A pair of classified efforts in FY23 will aim to develop and push prototypes into rapid experimentation to fill a joint operational capability gap. These are part of the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering’s (USD [R&E’s]) Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve, or RADER, activity. It is designed to conduct a campaign of joint experimentation, explains Heidi Shyu, the USD (R&E).
Speaking at the Defense Research and Development Summit, Shyu said the office is initiating two sprints in conjunction with the Joint Staff to understand where the capability gaps exist. Out of four different scenarios, the first sprint chosen addresses the primary concern voiced by the Secretary of Defense. Her office conducted a call across the services for prototypes they may already be developing to address this scenario’s needs. More than 200 white papers were submitted, out of which 32 were selected as having merit to close the capability gap. A combatant command that has responsibility for this scenario spent three days laying out the exercise, Shyu relates. She adds that the other scenarios will be addressed sequentially.