Wednesday, February 15, 2006

DARPA Wants Space, UAV, Urban War Ideas - The Post Chronicle

Security&Terrorism: DARPA Wants Space, UAV, Urban War Ideas - The Post Chronicle

DARPA Wants Space, UAV, Urban War Ideas
by UPI Wire
Feb 14, 2006

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 2006 (UPI) -- Concepts for innovative new military technologies spanning space, unmanned vehicles, force protection, and urban warfare are due at the Pentagon next week.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is planning to make a series of small awards -- ranging from $200,000 to $1 million -- up to $8 million for "novel ideas that enhance military effectiveness and particularly that tilt the balance of asymmetric warfare in favor of the U.S."

DARPA opened the competition a year ago and is calling for concept papers by Feb. 16.

It is seeking new ideas for space operations including small, low-cost, high-performance satellites, rapid, flexible, low-cost launch, and space control and situational awareness.

For unmanned vehicles, it is seeking concepts including infantry support robots and low-altitude vehicles that offer mobility and speed among natural and manmade obstacles that can be deployed and operated by low echelons of troops with a reduced logistical and human burden and that can carry weapons.

DARPA also seeks what it called "tactical multipliers," including: new vehicle and weapon concepts for ground, air, and sea; force protection (defensive and counterfire) against conventional weapons and nuclear, chemical and biological weapons; technologies enabling higher-performance platforms and weapons; non-lethal anti-personnel weapons; ultra-precise, near-instantaneous power projection; and improved situational awareness.

The final category encompasses technologies for urban warfare and low-intensity conflict to rapidly neutralize combatants while leaving non-combatants unharmed. It also seeks technologies that will allow "boundless urban access with minimal disruption; rapid control, stabilization, and pacification during military operations."

Copyright 2006 by United Press International

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