Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)

What if the advantage isn’t in the parts, but in how everything connects? A new chapter is taking shape. Keep your eyes and ears open. Subscribe to the Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) newsletter: https://lnkd.in/epunNP2H

Round 1 results are officially in for the DARPA Bio Attribution Challenge! 🎉 We are thrilled to announce the top performers in the detection phase, who successfully identified and characterized pathogens within complex environmental samples: 🏆 First: Team Crits-Christoph & Hakim 🥈 Second: Treangen Lab, Rice University 🥉 Third: Pastor21 AI Inc. Congratulations to these teams for their groundbreaking work in enhancing national security and public health. We look forward to seeing what the attribution phase brings! Learn more and view the full leaderboard: https://lnkd.in/eCrv8Kmw

In collaboration with the Air Force Research Laboratory and Northrop Grumman, we flew the XRQ-73, a hybrid-electric, unmanned experimental aircraft. ✈️⚡️ The flight occurred at the 412th Test Wing, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., in April 2026 as part of DARPA’s Series Hybrid Electric Propulsion AiRcraft Demonstration (SHEPARD) program. This flight is a step forward in demonstrating the military utility of hybrid-electric propulsion. Hybrid-electric propulsion architectures will drive the development of revolutionary new aircraft designs by offering a combination of fuel efficiency, reduced emissions, and enhanced operational flexibility. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/diWAW5xy

The Tactical Technology Office (TTO) is seeking information to advance autonomous drone constellations for the U.S. military. This Request for Information (RFI) is split into two parts: ▪️ Fully autonomous Group 1-3 drones capable of forming a constellation of up to 500 aircraft ▪️ Standard and non-standard containers capable of drone storage, logistics management, launch, recovery, and recharge/refuel, while conforming to the intention of a standardized military container See full details and submission instructions: https://lnkd.in/euHabDtn Your inputs can inform new program ideas. Send us yours by May 15, 2026, at 4 p.m. ET.

Are you developing new technologies that can enable increased efficiency in the production and distribution of energetic materials?⚡ The Strategic Technology Office (STO) is seeking innovative solutions to support advanced energetics manufacturing. We will be hosting a Technical Interchange Meeting (TIM) on May 27, 2026, in Arlington, Va., to discuss these emerging technologies. Inputs are due May 8, 2026. Please note: Space at the TIM is limited. Registration information will only be provided to RFI respondents who receive a formal invitation and approval from the hosting program manager. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e_7KJhYG

You can leave DARPA, but it never leaves you. The intellectual camaraderie, passion for the mission and connections made here stick with you long after you walk out of the doors. There are almost infinite possibilities for a career once your time at DARPA expires. When Anne left, she chose a role that allowed an expansion into the broader "innovation ecosystem." She didn't just get a new job; she found a new way to drive for impact and remain a key player in shaping the future of technology. Watch the full videos: https://lnkd.in/eX742MjN

We’re calling on the research community to help define a new class of materials capable of intermixed sensing, adapting, and acting in real time without relying on continuous external computation or communication links. Learn more about our new RFI and planned workshop to explore embedding intelligence directly into the physical materials of robotic systems. https://lnkd.in/dCJHfXcd

Expanding capability, without expanding the kit. 🎒🐕 DARPA is seeking innovative biomedical and vet-tech startups for a new SBIR program. The goal? Develop species-interoperable medical technologies — like universal synthetic plasma and adjustable sensors — that save the lives of both human warfighters and military working dogs. Let's reduce the logistical burden on our medics, handlers, and doctors while improving care. Read the solicitation and submit your white paper today: https://lnkd.in/eubzMByb 📸: Michelle Thum | Public Health Command Europe

"You want to be here ... you want to come to DARPA." 💡 What started as a physics major's curiosity turned into a mission to revolutionize battlefield medicine. After seeing a DARPA-funded robotic arm in action, Lt. Col. Adam Willis, M.D., U.S. Air Force, made a cold call that altered his career path. Now, he's a program manager driving groundbreaking therapeutics and autonomous surgical tools to save lives when evacuation isn't an option. Hear the full story on our new "Voices from DARPA" episode: https://lnkd.in/dpTa-CbT

Reminder 📅: Registration for the May 7 DISCORD Proposers Day closes on Tuesday, April 28. Our DISCORD program aims to develop an Artificial Intelligence (AI) tactics engine that can incorporate live sensor data and high-fidelity simulation to rapidly generate tactics that continuously adapt to changes in the operational environment. The Proposers Day will include Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and all attendees must be either U.S. citizens or U.S. persons. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eNPUxDnz