Polaris Intelligence
Polaris
Intelligence
AboutNational IntelligenceOrganizationsProductsMissionsSpacecraftConstellationsForecastsLatest Information
Explore
© Polaris Intelligence 2026Admin

U.S. Defense Innovation Unit

US
gov defenseFounded 2015
United States
Admin Edit

All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.

Following the March 3, 2026 proposal deadline, the Defense Innovation Unit will evaluate submissions for a rapid prototyping phase of GHOST-R.

Mentioned as: defense innovation unitNarrative GeneralMar 3, 2026Pentagon Accelerates GHOST-R Hybrid Surveillance Program Following New START Expiration

The Defense Innovation Unit released the GHOST-R solicitation on February 18, 2026.

Mentioned as: defense innovation unitNarrative GeneralMar 3, 2026Pentagon Accelerates GHOST-R Hybrid Surveillance Program Following New START Expiration

The Defense Innovation Unit reached its deadline for industry proposals for the Geosynchronous High-Resolution Optical Space-Based Tactical Reconnaissance (GHOST-R) program on March 3, 2026.

Mentioned as: defense innovation unitNarrative CapabilityMar 3, 2026Pentagon Accelerates GHOST-R Hybrid Surveillance Program Following New START Expiration

The Defense Innovation Unit issued a solicitation on February 18, 2026 for the Geosynchronous High-Resolution Optical Space-Based Tactical Reconnaissance program (GHOST-R).

Mentioned as: defense innovation unitNarrative CapabilityMar 2, 2026The ghost in the orbit: how hybrid surveillance reshapes risks

The Defense Innovation Unit uses test campaigns to evaluate capabilities and performance in complex operational environments.

Mentioned as: defense innovation unitNarrative CapabilityMar 2, 2026DIU testa l’ipersonico: secondo lancio in 3 mesi

The "That's Not A Knife" mission constituted the Defense Innovation Unit's second hypersonic test in approximately three months.

Mentioned as: defense innovation unitNarrative GeneralMar 2, 2026DIU testa l’ipersonico: secondo lancio in 3 mesi

The Defense Innovation Unit is a U.S. Department of Defense organization dedicated to integrating innovative technological solutions.

Mentioned as: defense innovation unitNarrative GeneralMar 2, 2026DIU testa l’ipersonico: secondo lancio in 3 mesi

Launch details identify the Defense Innovation Unit and Hypersonix as the customers for the Cassowary Vex flight.

Mentioned as: Defense Innovation UnitTechnical ProductMar 1, 2026Australian hypersonic test flight window announced

HASTE carried the "That's Not A Knife" mission for the Defense Innovation Unit and Hypersonix.

Mentioned as: defense innovation unitNarrative GeneralFeb 28, 2026After a few delays and holds, Rocket Lab successfully launched Hypersonix' DART-AE last night aboard HASTE! Rocket Lab's next launch is scheduled for NET March 4th per hazard area's. The trajectory matches with those flown on launches for Synspective, iQPS, and BlackSky.

The DART-AE mission was the Defense Innovation Unit's second hypersonic test in approximately three months.

Mentioned as: defense innovation unitNarrative GeneralFeb 28, 2026After a few delays and holds, Rocket Lab successfully launched Hypersonix' DART-AE last night aboard HASTE! Rocket Lab's next launch is scheduled for NET March 4th per hazard area's. The trajectory matches with those flown on launches for Synspective, iQPS, and BlackSky.

The HASTE mission is a hypersonic test mission for the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit and Hypersonix Australia.

Mentioned as: defense innovation unitNarrative GeneralFeb 25, 2026Rocket Lab is GO for their first HASTE launch of the year, which will be the 'That's Not A Knife" or "Cassowary Vex" mission set to launch later tonight at 21:00 UTC! Inside the comically 4.3-meter long fairing will be the 3.5-meter DART-AE scramjet demonstrator from Hypersonix.

The HASTE mission is named "That's Not A Knife" and is for the Defense Innovation Unit and the Australian company Hypersonix.

Mentioned as: defense innovation unitNarrative GovernanceFeb 24, 2026Rocket Lab prosegue i preparativi del lancio HASTE a Wallops

The Defense Innovation Unit is a Pentagon organization created to help transfer commercially developed technologies to operational military use.

Mentioned as: defense innovation unitNarrative GeneralFeb 20, 2026El Pentágono prueba una nueva forma de adquirir satélites espías GEO

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) issued a solicitation titled "Reconocimiento táctico espacial óptico de alta resolución geoestacionario" (High-Resolution Geostationary Optical Tactical Space Reconnaissance).

Mentioned as: defense innovation unitNarrative CapabilityFeb 20, 2026El Pentágono prueba una nueva forma de adquirir satélites espías GEO

Stoke’s technology programs have received support from the U.S. Space Force, the Defense Innovation Unit, NASA, and the National Science Foundation.

Mentioned as: defense innovation unitNarrative GeneralFeb 13, 2026Stoke Space expands Series D funding to $860M to drive Nova launch development

The HASTE mission is for the Defense Innovation Unit to deploy a scramjet-powered aircraft by Hypersonix.

Mentioned as: defense innovation unitNarrative GeneralFeb 12, 2026Rocket Lab announced their next mission! This will be a suborbital HASTE launch named "That's Not A Knife". Inside the comically long fairing will be Hypersonix' DART-AE, a hydrogen-fueled scramjet technology demonstrator. Hazard area's indicate launch is NET Feb. 23 at 20:00 UTC

A Defense Innovation Unit solicitation exists for technologies to de-orbit unprepared satellites.

Mentioned as: Defense Innovation UnitTechnical ProductFeb 12, 2026The Hybrid Architecture Is No Longer Theoretical

Spacetime has been experimentally used with organizations such as the Defense Innovation Unit, the U.S. Space Force, NASA, and commercial satellite operators.

Mentioned as: defense innovation unitTechnical ProductJan 28, 2026Aalyria spacetime platform tapped for AFRL space data network trials

The work on Sakura II was conducted with support from the US Defense Innovation Unit.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitNarrative GeneralJan 14, 2026NASA heavy ion tests confirm Sakura II AI chip for orbital and lunar use

Antares has secured contracts with the United States Air Force, Space Force, Defense Innovation Unit, and NASA.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitNarrative GeneralDec 21, 2025New Leadership at The Office of Space Commerce
Page1of14