Nominal Lands DARPA Contract to Build Data Backbone for CyPhER Forge Program
Event summary
- Nominal selected for DARPA’s CyPhER Forge program to serve as the foundational data architecture for defense test and evaluation.
- Contract executed through Nominal’s Air Force Test Center (AFTC) IDIQ.
- Program aims to reduce required test points for developmental systems by an order of magnitude using real-time digital twins and AI test agents.
- Nominal’s platform will provide a managed data layer and tooling for a diverse ecosystem of performers, including major systems integrators and research institutes.
- Nominal’s recent $53 million IDIQ award with the Air Force Test Center underscores its foundational role in standardizing data tooling.
The big picture
Nominal’s selection for DARPA’s CyPhER Forge program highlights the growing emphasis on AI and digital twins in defense testing. The program’s goal to replace live flight tests with high-confidence simulations aligns with broader industry trends toward faster, more cost-effective testing methodologies. Nominal’s role as the data backbone positions it as a key player in the defense sector’s digital transformation, with potential implications for future contracts and technological advancements.
What we're watching
- Execution Risk
- Whether Nominal can deliver on the ambitious goals of reducing test points by an order of magnitude while maintaining safety and reliability.
- Market Expansion
- How this contract positions Nominal for future defense and aerospace contracts beyond the CyPhER Forge program.
- Technological Integration
- The pace at which real-time digital twins and AI test agents become standard in defense test and evaluation.
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