DARPA's Revolution in Military Affairs

The Defense Department's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency

(DARPA) was founded in 1958 in order to ensure that the science gap

remained in the US's favor.  Many great empires, such as the Mongols,

Chinese, Ottomans, Mughals, and later, the Soviets, fell from grace

because they missed out on major military revolutions, such as the

Gunpowder Revolution, the Two Industrial Revolutions, and the

Information Revolution.  America was determined to not let it happen to

them. 

Since its creation in 1958, DARPA has been at the forefront of technology and innovation.  It's inventions since 1958 include:

Satellites

GPS

M-16 Rifle

ARPANET (predecessor to the Internet)

Stealth Fighters (F-117, B-2, F-22)

Cruise Missiles

UAVs (Predator, Global Hawk)

UGVs (SWORDS, TALON, Packbot)

DARPA now focuses on nine major areas:

Robust, Secure, Self-Forming Networks

Detection, Precision ID, Tracking, and Destruction of Elusive Targets

Urban Area Operations

Advanced Manned and Unmanned Systems

Detection, Characterization, and Assessment of Underground Structures

Space

Increasing the Tooth To Tail Ratio

Biorevolution

Core Technologies

Many of its current "Revolution in Military Affairs" projects fall

under the Future Combat Systems Program.  This includes the Future

Warrior battlesuit that can change color, carry more, become harder

than kevlar, heal the user, connect directly back to the command post,

sense dangers, change temperatures, and reinforce human muscles.

For more information, read:

http://www.darpa.mil/

War Made New by Max Boot

Foreign Affairs (January 2007): The Real Meaning of Military

Transformation

Foreign Affairs (July 2006): The Military’s Manpower Crisis

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