DARPA’s original mission, inspired by the Soviet Union beating the United States into space with Sputnik, was to prevent technological surprise. This mission has evolved over time. Today, DARPA’s mission is to prevent technological surprise for us and to create technological surprise for our adversaries.
DARPA’s strategy for accomplishing its mission is embodied in its strategic thrusts. Over time, as threats and opportunities change, DARPA’s strategic thrusts evolve. Today there are nine strategic thrusts, detailed in the Agency’s strategic plan, that are DARPA’s key national security research areas. These research areas are building the foundations for innovative joint warfighting capabilities to defeat existing and emerging national security threats.
DARPA’s main tactic for executing its strategy is to constantly search worldwide for revolutionary high-payoff ideas and then sponsor projects bridging the gap between fundamental discoveries and the provision of new military capabilities.
- 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
- Bio-Revolution
- Core Technologies
