DARPA Announces First-Ever Trilateral Multinational Project
On 20 September, the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) announced the start of a new trilateral project involving the UK and Canada. Together with the British Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and the Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), DARPA will engage in research and development of “artificial intelligence (AI), cyber, resilient systems, and information domain-related technologies”.
This is the first time DARPA has agreed to participate in a trilateral effort with international partners. British and American press releases justified the new program by referencing the increasing pace of technology development and the need to reduce duplication of efforts between the partners. By building on previously independent research programs, the allies will be able to carry out high-tech research more efficiently. DARPA also aims to ensure that US and allied cyber capabilities are interoperable and to strengthen international cooperation.
According to DARPA Director, Dr. Stefanie Tompkins:
“We know we’re stronger together than separately. The trilateral collaboration is a big step toward enhancing our understanding in the outlined research and development thrust areas. Working with our international partners on science and technology helps us all leverage each other’s individual strengths in order to develop much greater collective capability.”
The British press release identified a few more specific areas of collaboration:
- Human-AI teaming, including military medical triage
- Defining and creating trustworthy AI systems, even in the face of attack by skilled, high-resource adversaries
- Protecting, detecting attacks on, and measuring the health of the information domain
- Producing tools and techniques that result in more resilient and secure systems, such as rapid certification of software
Dstl Chief Executive, Dr Paul Hollinshead, said that:
“This partnership with two of our closest allies will help keep the UK secure at home and strong abroad today and in the future. […] Together, we are driving value for money for our respective taxpayers while creating mission critical capabilities through science and technology, keeping our countries and our people safe.”
Planning for integrated collaboration efforts began in May 2024 when DARPA invited leaders from British and Canadian defense research agencies as well as other relevant US agencies such as the Office of Science and Technology Policy for a symposium. However, details remain scarce. Nevertheless, the new agreement is reminiscent of AUKUS in its trilateral approach to high-tech security research, underscoring an increasing American preference towards integrating defense research efforts with US partners.