Dynetics selected for the second phase of DARPA’s ACE program
HUNTSVILLE, Ala., February 14, 2022 - Dynetics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Leidos, has been selected for Phase 2 of the Air Combat Evolution (ACE) program, Technical Area 3 (TA3), by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) Strategic Technology Office (STO). ACE TA3, also known as AlphaMosaic, seeks to develop and demonstrate a battle management capability driven by artificial intelligence (AI).
In the 16-month Phase 2 contract valued at $2.6 million, Dynetics will continue to develop a matured approach to battle management, where a single pilot can act as a commander for large-scale, collaborative air warfare.
The ACE program is using the air combat domain as an initial challenge for implementing AI to demonstrate methods for increasing warfighter trust in combat autonomy. Phase 1 focused on AI architecture design for large force battle management in a Mosaic Warfare construct, where the team effectively demonstrated the ability of AI to select air combat forces, plan strategy and execute tactics.
"As we move into Phase 2, learning how to create symbiosis between air battle managers and our AI-based battle management system, AlphaMosaic, will be our key focus, said Kevin Albarado, chief engineer for ACE at Dynetics. "The potential to quickly transition all or parts of this technology to the warfighter is tremendous, as it fuses human ingenuity and decision making with the speed and scale of artificial intelligence. Our team is excited to focus on interactions between the human battle manager and AI. What we learn together with DARPA should be foundational and beneficial for many other applications in the Department of Defense."
The team has already begun transition efforts to flight test portions of AlphaMosaic in fighter jets. The applications being tested aim to better inform pilots with group-level situational awareness and coordinated targeting responsibility.
Following a successful Phase 2, Phase 3 would include a realistic, manned-flight environment involving complex human-machine collaboration
About Dynetics
Dynetics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Leidos, provides responsive, cost-effective engineering, scientific, IT solutions to the national security, cybersecurity, space, and critical infrastructure sectors. Our portfolio features highly specialized technical services and a range of software and hardware products, including components, subsystems, and complex end-to-end systems. The company of more than 3,000 employees is based in Huntsville, Ala., and has offices throughout the U.S.
About Leidos
Leidos is a Fortune 500® technology, engineering, and science solutions and services leader working to solve the world's toughest challenges in the defense, intelligence, civil, and health markets. The company's 43,000 employees support vital missions for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $12.30 billion for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2021. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.
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