BAE Systems Wins $4.7M from DARPA to Integrate Machine Learning into Signals Intelligence Platforms

July 9, 2019

Courtney E. Howard

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency ( DARPA ) officials in Arlington, Virginia, have selected BAE Systems Electronic Systems in Nashua, New Hampshire, to integrate machine-learning (ML) technology, a subset of artificial intelligence (AI), into platforms that decipher radio-frequency (RF) signals. BAE Systems won up to $4.7 million in funding from DARPA to achieve key hardware delivery, integration, and demonstration milestones.

DARPA, part of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), is responsible for the development of emerging technologies for use by the military. DARPA officials announced in September 2018 a $2 billion, multiyear campaign to develop the next wave of AI technologies, including “contextual reasoning in AI systems to create more trusting, collaborative partnerships between humans and machines.”

Read: DARPA invests big in AI portfolio

BAE Systems’ contract with DARPA could total $4.7 million, which is dependent on the successful completion of key milestones, such as hardware delivery as well as integration and demonstration support. BAE Systems previously won an award for the development of data-driven ML algorithms under the same DARPA Radio Frequency Machine Learning Systems (RFMLS) program, which seeks a robust, adaptable hardware solution with a multitude of control surfaces to enable improved discrimination of signals in evolving dense spectrum environments of the future.

Courtney E. Howard is editorial director and content strategist at SAE International. Contact her by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..