The U.S. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), also referred to as Unit X, is a Department of Defense (DoD) organization that aims to accelerate the U.S. military's adoption of commercial technology. DIU partners with commercial companies to rapidly prototype and field dual-use capabilities, addressing national security challenges across areas like AI, autonomy, cyber, and space. Key activities include scouting cutting-edge technologies, streamlining contracting, and fostering collaboration between the DoD and the commercial technology sector.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
The Defense Innovation Unit started the hybrid network project in 2022 to help provide global communications regardless of terrestrial infrastructure limitations or disruptions.
L3Harris conducted its first demonstration of an electronic phased array ground antenna in 2021 under a Defense Innovation Unit contract focused on improving satellite communications for the U.S. Space Force.
Northrop Grumman is collaborating with the Space Systems Command (SSC), the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), and other customers to develop in-space refueling technologies for U.S. space-based assets.
Northrop Grumman is collaborating with the Space Systems Command (SSC), the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), and other customers to develop in-space refueling technologies for U.S. space-based assets.
Northrop Grumman is collaborating with Space Systems Command, Defense Innovation Unit, and other customers to develop in-space refueling technologies for U.S. space-based assets.
Muon Space received additional funding as an option to its contract with the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Weather Systems Branch and the Defense Innovation Unit to collect ionospheric data on the MuSat-2 satellite mission.
Orbit Fab received a $13,300,000 contract from the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit to partly fund its hydrazine fueling station.
In 2022, Muon Space received a $2,800,000 contract from the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Weather Systems Branch and the Defense Innovation Unit to deliver terrestrial weather products to the Air Force 557th Weather Wing.
Red Cat Holdings, Inc. has announced that its subsidiary, Teal Drones, has been selected by the Department of Defense’s Defense Innovation Unit and the U.S. Army as one of two finalists in the Short Range Reconnaissance Tranche 2 Program of Record.
Muon Space was awarded a contract by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Weather Systems Branch and the Defense Innovation Unit to evaluate GNSS‑R ocean wind speed, soil moisture products, and ionospheric data on the MuSat-2 satellite mission.
In 2022 the Defense Innovation Unit selected eight companies to work on the Hybrid Space Architecture: Aalyria, Anduril, Atlas Space Operations, Enveil, SpiderOak Mission Systems, Amazon Web Services, Amazon’s Project Kuiper, and Microsoft Azure Space.
The Defense Innovation Unit was established in 2015 to help the Department of Defense access and integrate commercial technologies from startup companies and other non-traditional defense contractors.
The eBee VISION UAS is part of the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Innovation Unit project to develop customized command and control software compliant with the DoD Robotic and Autonomous System-Air Interoperability Profile.
The Defense Innovation Unit selected Fenix Space, a California-based startup developing a reusable tow-launch platform.
The Defense Innovation Unit's payload will be a scramjet-powered hypersonic vehicle built by Hypersonix.
The mission is projected for early 2025 and is funded by the Defense Innovation Unit.
Vector Atomic was selected by the Defense Innovation Unit in 2020 to build an atomic sensor designed to survive the rigors of space.
The Defense Innovation Unit provided about $10,000,000 in government funding to Vector Atomic for the atomic sensor project.
The U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Innovation Unit is seeking responsive access to cislunar space.
A potential client for an in-space demonstration could be one of the Tetra-5 small satellites projected to launch in 2025 for an on-orbit refueling experiment funded by the Space Force and the Defense Innovation Unit.