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Established in response to the Soviet Union's launch of Sputnik in 1957, DARPA was conceived as a means to ensure the United States remains at the cutting edge of technological development in defense. The agency has been instrumental in the progress of various technologies, operating under the principle of "Blue Sky Research." This approach allows DARPA to pursue innovative and often speculative projects that can be twenty years ahead of their time.
Neil McElroy, the former Secretary of Defense who advocated for the agency’s establishment, stated that DARPA was aimed at creating "the vast weapon systems of the future." Its existence has been relatively unknown to the average citizen, as the agency prefers a low profile while working diligently on groundbreaking projects.