DARPA's CRANE program to be advanced with software development
NewsAugust 31, 2021
MANASSAS, Va. Aurora Flight Sciences, a Boeing Company, was selected to continue to Phase 1 of the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency’s (DARPA) Control of Revolutionary Aircraft with Novel Effectors (CRANE) program.
Officials claim that Aurora Flight Sciences and Lockheed Martin Corporation are now entering Phase 1, which includes system requirements development, initial design work, software development, and initial airworthiness activities that culminate in a preliminary design review.
According to DARPA, one of the primary objectives of Phase 0 was the development and maturation of AFC design software and databases for inclusion in future aircraft development activities. Georgia Tech Research Corporation’s Phase 0 effort has been extended to allow further refinement of these tools for transition to relevant military and government partners.
DARPA has also selected another performer, BAE Systems, to initiate a Phase 0 conceptual design activity. Phase 0 is focused on AFC trade space exploration and risk reduction activities to inform this work. BAE Systems will evaluate the benefits of using AFC integrated into different air vehicle concepts leading to a conceptual design review.
