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U.S. Defense Innovation Unit

US
gov defenseFounded 2015
United States
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All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.

CesiumAstro coordinated with the Defense Innovation Unit to launch its first two satellites in September 2021 on a rideshare with Landsat-9.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitNarrative GeneralMay 26, 2021Airborne and in-orbit communications Leader CesiumAstro, Inc. readies for first mission to launch

In coordination with the Defense Innovation Unit, CesiumAstro is launching its first two satellites in September 2021 on a rideshare with Landsat-9.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitNarrative GeneralMay 24, 2021Airborne and In-Orbit Communications Leader CesiumAstro, Inc. Readies for First Mission to Launch; Company Wins Swath of Commercial Milestones

Small launch providers working with the Defense Innovation Unit must demonstrate they can deploy payloads in mission-designated orbits on relatively short notice.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitNarrative GeneralMay 17, 2021Defense Innovation Unit selects ABL Space to launch DoD mission

The Defense Innovation Unit is headquartered in Silicon Valley and was created to work with commercial companies to bring new technologies into military programs.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitNarrative GeneralMay 17, 2021Defense Innovation Unit selects ABL Space to launch DoD mission

ABL Space Systems was selected by the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit on 2021-05-17 to launch a military payload.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitOrg RelationshipMay 17, 2021Defense Innovation Unit selects ABL Space to launch DoD mission

The Defense Innovation Unit invested in space surveillance startup LeoLabs, which tracks satellite activities in low Earth orbit with a network of phased-array radars.

Mentioned as: Defense Innovation UnitTechnical ProductApr 4, 2021Technology race against China a key concern for Pentagon acquisition nominee

Under Michael Brown, the Defense Innovation Unit supported emerging space launch companies Rocket Lab, Virgin Orbit, and Relativity Space and selected those companies to launch experimental Department of Defense payloads.

Mentioned as: Defense Innovation UnitOrg RelationshipApr 4, 2021Technology race against China a key concern for Pentagon acquisition nominee

The Obama administration created the Defense Innovation Unit in 2015 to build ties with startups and venture investors and help transition private-sector technologies to military programs.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitNarrative GeneralApr 4, 2021Technology race against China a key concern for Pentagon acquisition nominee

Capella Space has contracts serving several U.S. intelligence and Department of Defense agencies, including the Defense Innovation Unit, the National Reconnaissance Office, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Navy.

Mentioned as: Defense Innovation UnitTechnical ProductMar 19, 2021Capella Space releases the Spotlight images from its Capella-3 and Capella-4 satellites

Relativity Space is the third launch provider selected by the Defense Innovation Unit for the Rapid Agile Launch Initiative since the program started in 2017.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitNarrative GeneralMar 15, 2021Relativity Space wins U.S. military contract for 2023 launch

The Defense Innovation Unit was created in 2015 to accelerate the insertion of commercial technology into military hardware.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitNarrative GeneralFeb 10, 2021DoD grapples with how to bring in new space technology to military systems

The Defense Innovation Unit advocates migrating to a model where the government develops modular systems using commoditized satellite buses and components.

Mentioned as: Defense Innovation UnitTechnical ProductFeb 10, 2021DoD grapples with how to bring in new space technology to military systems

L3Harris Technologies completed a technology demonstration under a Defense Innovation Unit prototype contract for the U.S. Space Force satellite communication system.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitNarrative GeneralJan 12, 2021L3Harris Demos Antenna Tech For USSF MILSATCOM

Lockheed Martin completed a multi-band multi-mission phased array antenna prototype under the Defense Innovation Unit 2019 contract.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitNarrative GeneralJan 12, 2021L3Harris develops electronic antenna for command and control of military satellites

L3Harris’s prototype multi-band multi-mission phased array antenna was one of three prototypes developed under a Defense Innovation Unit 2019 contract.

Mentioned as: Defense Innovation UnitOrg RelationshipJan 12, 2021L3Harris develops electronic antenna for command and control of military satellites

Atlas Space Operations completed a multi-band multi-mission phased array antenna prototype under the Defense Innovation Unit 2019 contract.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitNarrative GeneralJan 12, 2021L3Harris develops electronic antenna for command and control of military satellites

Skydio is part of DIU’s Blue sUAS program.

Mentioned as: DIUOrg RelationshipDec 18, 2020Skydio and Arris revolutionize drone design and manufacturing

Lockheed Martin, Ball Aerospace, and L3Harris received contracts from the Defense Innovation Unit in April 2019 to develop phased array antenna prototypes.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitNarrative GeneralSep 29, 2020Space Force weighing options to modernize ground antennas for military satellites

Gen. John Hyten spoke on a live virtual forum hosted by the Defense Innovation Unit on 2020-09-21.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitNarrative GeneralSep 21, 2020Hyten: Space Force has a limited time window to define its future

The DIU-led report concluded that U.S. participation in a cislunar economy will require security and a stabilizing military presence.

Mentioned as: DIUTechnical ProductAug 20, 2020U.S. military eyes a role in the great power competition for lunar resources
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