Advanced Complex Systems

The SPeed and Runway INdependent Technologies (SPRINT) X-Plane Demonstration Project will develop and demonstrate the fundamental technologies needed for combined high speed and vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capabilities in a single aircraft. This program culminates in the fabrication and flight test of a demonstrator that validates the critical technologies in a representative environment and reduces technical, schedule, and cost risk for a follow-on operational system. High speed VTOL aircraft are highly desired in a variety of military missions such as infiltration/exfiltration, contested personnel recovery, troop transport, logistics support, and armed escort; however, the thresholds for speed and range have evolved with military strategy and mission needs. The SPRINT Demonstrator is envisioned to transition to a DoD component for further risk reduction flight testing. Prior to FY 2026, this program was funded in PE 0603286E, Project AIR-01.

The Otter program will develop and demonstrate air breathing propulsion technologies that enable operations in very low earth orbital domains that are currently inaccessible. Propulsion capabilities demonstrated will provide increased mission duration and ability to maneuver without regret. Key efforts include the development of new propulsion systems, improved ground test capabilities, and analysis tools to support system development. Otter will progress through development of analysis and test tools, design of candidate propulsion systems, ground testing, build of a demonstrator satellite, and culminate in a long duration (> 1 year) spaceflight demonstration. The anticipated transition partner is the U.S. Space Force. Prior to FY 2026, this program was funded in PE 0603287E, Project SPC-01.

AI Reinforcements (AIR) will develop and demonstrate dominant tactical autonomy for multi-ship, beyond visual range (BVR), real-world air combat missions. This program is focused on developing highly accurate models that are orders of magnitude faster than the present state-of-the-art and then using those models to unlock novel and robust AI-driven autonomy approaches. An operations-centric development approach will be enabled through the use of human-on-the-loop F-16 testbeds. On piloted platforms, AIR's algorithms will automate tactical control tasks transforming junior pilots from low-level tacticians into high-level mission commanders. For unpiloted platforms, AIR will enable vehicles to perform missions with minimal human oversight. The outcome of this program will be an AI air combat capability that works in dynamic, operationally representative environments. The transition partner is the U.S. Air Force. Prior to FY 2026, this program was funded in PE 0603286E, Project AIR-01.

MoHAWC will develop, integrate, and demonstrate technologies to increase effectiveness and producibility of an air-launched hypersonic cruise missile. These technologies include advancing hydrocarbon scramjet-powered propulsion operation, upgrading aircraft integration algorithms, and improving manufacturing approaches. Flight tests will expand the operational envelope. This program collaborates with Navy and Air Force science and technologies efforts to meet future technology insertion dates for service programs of record. This program builds off the demonstrator system design, technology advances and lessons learned under the Hypersonic Airbreathing Weapon Concept (HAWC) and supporting technology maturation programs. Prior to FY 2026, this program was funded in PE 0603286E, Project AIR-01.

The Control of Revolutionary Aircraft with Novel Effectors (CRANE) program will develop and demonstrate revolutionary improvements in aircraft controls technology. The program will design, build, and flight test an aircraft able to fly and maneuver at altitude relying on state-of-the-art Active Flow Control (AFC) technology. AFC is a broad term that encompasses a range of technology approaches; it includes a number of control mechanisms which alter the aerodynamic flow field thru ejection or suction of fluid via an orifice on a lifting body. An emphasis of the program is on assessing AFC component technologies, risk reduction and experimentation, integrated testing, fabrication and demonstration of a relevant scale novel and innovative aircraft. Technologies, design tools and models developed and demonstrated under this program will be made available to all Services as well as the civilian aerospace sector for application to future air systems development. Prior to FY 2026, this program was funded in PE 0603286E, Project AIR-01.

A large number of national security and commercial space systems operate at geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO), providing persistence and enabling ground station antennas to point in a fixed direction. Technologies for servicing of GEO spacecraft would involve a mix of highly automated and remotely operated (from Earth) robotic systems. The Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) program is establishing the capability to provide robotic services in GEO suitable for a variety of potential servicing tasks, in full collaboration and cooperation with existing satellite owners and national security space operators, and with sufficient propellant for several years of follow-on capability. Key RSGS challenges include robotic tool/end effector requirements, efficient orbital maneuvering of a servicing vehicle, robotic arm systems, automation of certain spacecraft operations, and development of the infrastructure for coordinated control between the servicer and client spacecraft operations teams. The transition agreement is with a commercial partner who will provide the satellite to carry the robotic payload and who will operate the robotic servicer. To support the development of a broadly accepted satellite servicing capability, DARPA is using the Consortium for Execution of Rendezvous and Servicing (CONFERS) operations approach to bring together experts from the private sector and Government to research, develop and publish nonbinding, consensus-based standards for safe operational approaches to on-orbit servicing. Prior to FY 2026, this program was funded in PE 0603287E, Project SPC-01.

Maintaining U.S. interests in cislunar space requires significant advances in propulsion technology. Current space propulsion includes electric (high efficiency but low thrust) and chemical (high thrust but low efficiency) systems. The Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) program will develop and demonstrate a High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) nuclear thermal rocket (NTR) system on orbit and is targeting an FY 2027 launch. The NTR technology demonstrated by DRACO will achieve thrust similar to chemical rockets, but with 2-5 times the efficiency. The enhanced performance afforded by NTR will allow the U.S. to lead operations in the cislunar volume, in particular for missions that require flexible mission planning and agile maneuverability. Prior to FY 2026, this program was funded in PE 0603287E, Project SPC-01.

Studies conducted under this program will examine and evaluate emerging technologies and system concepts for applicability to military use. This includes the degree and scope of potential impact and improvements to military operations, mission utility, and warfighter capability. Studies are also conducted to analyze emerging aerospace threats along with possible methods and technologies for countermeasures. The feasibility of achieving potential improvements, in terms of resources, schedule, and technological risk, is also evaluated. The results from these studies are used, in part, to formulate future prototype development programs or refocus ongoing work. Topics include: methods of defeating enemy anti-aircraft attacks; munition technologies to increase precision, range, endurance, and lethality of weapons for a variety of mission sets; novel launch systems; air vehicle control, power, propulsion, materials, and architectures; payload and cargo handling systems; applying artificial intelligence to low earth orbit (LEO) constellation operations to enable collaboration between space, air, maritime, and ground platforms in anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) theaters; robust architectures for precision navigation and timing; enabling operations in Cislunar space; novel approaches to space domain awareness; integration of commercial capabilities into military operations; and on-orbit software environments.

The LongShot program is developing and flight demonstrating an air-launched system capable of engaging multiple adversary targets from standoff ranges using existing air-to-air missiles. LongShot will be deployed either externally from existing fighters or internally from existing bombers. This system will capitalize on a slower speed, fuel-efficient air vehicle for ingress, while retaining highly energetic air-to-air missiles for end-game target engagements, which provides several key benefits that increase weapon effectiveness. This program will address the stability and control challenges of launching air-to-air missiles from a relatively small uninhabited system in an operational environment. Potential transition partners include the Navy and Air Force. Prior to FY 2026, this program was funded in PE 0603286E, Project AIR-01.