United States
The central subject of the investigation. The US maintains the most extensive compact fusion, plasma weapons, and directed energy research ecosystem in the world, spanning DARPA, DOE, AFRL, NRL, and private contractors. The evidence network traces a 66-year technology lineage from Project Sherwood through to present-day classified programs.
Key Findings
The US has maintained continuous classified interest in compact fusion and plasma weapons since the 1950s, with documented programs at Los Alamos, AFRL, and NRL.
The ARPA-E ALPHA program (2015-2020) funded at least 8 compact fusion approaches including FRC, spheromak, and magneto-inertial fusion.
The MARAUDER program (1993) at Phillips Laboratory demonstrated plasma toroid acceleration at 1,000 km/s — the only publicly confirmed US plasma weapon experiment.
Salvatore Pais's Navy patents (2015-2019) describe a compact fusion reactor and hybrid aerospace craft, representing the most recent unclassified plasma weapons concepts.
AATIP/AARO investigated anomalous aerospace phenomena with potential plasma physics implications, with 38+ documented UAP encounters.
Research Paper
The United States' Secret Compact Fusion Program: A Clandestine National Initiative
An Open-Source Intelligence Investigation into Compact Fusion, Field-Reversed Configuration Physics, Plasma Weapons, and Directed Energy Programs
Key Entities
Eric Hermanson
Physicist and software engineer; FPT Chief Strategy Officer; claims defrauding by Firmage/Pandolfi in 2016-2018 InterNASA project.
Ronald Pandolfi
Former CIA analyst and S&T official; advisor to InterNASA; central figure in Hermanson claims.
Joe Firmage
Silicon Valley entrepreneur (USWeb founder); founded InterNASA, Motion Sciences, ManyOne; facing criminal fraud charges.
Bob Kiviat
Investigative journalist and TV producer; sued Firmage/Pandolfi/Marriott over unpaid InterNASA compensation.
Daniel Marriott
Former US Congressman; InterNASA investor; defendant in Kiviat lawsuit.
Max Marmer
Lead plaintiff in Marmer v. Firmage fraud lawsuit alleging $200M false DOD contract.
InterNASA
National Academy of Science and Arts LLC DBA InterNASA; Utah LLC (expired); Firmage venture 2016-2018.
Motion Sciences
Not-for-profit advanced physics research organization founded by Joe Firmage in January 2000.
ManyOne LLC
Digital universe company founded by Firmage; declared Chapter 7 bankruptcy in October 2009.
USWeb Corporation
Silicon Valley web services company co-founded by Firmage; collapsed in dotcom bust 2001.
Timeline Highlights
Birth of Nicholas Christofilos
Nicholas Christofilos, the future architect of the Astron fusion project, is born in Boston to Greek parents.
Christofilos Academic Graduation
Nicholas Christofilos graduates from the National Polytechnic Institute in Athens with a degree in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering.
Christofilos Physics Self-Education
During the Nazi occupation of Greece, Christofilos begins a rigorous self-education in nuclear physics using German textbooks while supervising truck repairs.
DARC Site 1 Operational at Exmouth
The Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) Site 1, the world's first deep space radar, becomes operational at Exmouth, Western Australia, as part of the trilateral US-UK-Australian network.
AUKUS Pillar 2 Quantum Clock Trials
AUKUS partners successfully complete extended trials of Australian-developed quantum clocks in Washington, D.C., testing GPS-independent navigation for defense operations.
AUKUS SRF-West Submarine Rotations Begin
The Submarine Rotational Force-West (SRF-West) begins at HMAS Stirling, with UK and US nuclear-powered submarines rotating through Western Australia as part of AUKUS Pillar 1.
Investigations
Research Topics
Explore United States's involvement across specific research domains tracked by the SMT Research Institute.