The US Defense Department wants US businesses to help it develop space-based weaponry.
The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is looking for “innovative concepts” in the domain of “space superiority.” Specifically, DARPA is seeking “new methods and technologies that may provide warfighters with disruptive options for protecting and defending space systems across the competition continuum."
The request is part of DARPA’s BRIDGES initiative, which taps American small businesses and “nontraditional defense contractors” to help bolster the country’s defenses. The problem is that the Pentagon can currently only pull from a “relatively small number” of US companies with security clearances for such projects.
“This means that potentially revolutionary concepts for space-based national security technology go untapped,” says Air Force Major and DARPA Program Manager Michael Nayak. “We’re looking to flip that script, so that innovators who can provide the best ideas for the many unanswered questions and unique potential of the space domain have a seat at the table.”
DARPA isn’t explicitly saying what kinds of space weapons it’s looking for. But the agency does refer to a 35-page document from the US Space Force, which calls for technologies in the “Space Combat Power Projection” arena. This includes defensive and offensive weapons for both non-lethal and lethal effects.
“Offensive operations target an adversary’s space capabilities using a variety of reversible and nonreversible means,” the document adds. “These may include actions to deceive, disrupt, deny, degrade, or destroy the adversary’s military space capabilities.”
(Credit: US Defense Intelligence Agency)The call for ideas comes amid rising US concerns about China and Russia developing weapons, including cyberattacks and lasers, to disable American satellites. In 2021, the Kremlin also launched a missile that destroyed one of its own satellites in a military test.
According to DARPA, US companies that submit accepted proposals will be rewarded with a contract through the BRIDGES initiative and sponsorship to receive security clearance.
DARPA plans on reviewing the first round of proposals on Oct. 1. But the agency will continue accepting ideas until March 15, 2024. The official solicitation notice is available on SAM.gov.
