DARPA Taps Lockheed Martin for Artificial Intelligence Reinforcement Program Support

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has awarded Lockheed Martin a $4.6 million contract to develop artificial intelligence tools for airborne missions under the agency’s Artificial Intelligence Reinforcements program.

The program is designed to create more advanced modeling and simulation tools and AI agents for live, multiaircraft missions beyond visual range, Lockheed Martin said.

Over 18 months, Lockheed will develop simulations of aircraft, sensors, electronic warfare systems and weapons within operationally realistic environments through AI and machine learning techniques.

According to the defense tech firm, the goal is to improve the speed and accuracy of current AI models, offering a closer representation of how Department of Defense systems function in real-world scenarios.

Gaylia Campbell, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control’s vice president of engineering and technology, said DARPA’s AIR program will leverage advanced ML technology and Lockheed’s Arise infrastructure to provide critical data that will empower service members to make faster and more informed decisions during complex airborne operations.

Campbell added that the project, which aligns with Lockheed Martin’s 21st Century Security vision, will save costs for the Pentagon and lay the groundwork for the development of future AI solutions.