DARPA

The agency was established on February 7, 1958, by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in response to the Soviet launching of Sputnik 1 in 1957. DARPA is responsible for developing emerging technologies for military use.

In 1959, NASA was established to oversee civilian space projects, leading to the transfer of DARPA's military space initiatives back to the services.

Through Project AGILE, DARPA purchased 1,000 AR-15s and issued them to combat troops in Southeast Asia for field trials. The subsequent report on AR-15's lethality led to its adoption as the U.S. military's individual weapon of choice.

Douglas Engelbart of SRI invented the computer mouse as part of an ARPA-funded experiment to improve computer user interaction. The first mouse was made of wood with one button, paving the way for the diverse range of mice used today.

The M16 Assault Rifle, the standard-issue weapon in the U.S. military, was developed based on the Colt AR-15 design. DARPA's involvement through Project AGILE and field trials in Southeast Asia led to the procurement of the M16 for deployment in the Vietnam conflict.

The early Arpanet computer network, which evolved into the modern Internet, was developed by DARPA's interest in solving important military problems with a broad perspective.

The Camp Sentinel Radar was developed by DARPA in response to a military need for intruder detection with accuracy to direct fire. It penetrated foliage to detect infiltrators near U.S. deployments during the Vietnam War.

In 1971, DARPA was tasked by the DoD to enhance the U.S. military's anti-submarine warfare capabilities to track Soviet submarines under the open ocean. This initiative aimed to revamp existing systems like the Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) and led to the development of new technologies.

The organization changed its name from the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in March 1972.

In 1973, DARPA's Robert Kahn collaborated with Vinton Cerf of Stanford University to create the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and the Internet Protocol (IP), forming the foundation of the modern Internet.

In the late 1977, the first practical combat stealth aircraft called HAVE Blue had its maiden test flight overseen by DARPA.

In 1978, the U.S. Navy and DARPA collaborated to develop a laser communications link between aircraft, space platforms, and submerged submarines using high-powered excimer lasers. The project led to successful demonstrations of aircraft-to-submerged-submarine communication in 1988.

In 1980, DARPA collaborated with Lockheed Space Systems Division to pioneer the welding technology for aluminum-lithium alloys, resulting in significant weight savings in space hardware construction.

In 1981, DARPA funded the Metal Oxide Silicon Implementation Service (MOSIS) to accelerate development in the microelectronics field of very large-scale integration (VLSI). MOSIS provided a quick and cost-effective way to run limited batches of custom microelectronic devices, enabling innovation in the space.

In 1982, Northrup developed the TACIT Blue aircraft under a DARPA grant, which incorporated stealth, radar, and aerodynamic innovations. This experimental aircraft played a crucial role in the development of stealth technology, paving the way for advanced stealth bombers like the B-2.

The GLOMR satellite program, sponsored by DARPA, aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of building a low-cost two-way digital data communication satellite for military missions. The satellite was successfully launched aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger and operated for over 14 months before re-entering the Earth's atmosphere.

The Microwave and Millimeter Wave Integrated Circuit (MIMIC) program aimed to develop microwave/millimeter-wave subsystems for military weapon systems, leading to advancements in materials, device design, and manufacturing. The technology found applications in military and commercial sectors.

In 1988, under the joint program Teal Rain with the U.S. Navy, DARPA funded the development of the first endurance UAV called Amber. It flew for more than 38 hours, reaching an altitude of 25,000 feet, showcasing advancements in digital flight controls, composite materials, microprocessors, and satellite navigation.

In 1989, DARPA initiated programs to support the High Performance Computing and Communications (HPCC) Initiative, which provided the necessary financial and institutional resources for the development of VCSEL technology. VCSELs offered high-speed digital interconnections crucial for the HPCC goals, leading to the formation of the Optoelectronic Technology consortium and the demonstration of multi-gigabit optoelectronic interconnect components.

Improved versions of the Williams engine powered the AGM-86B air-launched cruise missiles and Navy Tomahawk cruise missiles during Desert Storm in 1991 and in subsequent conflicts.

DARPA and the U.S. Army collaborated to develop the Brilliant Anti-Tank Munition (BAT) in the early 1970s, which evolved from the Terminally Guided Anti-Armor Indirect Fire Weapon System concept. BAT featured advanced guidance systems and an acoustic sensor to target enemy tanks effectively.

The agency reverted to its original name, Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), in February 1993.

In 1995, DARPA developed the first medium-size endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) called Amber, which later led to the creation of the Gnat 750 UAV and the Air Force-operated Tier 2 Predator UAV used in Bosnia. The Predator aircraft successfully operated in Exercise Roving Sands and was deployed in the Bosnia crisis to support UN/NATO operations.

The organization changed its name back to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in March 1996.

In 2002, DARPA established the High-Productivity Computing Systems (HPCS) program with the aim of revitalizing supercomputer research and markets. The program sought to develop faster, more efficient, and affordable machines by providing grants to key players like IBM, Cray, Hewlett-Packard, Silicon Graphics, and Sun Microsystems.

On February 4, 2004, DARPA terminated its 'LifeLog Project', which aimed to compile an individual's activities, interactions, and experiences in a centralized database. The project raised concerns about privacy and surveillance.

In 2004, DARPA organized the Grand Challenge to accelerate the development of autonomous vehicle technologies. Despite offering a $1 million prize, no team successfully completed the designated route from Barstow, CA, to Primm, NV. The event aimed to spur American ingenuity in autonomous vehicle technology.

DARPA initiated a program that resulted in the creation of BigDog, a robotic pack mule designed to assist warfighters in operations. BigDog's on-board computer controls locomotion, processes sensors, and handles communications with the user.

The DARPA Urban Challenge took place on November 3, 2007, at George AFB in Victorville, Calif. Teams competed to develop autonomous vehicles capable of navigating urban traffic and complex maneuvers. The event marked a significant advancement in autonomous driving technology.

On October 28, 2009, DARPA initiated the construction of a new facility in Arlington County, Virginia, near The Pentagon. The facility symbolized DARPA's continued commitment to innovation and research.

In 2010, DARPA deployed the High-Altitude LIDAR Operations Experiment (HALOE) to Afghanistan, leveraging past developments in LIDAR technology. HALOE provided high-resolution 3-D geospatial data, supporting the warfighter and earning DARPA recognition from the Secretary of Defense.

The Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle 2 (HTV-2) program by DARPA aimed to advance technologies for long-duration hypersonic flight. The unmanned aircraft, capable of reaching speeds up to Mach 20, was a significant step towards achieving rapid transcontinental travel.

The ICECool project in 2012 addressed thermal management challenges in military electronic systems. By enhancing cooling capabilities within electronic components, ICECool aimed to optimize performance and reliability in systems with high component density.

On March 19-20, 2014, the final event of the DARPA Spectrum Challenge took place, with 15 teams from the U.S. competing to develop programmable radios for high-priority transmissions in congested spectrum environments.

In June 2015, the DARPA Robotics Challenge finale occurred in Pomona, California, where robot systems and software teams showcased their capabilities in responding to natural and man-made disasters.

On June 5, 2016, NASA and DARPA announced plans to develop new X-planes over the next decade. This collaboration aimed to advance a series of experimental aircraft to push the boundaries of aeronautical technology.

Sharon Weinberger provides a definitive history of DARPA, the agency that has shaped war and technology for nearly 60 years. Founded in 1958, DARPA's mission was to create future weapons. The book explores DARPA's impact beyond military technology.

DARPA transferred the Sea Hunter vessel to the Office of Naval Research as the Medium Displacement Unmanned Surface Vehicle, marking a significant milestone in the Anti-Submarine Warfare program.

DARPA's Launch Challenge concluded on March 2, 2020, with Astra being the lone participant but scrubbing its launch attempt due to technical and weather-related issues. The challenge aimed to achieve launch-readiness with minimal infrastructure.

DARPA's Finding Exploits to Thwart Tampering (FETT) Bug Bounty validated the security-enhancing efficacy of newly designed hardware architectures under the SSITH program after three months of review by cybersecurity researchers.

The URSA program aims to develop technology for autonomous systems in cities to detect and identify enemies before troops encounter them, utilizing algorithms, multiple sensors, and knowledge of human behavior.