Over the years, DARPA has worked to enhance our national security by funding research and technology development that not only have improved our military capabilities but have changed the way we live. military and prevent technological surprise from harming our national security by sponsoring revolutionary, high-payoff research bridging the gap between fundamental discoveries and their military use. The first demonstrated flight is scheduled 42 months after the initial award.ĭARPA’s mission is to maintain the technological superiority of the U.S. There will be three phases of the experimental VTOL X-Plane project lasting 52 months between October 2013 and February 2018.