Boeing [BA] on Wednesday said it has launched a new organization that is focusing on researching and developing capabilities and solutions for secure communications, advanced artificial intelligence, and optimizing complex systems for commercial and government aerospace applications.

The Disruptive Computing and Networks (DC&N) will also partner with Boeing’s HorizonX, which is the company’s venture arm that invests in startup companies with potential breakthrough technologies in various areas. The two organizations, which report to Greg Hyslop, Boeing’s chief technology officer, will work together to identify areas for investment, although investments will continue to be made by HorizonX and DC&N will leverage the relevant of their partners capabilities, a Boeing spokeswoman told Defense Daily.

Greg Hyslop, Boeing's chief technology officer and senior vice president of Boeing Engineering, Test & Technology. Photo: Boeing
Greg Hyslop, Boeing’s chief technology officer and senior vice president of Boeing Engineering, Test & Technology. Photo: Boeing

The initial focus for the new organization will be in quantum communications, neuromorphic processing, and advanced sensing, Boeing said.

“Advanced computing and communications technologies are increasingly at the core of all aerospace innovations,” Hyslop, who is also Boeing’s senior vice president of Engineering, Test & Technology, said in a statement. He said the DC&N “will help us develop new businesses and partnerships in this rapidly expanding field, delivering more value to our customers and helping further define our second century of aerospace leadership.”

Charles Toups, who previously led Boeing Research & Technology (BR&T), is now head of Southern California-based DC&N. The new organization will work across the Boeing enterprise, and while Toups is currently the employee assigned to DC&N, within the next five years the organization will have about 500 employees, the spokeswoman said.

DC&N will pursue government research and development contracts, conduct internal R&D, and collaborate within the company and work with partners that HorizonX invests in. Eventually, the organization will develop solutions and capabilities for the marketplace, the spokeswoman said.

The new head of BR&T is Naveed Hussain, who is currently vice president of Aeromechanics Technology and leads BR&T’s facility in Southern California. BR&T has nearly 4,000 engineers, scientists, technicians and technologies in five facilities in the U.S. and six international research centers. BR&T is also overseen by Hyslop.