Government · United States
Defense Innovation Unit
HQ Mountain View, United StatesFounded 2015
DoD organization that adopts commercial technology; led the Replicator initiative.
- Part ofU.S. Department of Defense
Awards issued11 · $99.5M obligated · up to $557M ceiling
| Announced | Award | Recipients | Type | Program | Obligated | Ceiling | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | HyCAT liquid-fueled hypersonic test bed (all-up-round)HQ08452390031 | GE Aerospace | OTA | — | $49.9M | $52.4M | Confirmed |
| Aug 24, 2026 | PRISM contract to deliver Amphora power systems to U.S. Army brigadespress:chariot-defense:2026-08-24 | Chariot Defense | Contract | Portable Resilient Integrated Storage Module | — | Up to $7.6M | Confirmed |
| Jul 15, 2026 | DIU Joint Sustainment Decision Tool prototype contract for USAREUR-AFpress:gallatin-ai:2026-07-15 | Gallatin | OTA | Joint Sustainment Decision Tool | Undisclosed | — | Confirmed |
| Jun 16, 2026 | RIMES prototype project (Atlas aircraft)N004212690012 | Mach Industries | OTA | — | $2.0M | $2.0M | Confirmed |
| Jun 1, 2026 | Prototype OT: Containerized Autonomous Drone Delivery System (CADDS)HQ0845269E042 | Dispatch | OTA | Containerized Autonomous Drone Delivery System | $499K | $499K | Confirmed |
| May 28, 2026 | DIU high-Mach flight and payload release demonstration (scaled to $219M)press:hermeus:2026-05-28:diu-high-mach | Hermeus | Contract | — | — | Up to $219M | Confirmed |
| Mar 5, 2025 | Thunderforge prototype other transaction agreementHQ08452590034 | Scale AI | OTA | Thunderforge | $27.4M | $33.5M | Confirmed |
| Feb 7, 2025 | Prototype OT: Long Range One-Way Platform (DIU Artemis)HQ08452590043 | Swan | OTA | Artemis (long-range one-way UAS) | $3.7M | — | Confirmed |
| Nov 18, 2024 | DIU production other transaction for strategic competition capabilitiesHQ0034249P00B | Vannevar Labs | Production OTA | — | $16.0M | $99.0M | Confirmed |
| Oct 23, 2024 | DIU agreement to advance Rocket 4 tactically responsive launchpress:astra:2024-10-23:diu-rocket-4 | Astra | OTA | — | — | Up to $44.0M | Reported |
| — | DIU prototype OT for authoritative defense acquisition data and AI analyticspress:obviant:2025-09-24:diu-prototype-ot | Obviant | OTA | — | — | Up to $99.0M | Reported |
- $49.9MObligated · up to $52.4M ceiling
- PRISM contract to deliver Amphora power systems to U.S. Army brigadesAug 24, 2026 · ContractConfirmedUp to $7.6MCeiling
- DIU Joint Sustainment Decision Tool prototype contract for USAREUR-AFJul 15, 2026 · OTAProgram Joint Sustainment Decision ToolConfirmedUndisclosed
- $2.0MObligated · up to $2.0M ceiling
- Prototype OT: Containerized Autonomous Drone Delivery System (CADDS)Jun 1, 2026 · OTAConfirmed$499KObligated · up to $499K ceiling
- DIU high-Mach flight and payload release demonstration (scaled to $219M)May 28, 2026 · ContractConfirmedUp to $219MCeiling
- $27.4MObligated · up to $33.5M ceiling
- Prototype OT: Long Range One-Way Platform (DIU Artemis)Feb 7, 2025 · OTAProgram Artemis (long-range one-way UAS)Confirmed$3.7MObligated
- DIU production other transaction for strategic competition capabilitiesNov 18, 2024 · Production OTAConfirmed$16.0MObligated · up to $99.0M ceiling
- Up to $44.0MCeiling
- Up to $99.0MCeiling
Obligated is what has been committed so far; ceiling is the most the award can reach. Joint values cover all recipients and are excluded from this company’s money totals.
Technologies2
| Technology | Role | Maturity | TRL | Notes | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Predictive logistics decision support | Funder | — | — | — | Confirmed |
| Tactical microgrids and hybrid power | Funder | — | — | — | Confirmed |
Maturity and TRL describe this organization's work; the field-wide maturity is on each technology's page.
Portfolio1 company · 0 leads
| Company | Stage | Role | Announced | Round size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Hydromea | Grant | Participant | Jun 24, 2026 | $1.0M |
- Grant · Participant$1.0MJun 24, 2026
One row per round this investor joined. Round size is the whole round, not this investor's share.
People1 current · 1 former
News16
Oct 1, 2026News (high significance)Tiberius Aerospace announces $500 million contract for U.S.-developed Sceptre munition to expand allied artillery productionDefence Industry EuropeOct 1, 2026CompanyVatn Systems Wins Defense Innovation Unit's Mine Countermeasure Modernization Prize ChallengePR NewswireSep 29, 2026NewsDIU, Space Force team up to kick-start buys of commercial sats for monitoring GEO - Breaking DefenseSep 21, 2026NewsPentagon taps Northrop Grumman, True Anomaly for recon satellites that can monitor other space systemsDefenseScoopSep 20, 2026NewsPerennial Autonomy beats 10 rivals to win U.S. Department of War deep-strike drone trial after delivering 120 production-ready aircraftDefence Industry EuropeSep 18, 2026NewsPentagon unveils top performers in latest ‘Gauntlet’ for Drone Dominance ProgramSep 14, 2026NewsSwarm Aero debuts Gamera drone in bid to succeed ReaperBreaking DefenseSep 10, 2026NewsDIU moves to prototype new contract model that will fast-track security clearances for startupsAug 24, 2026Company (high significance)Chariot Defense Secures DIU Contract to Build Army's Tactical Power GridPR NewswireJul 27, 2026NewsPentagon calls for cheaper long-range strike weapons, with testing in just 3 monthsJul 9, 2026Government record (high significance)Two Contracts Awarded To DIU's Joint Sustainment Decision Tool ProjectDefense Innovation UnitJul 8, 2026NewsPentagon to explore cheaper replacements for the MQ-9 ReaperJun 9, 2026NewsPentagon reveals preferred munitions for one-way attack dronesMay 18, 2026NewsFive companies win DoD's Drone Dominance small drone 'Lethality Prize Challenge' - Breaking DefenseAug 29, 2025News (high significance)Hegseth directs Army to stand up interagency task force for counter-UASFederal News NetworkMar 5, 2025Government record (high significance)Thunderforge Project: Integrating Commercial AI-Powered Decision-MakingDefense Innovation Unit
- Oct 1, 2026News (high significance)Defence Industry EuropeTiberius Aerospace announces $500 million contract for U.S.-developed Sceptre munition to expand allied artillery production
- Oct 1, 2026CompanyPR NewswireVatn Systems Wins Defense Innovation Unit's Mine Countermeasure Modernization Prize Challenge
- Sep 29, 2026NewsDIU, Space Force team up to kick-start buys of commercial sats for monitoring GEO - Breaking Defense
- Sep 21, 2026NewsDefenseScoopPentagon taps Northrop Grumman, True Anomaly for recon satellites that can monitor other space systems
- Sep 20, 2026NewsDefence Industry EuropePerennial Autonomy beats 10 rivals to win U.S. Department of War deep-strike drone trial after delivering 120 production-ready aircraft
- Sep 18, 2026NewsPentagon unveils top performers in latest ‘Gauntlet’ for Drone Dominance Program
- Sep 14, 2026NewsBreaking DefenseSwarm Aero debuts Gamera drone in bid to succeed Reaper
- Sep 10, 2026NewsDIU moves to prototype new contract model that will fast-track security clearances for startups
- Aug 24, 2026Company (high significance)PR NewswireChariot Defense Secures DIU Contract to Build Army's Tactical Power Grid
- Jul 27, 2026NewsPentagon calls for cheaper long-range strike weapons, with testing in just 3 months
- Jul 9, 2026Government record (high significance)Defense Innovation UnitTwo Contracts Awarded To DIU's Joint Sustainment Decision Tool Project
- Jul 8, 2026NewsPentagon to explore cheaper replacements for the MQ-9 Reaper
- Jun 9, 2026NewsPentagon reveals preferred munitions for one-way attack drones
- May 18, 2026NewsFive companies win DoD's Drone Dominance small drone 'Lethality Prize Challenge' - Breaking Defense
- Aug 29, 2025News (high significance)Federal News NetworkHegseth directs Army to stand up interagency task force for counter-UAS
- Mar 5, 2025Government record (high significance)Defense Innovation UnitThunderforge Project: Integrating Commercial AI-Powered Decision-Making
Sources10
Profile5
- 1
Federal News Network · Aug 29, 2025 · Supports Organization
“The Replicator 2 effort, which focuses on countering small drones at military installations worldwide, will be consolidated under the new task force, which will work with the Defense Innovation Unit to direct funding.”
- 2
Defense Innovation Unit · Mar 5, 2025 · Supports Organization
“The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has awarded a prototype contract to Scale AI for Thunderforge”
- 3
Wikipedia · Supports Organization · hq city
“The organization is headquartered in [Mountain View, California]”
- 4
Supports Organization
“announced a contract award for the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) Runway Independent Maritime Expeditionary Strike (RIMES) program.”
- 5Government recordU.S. GAO - Defense Innovation Unit: Actions Needed to Assess Progress and Further Enhance Collaboration
U.S. Government Accountability Office · Supports Organization · founded year
“The Department of Defense created the Defense Innovation Unit in 2015 to more rapidly adopt cutting-edge commercial tech for the military.”
Technologies2
- 6
PR Newswire · Aug 24, 2026 · Supports Organization technology
“awarded a $7.6 million contract by the Department of War Innovation Unit (DIU) under the Portable Resilient Integrated Storage Module (PRISM) program.”
- 7
Defense Innovation Unit · Jul 9, 2026 · Supports Organization, Organization technology
“has awarded two prototype contracts under its Joint Sustainment Decision Tool (JSDT) program.”
People3
- 8Government recordThe War Department Overhauls Innovation Ecosystem to Accelerate Technology to the American Warfighter
U.S. Department of War · Jan 12, 2026 · Supports Role
“Leading DIU through this mandate is Owen West, appointed by Secretary Hegseth as its next Director.”
- 9
DefenseScoop · Aug 25, 2025 · Supports Role
“Doug Beck resigned Monday as director of the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit, DefenseScoop has confirmed.”
- 10Government recordDoD Announces Apple's Doug Beck as New DIU Director
Defense Innovation Unit · Apr 4, 2023 · Supports Role
“His start date at DIU will be May 1, 2023.”
Each fact on this page is attached to the sources that support it. Archived copies are linked when we keep one.