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.

A report coauthored by the Defense Innovation Unit, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and the U.S. Space Force concluded that the first nation to establish transportation infrastructure and logistics capabilities serving GEO and cislunar space will have superior ability to exercise control of cislunar space, the Lagrange points, and the resources of the moon.

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

The Defense Innovation Unit is a Defense Department organization based in Silicon Valley that works with commercial vendors developing technologies relevant to national security.

Mentioned as: Defense Innovation UnitOrg RelationshipAug 20, 2020U.S. military eyes a role in the great power competition for lunar resources

The DIU-led report specifies that the U.S. Space Force would provide surveillance, aids to navigation, and assistance when required in cislunar space.

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

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

The Space Force science and technology roadmap will reflect findings from the July report 'State of the Space Industrial Base 2020: A Time for Action to Sustain U.S. Economic & Military Leadership in Space' produced by the Defense Innovation Unit and the Air Force Research Laboratory.

Mentioned as: Defense Innovation UnitTechnical ProductAug 19, 2020Space Force technology roadmap to emphasize partnerships with private sector

Arkisys received $366,000 from DIU for the Orbital Outpost project in March.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitOrg RelationshipJul 19, 2020Three companies studying “Orbital Outpost” space station concepts for Defense Department

DIU’s July 2019 call for proposals for the Orbital Outpost project required a minimum of one cubic meter of internal volume, 80 kg of payload capacity, and one kilowatt of power.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitNarrative GeneralJul 19, 2020Three companies studying “Orbital Outpost” space station concepts for Defense Department

DIU issued a second award to Nanoracks for $389,900 in late 2019 for the Orbital Outpost project.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitNarrative FinancialJul 19, 2020Three companies studying “Orbital Outpost” space station concepts for Defense Department

Procurement records on beta.SAM.gov show DIU awarded Sierra Nevada Corporation $439,100 for "Phase 1: Orbital Outpost Prototype Project" in February.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitOrg RelationshipJul 19, 2020Three companies studying “Orbital Outpost” space station concepts for Defense Department

On 2020-05-18, Isotropic Systems announced a contract with the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitOrg RelationshipMay 18, 2020DIU to test Isotropic multi-beam terminals for naval vessels

The Defense Innovation Unit was established in 2015 to help the U.S. military gain rapid access to innovative commercial technologies.

Mentioned as: defense innovation unitNarrative GeneralMay 18, 2020DIU to test Isotropic multi-beam terminals for naval vessels

Isotropic Systems announced an antenna evaluation and development contract with the Defense Innovation Unit on 18 May 2020 in Reading, UK.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitNarrative GeneralMay 18, 2020U.S. Defense Innovation Unit Awards Antenna Development Project with ALL.SPACE to Trial Optical Beamforming Technology for Naval Communications

The DIU review of Isotropic Systems’ beamforming antenna technologies and circuits is intended to enable fusion of multi-band, multi-orbit commercial and military satellite capacity to deliver intelligence data at the tactical edge over a single platform.

Mentioned as: DIUOrg RelationshipMay 18, 2020U.S. Defense Innovation Unit Awards Antenna Development Project with ALL.SPACE to Trial Optical Beamforming Technology for Naval Communications

Participants in the 2020-05-04-7 conference workshop included officials from the Defense Innovation Unit, the Air Force Research Laboratory, the U.S. Space Force, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the National Space Council, NASA, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Energy, academia, and the private sector.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitNoiseMay 11, 2020National security space conference to propose plan to boost industrial base

The Defense Innovation Unit, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and the U.S. Space Force led the four-day State of the Space Industrial Base 2020 program.

Mentioned as: Defense Innovation UnitTechnical ProductMay 11, 2020National security space conference to propose plan to boost industrial base

Defense Innovation Unit was created in 2015 to speed up adoption of commercial technology across the Department of Defense.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitNarrative GeneralApr 27, 2020Defense market a safe haven for space companies during pandemic

Numerica provides space data and analytics services to the U.S. military under multiple contracts from the Air Force Research Laboratory, the Space and Missile Systems Center, and the Defense Innovation Unit.

Mentioned as: Defense Innovation UnitOrg RelationshipApr 9, 2020Numerica expands space surveillance services aimed at satellite operators

Firms working under Defense Innovation Unit contracts have received letters stating the DIU Director has determined their work in support of national security is part of the essential critical workforce as defined by the Department of Defense.

Mentioned as: Defense Innovation UnitOrg RelationshipApr 8, 2020DIU letters support contractors working during pandemic

The Defense Innovation Unit does not announce contract awards but has funded startups and established companies working on launch vehicles, Earth observation, space situational awareness, and satellite communications.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitNarrative GeneralApr 8, 2020DIU letters support contractors working during pandemic

The Pentagon's Defense Innovation Unit solicits pitches from the space industry for next-generation technologies.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitNarrative GeneralFeb 8, 2020Space Force-sponsored study to assess capabilities of commercial industry
Page12of14