DARPA

Established in 1958, The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency or DARPA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Defense responsible for the development of emerging technologies for use by the military.

News

Bell’s DARPA SPRINT X-Plane Designated X-76

Mar 9, 2026 · Bell has completed the Critical Design Review for DARPA’s SPRINT program, designated the X-76, advancing development of a high-speed aircraft capable of operating without traditional runways.
First Soldier-Controlled Mission for MATRIX™-Powered OPV Black Hawk

Oct 30, 2025 · During Exercise Northern Strike 25-2, a U.S. soldier for the first time planned and executed a logistics mission using Sikorsky’s Optionally Piloted Vehicle (OPV) Black Hawk helicopter powered by MATRIX™ technology.
Bell to Build DARPA X-Plane

Jul 9, 2025 · Bell was awarded funding to build X-Plane for Phase 2 of DARPA Speed and Runway Independent Technologies (SPRINT) X-Plane Program
Sikorsky to Demonstrate Flight Autonomy to the Marines

Dec 13, 2024 · Under the Phase 1 Aerial Logistics Connector agreement with the US Naval Air Systems Command, Sikorsky will demonstrate its Optionally Piloted Vehicle (OPV) UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, equipped with the MATRIX flight autonomy system, to the US Marin
SPRINT Program Testing at NIAR Wind Tunnel

Dec 5, 2024 · Bell completes wind tunnel testing at the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR, Wichita University) to validate new stop/fold jet transition capability for the DARPA Speed and Runway Independent Technology (SPRINT) program
DARPA Installs MATRIX on UH-60MX Black Hawk

Oct 14, 2024 · The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) awarded Lockheed-Martin a $6M contract to install its ALIAS/MATRIX flight autonomy system onto the US Army’s experimental fly-by-wire UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter

May 28, 2024 · Bell Awarded Funding for DARPA SPRINT X-Plane
May 24, 2024 · Sikorsky Rotor Blown Wing Scalable UAS for DARPA
Nov 27, 2023 · Bell HSVTOL Selected for DARPA SPRINT Phase 1A
Jul 14, 2023 · Northrop Grumman to Design DARPA ANCILLARY
Nov 4, 2022 · Black Hawk Flies Missions Without Pilots
Aug 22, 2022 · NASA, DARPA and Sikorsky Testing Automation Concepts
Feb 9, 2022 · “ALIAS” OPV Black Hawk First Autonomous Flight
Mar 30, 2021 · OPV Black Hawk with Supervised Autonomy
Jul 10, 2019 · Skyworks and Scaled in Partnership for Vertijet
Oct 30, 2018 · US Army in Autonomous Helicopter Demonstration
Jan 11, 2017 · Sikorsky Awarded DARPA ALIAS Phase 3 Contract

Dec 23, 2016 · DARPA’s ALIAS Phase 2 Flight Tests
May 31, 2016 · Sikorsky Completes DARPA ALIAS Phase 1
Apr 18, 2016 · Aurora Flies Subscale X-Plane Aircraft
Mar 21, 2016 · DARPA Awarded Next Gen US Navy UAV Demonstrator
Mar 3, 2016 · DARPA Selects Aurora to Build VTOL X-Plane
Feb 16, 2016 · Honeywell Provides Clearer Picture For Helicopter Pilots
Jan 20, 2016 · UGV/UAV Joint Autonomy demonstration for US Army
Sep 10, 2015 · DARPA Robotic Landing Gear
Mar 4, 2015 · Sikorsky Awarded $8M for DARPA Phase 1 ALIAS
Apr 21, 2014 · Optionally Piloted Black Hawk First Flight
Aug 12, 2013 · Sikorsky Unveils Matrix Technology

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