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U.S. Defense Innovation Unit

US

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.

gov defenseFounded 2015
Mountain View, California, United States
www.diu.mil
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All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.

Steve Butow, director of the Defense Innovation Unit’s space portfolio, stated that the hybrid space architecture will support the Joint All-Domain Command and Control effort.

CapabilityValue 3.0Jul 7, 2022Defense Innovation Unit selects contractors to build hybrid space network

Atlas Space Operations announced its Defense Innovation Unit award in the previous month.

RelationshipsValue 2.6Jul 7, 2022Defense Innovation Unit selects contractors to build hybrid space network

The Defense Innovation Unit aims to ensure the hybrid architecture does not introduce vulnerabilities through increased access points.

LegalCapabilityValue 1.5Jul 7, 2022Defense Innovation Unit selects contractors to build hybrid space network

The Defense Innovation Unit awarded contracts to Anduril, Aalyria Technologies, Atlas Space Operations, and Enveil for a project to demonstrate a hybrid architecture for satellite data sharing.

RelationshipsCapabilityValue 4.0Jul 7, 2022Defense Innovation Unit selects contractors to build hybrid space network

Atlas Space Operations received a Defense Innovation Unit contract on 2022-06-08 to demonstrate a hybrid network linking Department of Defense, civil government, and commercial satellites.

RelationshipsCapabilityPlanValue 4.5Jun 13, 2022Atlas wins Defense Innovation Unit Award for hybrid network

ATLAS Space Operations received the Hybrid Space Architecture (HSA) contract from the Defense Innovation Unit to demonstrate a federated network.

RelationshipsValue 4.7Jun 12, 2022ATLAS Space Operations receives a Defense Innovation Unit award for federated network demo

The Defense Innovation Unit selected Ultra Safe Nuclear Corp. and Avalanche Energy on 2022-05-17 to develop small nuclear-powered spacecraft for in-space demonstrations planned for 2027.

PlanRelationshipsCapabilityValue 4.7May 17, 2022DIU selects nuclear-powered spacecraft designs for 2027 demonstrations

The Defense Innovation Unit is a Department of Defense organization created to bring commercial technologies into military programs and is soliciting bids for satellite refueling solutions.

PlanCapabilityValue 3.0Apr 13, 2022Space Force looking at what it will take to refuel satellites in orbit

A Defense Innovation Unit solicitation seeking commercial responsive in-space refueling solutions closes 2022-04-18.

LegalPlanValue 2.0Apr 13, 2022Space Force looking at what it will take to refuel satellites in orbit

The Defense Innovation Unit was established in 2015 by then-Defense Secretary Ash Carter in Silicon Valley.

GovernanceValue 3.6Mar 14, 2022DoD wants to change how it buys space technology – but can it?

senseFly, an AgEagle subsidiary, is one of the first eleven vendors to be designated a Blue UAS under the Defense Innovation Unit’s Blue sUAS 2.0.

LegalRelationshipsValue 4.0Mar 11, 2022AgEagle announces eBee TAC drone solution added to Blue UAS cleared list by Defense Innovation Unit

The eBee TAC Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) has been approved by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) for procurement by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).

LegalRelationshipsValue 3.8Mar 11, 2022AgEagle announces eBee TAC drone solution added to Blue UAS cleared list by Defense Innovation Unit

National Security Innovation Capital, a hardware development accelerator within the Defense Innovation Unit, awarded Xplore a $2,000,000 contract to accelerate development of Xcraft.

RelationshipsFinancialCapabilityPlanValue 5.0Feb 26, 2022Xplore banks $16.2 million for space-as-a-service

Lyten won a contract from DIU in spring 2020 under an "other transactions" agreement in which the government and the contractor co-invest in the project.

RelationshipsFinancialValue 4.5Jan 10, 2022Defense Innovation Unit taps Lyten to develop high-performance batteries for small satellites

Maxar Technologies won a $9,300,000 Department of Defense contract to produce two in-space servicing robotic arms for the Defense Innovation Unit.

RelationshipsFinancialValue 5.0Dec 20, 2021U.S. Defense Innovation Unit selects Maxar to produce robotic arms for on-orbit servicing

AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. announced that its subsidiary, senseFly, has been named to the Blue sUAS 2.0 list by the US Department of Defense’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU).

LegalRelationshipsValue 3.5Nov 1, 2021senseFly, an AgEagle company, named to Blue sUAS 2.0 list of drone suppliers by the US Defense Innovation Unit

The Blue sUAS 2.0 project follows the successful partnership between the U.S. Army and DIU on the Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) program that started in 2019.

RelationshipsValue 4.0Nov 1, 2021senseFly, an AgEagle company, named to Blue sUAS 2.0 list of drone suppliers by the US Defense Innovation Unit

The Defense Innovation Unit made eight awards totaling approximately $14,000,000 through the Defense Production Act, Title III Program to support the small unmanned aerial systems industrial base.

RelationshipsFinancialPlanValue 4.6Oct 24, 2021DoD’s DIU Strengthens Domestic, sUAS Base With 8 Awards

The Defense Innovation Unit seeks to geolocate GPS interference using growing availability of space-based and terrestrial data sources.

LegalGeneralValue 2.2Oct 5, 2021Space data used to detect sources of GPS disruptions

CesiumAstro collaborated with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and the Mission Manifest Office (MMO) in connection with Cesium Mission 1.

RelationshipsValue 3.2Sep 29, 2021CesiumAstro announces successful deployment of next-generation active phased array experimental satellites, enters next phase of testing
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