vehicles were tested at the Army's Dugway Proving Ground, Utah.

• Ground X-Vehicle Technology (GXV-T) (2015): This project aims to improve future combat vehicles with better mobility and safety without adding heavy armor.

• High Operational Temperature Sensors (HOTS)(2023): This project develops sensors that work at very high temperatures (at least 800°C).

• HIVE (Hierarchical Identify Verify Exploit) CPU architecture. (2017)

• Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC). This is a joint DARPA/U.S. Air Force project to create an effective, affordable hypersonic missile.

• Insect Allies (2017–2021)

• Intelligent Integration of Information (I3) in SISTO, 1994–2000 – supported database research and helped fund the NSF Digital Library program, which led to Google.

• Joint All-Domain Warfighting Software (JAWS): Software to help plan and control battles with automation and predictive analytics. Companies like Systems & Technology Research and Raytheon are working on it.

• Lasers for Universal Microscale Optical Systems (LUMOS): Integrate materials to create high-performance lasers. In 2020, SUNY worked on adding laser capability to tiny devices.

• LongShot (2021): This project develops an unmanned air-launched vehicle (UAV) that can use air-to-air weapons. In June 2023, DARPA awarded a contract to General Atomics to build and test a flying missile carrier in 2025.

• Manta Ray: A 2020 DARPA program to create large, autonomous, unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) for long missions with big payloads. In December 2021, DARPA awarded contracts to Northrop Grumman and Martin Defense Group. By May 2024, a prototype named Manta Ray was tested in the Pacific Ocean. It can be broken into parts to fit in shipping containers, assembled where needed, and used with help from the US Navy.

• Media Forensics (MediFor): A project to automatically find digital changes in images and videos, including Deepfakes. (2018). MediFor ended in 2020 and DARPA started a new program in 2021 called semantic forensics, or SemaFor.

• Millimeter-wave GaN Maturation (MGM) program: Develop new technology for fast, high-power transistors. HRL Laboratories LLC is working on phase 2 in 2020.

• Modular Optical Aperture Building Blocks (MOABB) program (2015): Design small, light devices that can steer light beams quickly for tasks like scanning, communications, and sensing. Analog Photonics LLC is working on phase 3, expected to finish by May 2022.

• Multi- Azimuth Defense Fast Intercept Round Engagement System (MAD-FIRES) program: Develop guided projectiles that combine missile and bullet features for ship defense. Raytheon is working on phase 3, expected to finish by November 2022.

• Near Zero Power RF and Sensor Operations (N-ZERO): Reduce power use in small ground sensors. (2015)

• Neural implants for soldiers. (2014)

• No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS): USX-1 Defiant, a medium uncrewed surface vessel (USV) was first seen in public in March 2025

• Novel, nonsurgical, bi-directional brain-computer interface with high spacio-temporal resolution and low latency for potential human use.

• Open, Programmable, Secure 5G (OPS-5G) (2020): This project aims to create secure, open-source software for 5G networks to address security risks. It seeks to develop portable, standards-compliant network systems for 5G and future networks like 6G.

• Operational Fires (OpFires): Develop a mobile ground-launched booster for hypersonic weapons to beat enemy defenses. Lockheed Martin worked on phase 3 in 2020, with testing in July 2022.

• Persistent Close Air Support (PCAS): Created in 2010 to improve Close Air Support by letting ground agents and pilots share real-time information.

• Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites program (RSGS): A telerobotic and autonomous project to service satellites in space. In 2020, DARPA chose Northrop Grumman's SpaceLogistics. The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory designed the robotic arm. Service is expected to start in 2025.

• Robotic Autonomy in Complex Environments with Resiliency (RACER) (2020): This four-year program ensures autonomous combat vehicles can perform as well as or better than human drivers. RACER tested off-road unmanned vehicles in March 2023.

• SafeGenes: A synthetic biology project to add "undo" sequences to gene editing programs (2016)

• Sea Train (2019): This project aims to extend the range of medium unmanned surface vessels by reducing wave resistance. Applied Physical Sciences Corp. started Phase 1 in 2019, expected to finish in March 2022. Sea Train, NOMARS and Manta Ray are three programs that could impact naval operations.

• Secure Advanced Framework for Simulation & Modeling (SAFE-SiM) program: Build a quick modeling and simulation system to help leaders make decisions. Radiance Technologies and L3Harris worked on it in 2020, expected to finish in August and September 2021.

• Securing Information for Encrypted Verification and Evaluation (SIEVE) program: Use special proofs to verify military capabilities without revealing sensitive details. Galois Inc. and Stealth Software Technologies are working on it, expected to finish in May 2024.

• Semantic Forensics (SemaFor) program: Develop technology to detect and stop false media like texts, audio, images, and videos. SRI International and Kitware Inc. are working on it, expected to finish in July 2024.

• Sensor plants: DARPA "is working on a plan to use plants to gather intelligence information" through its Advanced Plant Technologies (APT) program, which aims to control plants to detect chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats. (2017)

• Synthetic Hemo-technologIEs to Locate and Disinfect (SHIELD) (2023): This program aims to prevent bloodstream infections caused by bacteria and fungi, protecting both military and civilian populations.

• SIGMA: A network of small devices to detect radioactive materials, placed with larger detectors along roads and bridges. (2016)

• SIGMA+ program (2018): Build on SIGMA to detect traces of explosives and chemical and biological weapons in cities. In October 2021, the SIGMA+ program tested new sensors with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

• SoSITE: System of Systems Integration Technology and Experimentation: Combine aircraft, weapons, sensors, and systems to spread air warfare abilities across many manned and unmanned platforms. (2015)

• SSITH: System Security Integrated Through Hardware and Firmware - secure hardware platform (2017); basis for open-source, hack-proof voting system project and 2019 system prototype contract

• SXCT: Squad X Core Technologies: Digital, integrated technologies to improve soldiers' awareness, precision, and impact. (2015)

• Tactical Boost Glide (TBG): Air-launched hypersonic boost glide missile. (2016)

• Tactically Exploited Reconnaissance Node (Tern)(2014): This project aims to develop ship-based drone systems for long-range surveillance and attack beyond current helicopter capabilities.

• ULTRA-Vis (Urban Leader Tactical Response, Awareness and Visualization): Heads-up display for soldiers. (2014)

• underwater network, heterogeneous: Develop concepts and architecture for undersea communications and autonomous systems for sea use. Raytheon BBN is working on it, with work expected through 4 May 2021, and possibly through 4 February 2024 if options are exercised.

• Upward Falling Payloads: Payloads stored on the ocean floor that can be activated and retrieved when needed. (2014)

• Urban Reconnaissance through Supervised Autonomy (URSA) program: Develop city technology for U.S. infantry to detect enemies before troops arrive. Soar Technology Inc. is working on vehicle autonomy, with work expected to finish by March 2022.

• Warrior Web: Soft exosuit to reduce stress on soldiers carrying heavy loads. (2014)

• Waste Upcycling for Defense (WUD) (2023): Turn scrap wood, cardboard, paper, and other materials into reusable building materials.

Undated Programs

• Atmospheric Water Extraction (AWE) program[82]
• Captive Air Amphibious Transporter (CAAT)[97]
• broadband, electro-magnetic spectrum receiver system: prototype and demonstration[95]
• Clean-Slate Design of Resilient, Adaptive, Secure Hosts (CRASH), a DARPA Transformation Convergence Technology Office (TCTO) initiative[100]
• High Productivity Computing Systems[130]
• Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC)[133]
• Hypersonic Boost Glide Systems Research[134]
• Integrated Sensor is Structure (ISIS)[138] - This was a joint DARPA and U.S. Air Force program to develop a sensor to be fully integrated into a stratospheric airship.
• MEMS Exchange[154}[155] - Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) Implementation Environment (MX)
• PREventing EMerging Pathogenic Threats (PREEMPT)
• QuASAR: Quantum Assisted Sensing and Readout^[when?]
• QuBE: Quantum Effects in Biological Environments^[when?]
• QUEST: Quantum Entanglement Science and Technology
• Quiness: Macroscopic Quantum Communications
• QUIST: Quantum Information Science and Technology^[when?]
• RADICS: Rapid Attack Detection, Isolation and Characterization Systems
• Rational Integrated Design of Energetics (RIDE): developing tools that speed up and facilitate energetics research.
• Remote-controlled insects
• SyNAPSE[209] - Systems of Neuromorphic Adaptive Plastic Scalable Electronics
• TransApps (Transformative Applications) - rapid development and fielding of secure mobile apps in the battlefield

Past or transitioned projects

• ACTIVE SOCIAL ENGINEERING DEFENSE - a research to automatically target social engineering attacks
• 4MM (4-minute mile): Wearable jetpack to enable soldiers to run at increased speed.
• Air Dominance Initiative: a 2015 program to develop technologies to be used in sixth-generation jet fighters. The Air Dominance Initiative study led to the U.S. Air Force's sixth-generation air superiority initiative, the Next Generation Air Dominance.
• Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel (ACTUV) (2010): A project to build an unmanned anti-submarine warfare vessel.
• AGM-158C LRASM: Anti-ship cruise missile.
• Adaptive Vehicle Make: Revolutionary approaches to the design, verification, and manufacturing of complex defense systems and vehicles.
• ARPA Midcourse Optical Station (AMOS), a research facility that now forms part of the Haleakala Observatory.
• ArcLight: Ship-based weapon system capable of striking targets nearly anywhere on the globe, based on the Standard Missile 3.
• ARPANET, earliest predecessor of the Internet.
• Assault Breaker: technology integration to defeat armored attacks
• ASTOVL, precursor of the Joint Strike Fighter program
• The Aspen Movie Map allowed one to virtually tour the streets of Aspen, Colorado. Developed in 1978, it is the earliest predecessor to products like Google Street View.^{: 244  : 149  : 93} 
• Atlas: A humanoid robot.
• Battlefield Illusion
• BigDog/Legged Squad Support System (2012): legged robots.
• Boeing Pelican
• Boeing X-37 (2004): The X-37 program was transferred from NASA to DARPA in September 2004.
• The Boeing X-45 unmanned combat aerial vehicle refers to a mid-2000s concept demonstrator for autonomous military aircraft.
• Boomerang (mobile shooter detection system): an acoustic gunfire locator developed by BBN Technologies for detecting snipers on military combat vehicles.
• CALO or "Cognitive Assistant that Learns and Organizes": software
• Combat Zones That See (CTS): "track everything that moves" in a city by linking up a massive network of surveillance cameras
• Cognitive Technology Threat Warning System (CT2WS) (2011)
• Consortium for Execution of Rendezvous and Servicing Operations (CONFERS) (2017).
• CPOF: the command post of the future—networked information system for Command control.
• DAML
• ALASA: (Airborne Launch Assist Space Access): A rocket capable of launching a 100-pound satellite into low Earth orbit for less than $1 million.
• FALCON
• DARPA Grand Challenge: driverless car competitions
• DARPA GXV-T: Ground X Vehicle ^[when?]
• Hydra: Undersea network of mobile unmanned sensors. (2013)
• DARPA Network Challenge (before 2010)
• DARPA Shredder Challenge 2011 – Reconstruction of shredded documents
• DARPA Silent Talk: A planned program attempting to identify EEG patterns for words and transmit these for covert communications.
• DARPA Spectrum Challenge (2014)
• DEFENDER
• Defense Simulation Internet, a wide-area network supporting Distributed Interactive Simulation
• Discoverer II radar satellite constellation
• EATR
• EXACTO: Sniper rifle firing guided smart bullets.
• GALE: Global Autonomous Language Exploitation
• High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP): An ionospheric research program jointly funded by DARPA, the U.S. Air Force's AFRL and the U.S. Navy's NRL. The most prominent area during this research was the high-power radio frequency transmitter facility, which tested the use of the Ionospheric Research Instrument (IRI).
• High Energy Liquid Laser Area Defense System (HELLADS) The goal of the HELLADS program was to develop a 150 kilowatt (kW) laser weapon system. In 2015, DARPA's contractor, General Atomics, successfully demonstrated a prototype.^{[citation needed]} In 2020, General Atomics and Boeing announced to develop a 100 kW liquid laser system, with plans to scale it up to 250 kW.
• High Performance Knowledge Bases
• HISSS
• Human Universal Load Carrier: battery-powered human exoskeleton.
• Hypersonic Research Program
• Luke Arm, a DEKA creation produced under the Revolutionizing Prosthetics program.
• MAHEM: Molten penetrating munition.
• MEMEX (2014–2017): an online search tool to fight human trafficking crimes on the dark web. In 2016, DARPA Memex program received the 2016 Presidential Award for Extraordinary Efforts to Combat Trafficking in Persons for the development of the anti-trafficking technology tool. The program was named and inspired by the Vannevar Bush's hypothetical device described in his 1945 article.
• MeshWorm: an earthworm-like robot.
• Mind's Eye: A visual intelligence system capable of detecting and analyzing activity from video feeds.
• MOSIS
• MQ-1 Predator
• Multics
• Next Generation Tactical Wearable Night Vision: Smaller and lighter sunglass-sized night vision devices that can switch between different viewing bands.
• NLS/Augment: the origin of the canonical contemporary computer user interface
• Northrop Grumman Switchblade: an unmanned oblique-wing flying aircraft for high speed, long range and long endurance flight
• One Shot: Sniper scope that automatically measures crosswind and range to ensure accuracy in field conditions.
• Onion routing, a technique developed in the mid-1990s and later employed by Tor to anonymize communications over a computer network.
• Passive radar^{[citation needed]}
• Phoenix: A 2012–early-2015 satellite project with the aim to recycle retired satellite parts into new on-orbit assets. The project was initiated in July 2012 with plans for system launches no earlier than 2016. At the time, Satlet tests in low Earth orbit were projected to occur as early as 2015.^{[needs update]}
• Policy Analysis Market, evaluating the trading of information futures contracts based on possible political developments in several Middle Eastern countries. An application of prediction markets.
• POSSE
• Project AGILE, a Vietnam War-era investigation into methods of remote, asymmetric warfare for use in conflicts with Communist insurgents.
• Project MAC
• Proto 2: a thought-controlled prosthetic arm
• Rapid Knowledge Formation^{[citation needed]}
• Sea Shadow
• SIMNET: Wide area network with vehicle simulators and displays for real-time distributed combat simulation: tanks, helicopters and airplanes in a virtual battlefield.
• System F6—Future, Fast, Flexible, Fractionated Free-flying Spacecraft United by Information Exchange—technology demonstrator: a 2006–2012
• I3 (Intelligent Integration of Information), supported the Digital Library research effort through NSF
• Strategic Computing Program
• Synthetic Aperture Ladar for Tactical Applications (SALTI)
• XOS: powered military exoskeleton $226 million technology development program. Cancelled in 2013 before the notionally planned 2015 launch date.
• SURAN (1983–87)
• Project Vela (1963)
• UAVForge (2011)
• Vertical Take-Off and Landing Experimental Aircraft (VTOL X-Plane) (2013)
• Viet Cong Motivation and Morale Project (1964–1968)
• Vulture: Long endurance, high-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle.
• VLSI Project (1978) – Its offspring include BSD Unix, the RISC processor concept, many CAD tools still in use today.^{[citation needed]}
• Walrus HULA: high-capacity, long range cargo airship.
• Wireless Network after Next (WNaN), advanced tactical mobile ad hoc network
• WolfPack (2010)
• XDATA: Processing and analyzing vast amounts of information. (2012)
• Rockwell-MBB X-31
• Grumman X-29

Notable fiction

DARPA is often shown in books, TV shows, and movies because it is a high-tech government agency. It appears in stories like Tom Swift and the Visitor from Planet X, where it helps with a technical problem. DARPA is also mentioned in TV shows such as The West Wing and Numb3rs, as well as in the Netflix film Spectral.