Disruption through Intelligent Strategies, Counter Options, and Resilient Defenses (DISCORD)
Closed Solicitation Posted
- Solicitation number
- DARPA-PS-26-27
- Agency
-
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Department of Defense
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 541715 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
- Points of contact
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency seeks innovative proposals for the DISCORD (Disruption through Intelligent Strategies, Counter Options, and Resilient Defenses) program to develop an AI-native tactics engine generating diverse tactical options from live sensor data and high-fidelity simulation, with written proposals due July 29, 2026. This is an Other Transaction Authority award for Prototype under a 24-month, two-phase program with multiple performers anticipated.
The program addresses three critical gaps in current military planning: tactical brittleness, shallow insight into adversary vulnerabilities, and false choice when adversaries adapt tactics within hours. DISCORD collapses deliberate planning and execution into a real-time AI process enabling warfighters to out-pace adaptive adversaries. The program leverages physics-based reduced order modeling, AI-driven edge compute, online model-predictive control, dynamics learning, recurrence quantification analysis, and game theory to produce explainable outcomes that commanders can validate and adapt dynamically as conditions evolve.
The effort comprises three technical areas: Asymmetric Advantage Engine (accelerated surrogate models using nonlinear time series analysis to reduce training requirements by up to three orders of magnitude); Human-Machine Teaming (AI systems interpreting commander's intent in 25–50 interactions); and Live Adaptation Experimentation (integration into live, virtual, and constructive proving grounds with unmanned systems). Phase 1 targets an Advantage Score >10 and 75% architectural insight detection; Phase 2 targets >100 advantage score and 98% vulnerability detection. Down-selections occur at months 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 based on integration and metric failures.
The NAICS code is 541715, Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences. Abstract submissions were due June 18, 2026; final questions close June 30, 2026. The Proposer's Day occurred May 7, 2026. All program information is Controlled Unclassified Information and requires DARPA DISTAR release review; fundamental research exemptions to prepublication review are not provided. Contact DISCORD@darpa.mil for inquiries.
Notice text
2 versions
Update #2 · Latest ·
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative proposals that leverage: abstraction of physics based reduced order modeling, AI-driven simulation with edge compute, advances in online model-predictive control and online dynamics learning, recurrence quantification analysis, simulation with live sensor data, and game theory / theory of behavior.
The Disruption through Intelligent Strategies, Counter Options, and Resilient Defenses (DISCORD) program aims to develop an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-native approach for rapid generation of tactical options from both live sensor data and high-fidelity simulation. The goal is to provide commanders with a portfolio of diverse strategies that can pivot dynamically in response to evolving conditions. DISCORD is designed to produce explainable outcomes that human operators and commanders can validate, fostering trust in AI-driven decision support. DISCORD is intended to continuously adapt to changes in the operational environment, producing robust strategies that can pivot dynamically in response to evolving conditions. By discovering a wide range of superior and genuinely diverse strategies, rather than just a single optimized solution, the engine will help create true strategic flexibility. Importantly, this flexibility will afford commanders the power and freedom to exercise their own tactical judgment—born of hard-earned experience, training, and operational art—in ways that adversaries cannot poison, stymie, or accurately predict.
DISCORD is a 24-month program organized into two 12-month phases. DARPA anticipates selecting multiple performers.
The DARPA DISCORD effort implements Ender’s Foundry, one of several warfighting Pace-Setting Projects (PSPs) established by the Department of War. Ender’s Foundry’s intent is to accelerate AI-enabled simulation capabilities to ensure we stay ahead of AI-enabled adversaries.
The effort being solicited by this program solicitation (PS) is controlled unclassified information (CUI).
Update #1 ·
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative proposals that leverage: abstraction of physics based reduced order modeling, AI-driven simulation with edge compute, advances in online model-predictive control and online dynamics learning, recurrence quantification analysis, simulation with live sensor data, and game theory / theory of behavior.
The Disruption through Intelligent Strategies, Counter Options, and Resilient Defenses (DISCORD) program aims to develop an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-native approach for rapid generation of tactical options from both live sensor data and high-fidelity simulation. The goal is to provide commanders with a portfolio of diverse strategies that can pivot dynamically in response to evolving conditions. DISCORD is designed to produce explainable outcomes that human operators and commanders can validate, fostering trust in AI-driven decision support. DISCORD is intended to continuously adapt to changes in the operational environment, producing robust strategies that can pivot dynamically in response to evolving conditions. By discovering a wide range of superior and genuinely diverse strategies, rather than just a single optimized solution, the engine will help create true strategic flexibility. Importantly, this flexibility will afford commanders the power and freedom to exercise their own tactical judgment—born of hard-earned experience, training, and operational art—in ways that adversaries cannot poison, stymie, or accurately predict.
DISCORD is a 24-month program organized into two 12-month phases. DARPA anticipates selecting multiple performers.
The DARPA DISCORD effort implements Ender’s Foundry, one of several warfighting Pace-Setting Projects (PSPs) established by the Department of War. Ender’s Foundry’s intent is to accelerate AI-enabled simulation capabilities to ensure we stay ahead of AI-enabled adversaries.
The effort being solicited by this program solicitation (PS) is controlled unclassified information (CUI).
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| DARPA-PS-26-27 DISCORD Amendment 1.pdf | ||
| DARPA-PS-26-27.pdf | ||
| 2026_05_07_DISCORD_ProposersDay_final__-__Read-Only.pdf |
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