Researchers to brief industry on uncrewed surface vessel with modular architecture and miniaturized sensors
ARLINGTON, Va. – U.S. military researchers will brief industry this month on an upcoming project to develop a semi-autonomous ocean vessel with a modular architecture that can defend unarmed cargo ships from enemy uncrewed surface vessels and other maritime threats.
Officials of the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in Arlington, Va., will detail the future Pulling Guard (DARPA-SN-25-08) project from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on 18 March 2025 at the Amentum Services Conference Center, 4121 Wilson Blvd., Suite 200, in Arlington, Va.
Emerging enemy threats
Pulling Guard project seeks to develop miniaturized sensors from existing technologies in a software and hardware modular architecture to facilitate rapid development that evolves as new threats emerge.
Solutions will retain a remote supervisor in the loop who retains authority for engagement decisions, yet the project requires sufficient machine autonomy to enable the supervisor to control several systems over a secure connection.
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Pulling Guard will be in two phases: an 18-month development phase, and a 21-month Integration, manufacturing, and commercial transition phase.
The development phase has two technology focus areas: platform development, and sensor and kill chain development. Both phases will involve several contractors, and may require collaboration on physical and digital interfaces, and on the design approach.
Resilient software
The Pulling Guard uncrewed surface vessel project focuses on resilient software that starts secure and builds capability through formal methods that involve mathematically rigorous techniques for producing software and machine-checkable evidence of software performance.
Integration, manufacture, and commercial transition may include a mix of phase-one performers with focus on final design, manufacture of initial variants, demonstration events, and execution of commercial strategy.
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Companies interested should register for the industry briefings no later than 11 March 2025 online at https://creative.spa.com/darpa/tto/pullingguard/id/?p=registration.
Briefings will have a morning session at the controlled unclassified information (CUI) level, an afternoon session at the secret level, and question and answer periods for both.
Sensitive information
Briefings will involve controlled unclassified information and secret information. More information is on the Pulling Guard website at https://creative.spa.com/darpa/tto/pullingguard/id/.
Email questions or concerns to DARPA's Christopher Kent at [email protected]. More information is online at https://sam.gov/opp/e3d90d0495c94fe3b3930103240652a7/view.
John Keller | Editor-in-Chief
John Keller is the Editor-in-Chief, Military & Aerospace Electronics Magazine--provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronics and optoelectronic technologies in military, space and commercial aviation applications. John has been a member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since 1989 and chief editor since 1995.
