Disruption through Intelligent Strategies, Counter Options, and Resilient Defenses (DISCORD)

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Strategic Technology Office (STO) has issued Program Solicitation DARPA-PS-26-27, titled “Disruption through Intelligent Strategies, Counter Options, and Resilient Defenses (DISCORD).” This initiative seeks innovative approaches to develop an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-native tactics engine capable of incorporating live sensor data and high-fidelity simulation. The goal is to rapidly generate diverse and adaptive strategies, providing commanders with flexible tactical options that adversaries cannot easily predict or counter. This 24-month program, organized into two 12-month phases, is part of the Department of War’s Ender’s Foundry Pace-Setting Projects, aimed at accelerating AI-enabled simulation capabilities. Multiple awards are anticipated, with Other Transaction Authority (OTA) for Prototype as the likely instrument. Proposals will be evaluated based on criteria detailed in a Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) addendum, which requires a formal request by May 26, 2026. Key dates include a Proposer’s Day on May 7, 2026, an Abstract Due Date of June 11, 2026, and a Written Proposals Due Date of July 9, 2026. All times are Eastern Time. The agency contact for this effort is DISCORD@darpa.mil.

The DARPA DISCORD (Disruption through Intelligent Strategies, Counter Options, and Resilient Defenses) program, also known as OUSW(R&E) Ender’s Foundry, aims to develop AI-native capabilities to counter AI-enabled adversaries in warfighting. The program addresses limitations in current deliberate planning processes, which are too slow for modern adaptive conflicts. DISCORD focuses on three technical areas: the Asymmetric Advantage Engine (TA 1) for rapid generation of strategies using nonlinear time series techniques; Human-Machine Teaming (TA 2) to improve human-AI collaboration and decision-making speed; and Live Adaptation Experimentation (TA 3) for integrating and validating solutions in real-world, live, virtual, and constructive (LVC) proving grounds. The program features a phased schedule with evaluations and down-selections, culminating in a final graduation exercise in a full LVC environment to demonstrate the integrated system's effectiveness against novel adversary tactics.