A POLYMER THAT HEALS ON IMPACT
The harsh environment of space is unforgiving, and satellites constantly have to deal with meteorites hitting them. A new self-healing polymer developed in Texas A&M laboratories could revolutionize space and military technology, however. The material, named the Diels-Alder Polymer (DAP), has the ability to rapidly self-heal after being punctured by projectiles – albeit at the nanoscale for now. According to professor Dr. Edwin (Ned) Thomas, "Polymers are amazing materials, especially DAP …Because at low temperatures, they are stiff and strong; then at higher temperatures, they become elastic; and at still higher temperatures, they become an easily flowing liquid. That's a huge range of property behavior."
If integrated into construction, DAP would absorb much of a projectile's kinetic energy, causing the material to stretch and liquefy as the object perforates the surface, before quickly snapping back into place as the polymer cools. Scaling to bulk materials, real-world temperatures, and conventional ballistic regimes will require substantial development, but there is great potential for body armor, military equipment and satellites. (Technology Networks, May 2, 2025)
NAVY TESTS FIRST SEA-BASED HYPERSONIC LAUNCH
In the race to develop hypersonic weapons, the U.S. has long trailed Russia and China. However, the U.S. Navy Strategic Systems Program had some success in its first launch of the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) system utilizing a cold-gas launch from a sea-based asset. According to Vice Adm. Johnny R. Wolfe Jr, the Director of the U.S. Navy's Strategic Systems Programs, "the cold-gas approach allows the Navy to eject the missile from the platform and achieve a safe distance above the ship prior to first stage ignition. This technical achievement brings SSP one step closer to fulfilling our role of providing a safe and reliable hypersonic capability to our Navy." The event marks a major milestone toward sea-based deployment, and advances the Common All Up Round (AUR) system, which has been developed jointly with the U.S. Army's Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office. (United States Navy, May 2, 2025)
PROGRESS TOWARD POWER BEAMING
Behind battlefields and disaster zones is the constant need for energy. Thankfully, help may be on the way in the form of DARPA's Persistent Optical Wireless Energy Relay (POWER) program, which just shattered records for transmitting power via laser. In tests at the White Sands Missile Range, researchers beamed over 800 watts across 8.6 kilometers, a significant improvement in both power and distance over the previous record of 230 watts across 1.7km. These tests, known as the POWER Receiver Array Demo (PRAD), function by beaming a laser to a receiver that converts the light into electricity using photovoltaic cells. While still ground-based, the tests demonstrate the feasibility of beaming power long distances through Earth's atmosphere. Future applications could see drones, remote outposts, or even satellites powered remotely. (DARPA, May 16, 2025)
SOUND WAVES EXPOSE HIDDEN SEAFLOOR BOMBS
Today, the U.S. has over 400 underwater sites where unexploded munitions (UXOs) are located – and no great methodology for identifying them. However, sound waves, long used for navigation, could turn out to be a critical tool for detecting UXOs hidden on the seafloor. A research team from the University of Texas at Austin tested sonar technology in locating AN-Mk 23 "fake" bombs, commonly used for military dive-bombing practice. According to the program's head, "acoustic scattering techniques give an insight into the internal structure of the object imaged, as well as a method to 'see' into the seafloor... Underwater UXO can be tricky to find and recover, so it is important that this can be done safely and effectively." This approach has proved more effective than visual inspection, where corrosion often conceals munitions. Although not a perfect solution, proper training could allow military and civilian personnel to detect UXOs at higher rates, thereby reducing the risk of injury and saving lives. (The DeBrief, May 19, 2025)
FIX THE DATA, FIX THE AI
Artificial intelligence won't win wars if it's fed junk data. Large language models are only as strong as the data they train and operate on – or, as they say, "garbage in, garbage out." Neil Kronimus, senior vice president of Technology Strategy and Solutions at tech firm Maximus, argues that fragmented, outdated, and unshareable government data is the biggest obstacle to deploying dependable AI for missions. If military databases aren't able to talk to each other, and information sits locked away in disconnected systems, then AI tools will "hallucinate" or misguide operators. To give warfighters a strategic advantage, the Pentagon will need clean, integrated data that flows securely between systems. Proper data modernization will allow AI to forecast logistics needs, detect cyber threats, optimize bandwidth, and tailor training. (Breaking Defense, May 29, 2025)