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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.

The most recent solicitation from the Defense Innovation Unit is for commercial vehicles for in-space logistics.

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

In June 2019 SpinLaunch received an other transaction authority (OTA) award from the Defense Innovation Unit to examine using SpinLaunch's services for responsive satellite launch.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitNarrative GeneralJan 17, 2020SpinLaunch raises $35 million

DIU released a solicitation on 2020-01-13 seeking proposals from U.S. operators of small satellite constellations capable of observing the Earth’s surface in day, night, and adverse atmospheric conditions.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitNarrative GeneralJan 13, 2020DoD’s technology innovation office seeking bids from U.S. commercial remote sensing vendors

STP-27VP was awarded to VOX Space under the Rapid Agile Launch Initiative (RALI), a $25,000,000 congressional add-on appropriated in 2017 and 2018 for the Space Test Program and the Defense Innovation Unit.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitOrg RelationshipDec 18, 2019Air Force to schedule nine small launch missions in 2020

DIU plans to award one or more DAPS contracts within 90 days.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitNarrative PlanNov 6, 2019Defense Innovation Unit helping Army find alternatives to GPS

DIU received 25 proposals for the Dismounted Assured PNT System (DAPS) after soliciting vendor ideas.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitNarrative GeneralNov 6, 2019Defense Innovation Unit helping Army find alternatives to GPS

DIU posted high-resolution images of 550,230 buildings from 10 different countries obtained from Maxar’s DigitalGlobe Open Data Program.

Mentioned as: DIUOrg RelationshipSep 26, 2019Defense Innovation Unit launches new satellite imagery prize challenge

The DIU-funded launch was originally scheduled for 2019 from the continental United States but was moved to 2020 and relocated to Guam after further discussions with the Air Force.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitNarrative GeneralSep 16, 2019Richard Branson headlines Air Force event, pitches Virgin Orbit’s capabilities for national security

Under the Defense Innovation Unit contract, Virgin Orbit will launch an Air Force experimental satellite from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam.

Mentioned as: Defense Innovation UnitOrg RelationshipSep 16, 2019Richard Branson headlines Air Force event, pitches Virgin Orbit’s capabilities for national security

Virgin Orbit received a contract from the Defense Innovation Unit in November 2017 to launch an Air Force experimental satellite.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitOrg RelationshipSep 16, 2019Richard Branson headlines Air Force event, pitches Virgin Orbit’s capabilities for national security

SpinLaunch received an other transaction authority cost-sharing contract from the Defense Innovation Unit on 2019-06-19.

Mentioned as: defense innovation unitOrg RelationshipJun 20, 2019SpinLaunch joins cadre of small launch companies DoD wants to try out

The Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center requested Defense Innovation Unit assistance in 2017 to work with emerging small launch providers following a $15,000,000 Congressional insertion for the Rapid Agile Launch Initiative.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitOrg RelationshipJun 20, 2019SpinLaunch joins cadre of small launch companies DoD wants to try out

The Defense Innovation Unit will work with four selected companies to develop how the Department of Defense would procure small launch services.

Mentioned as: Defense Innovation UnitOrg RelationshipJun 20, 2019SpinLaunch joins cadre of small launch companies DoD wants to try out

The Air Force Research Laboratory and the Defense Innovation Unit produced a 2019-05-30 report titled "State of the Space Industrial Base: Threats, Challenges and Actions."

Mentioned as: defense innovation unitNarrative GeneralJun 17, 2019Air Force, DoD research organizations call for space industrial policies to counter China

China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, through its subsidiary Expace, will provide the Kuaizhou-11 at a rate of $5,000 per kilogram to LEO, which the AFRL-DIU report characterizes as five times less expensive than comparable launch capabilities.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitOrg RelationshipJun 17, 2019Air Force, DoD research organizations call for space industrial policies to counter China

DIU is trying to reduce the time it takes to award contracts from 90 days to 60 days.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitNarrative GeneralMay 21, 2019Defense Innovation Unit aims to award contracts in 60 days

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) was created in 2015 to accelerate the adoption of commercial technology to solve national security problems.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitNarrative GeneralMay 21, 2019Defense Innovation Unit aims to award contracts in 60 days

As of 2019-05-21, DIU had one contract that looked like it may reach award in 60 days.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitNarrative GeneralMay 21, 2019Defense Innovation Unit aims to award contracts in 60 days

DIU is working to reduce the time required to task satellites, obtain data, and deliver data to military users.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitNarrative GeneralMay 21, 2019Defense Innovation Unit aims to award contracts in 60 days

Capella Space has received half of the $11,000,000 Defense Innovation Unit contract and expects the other half by the end of 2018.

Mentioned as: U.S. Defense Innovation UnitOrg RelationshipSep 26, 2018Capella Space raises $19 million for radar constellation
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