Defense Modernization and Prototyping

Abstract

In alignment with the National Defense Strategy, the Defense Modernization and Prototyping (DM&P) Program Element (PE) supports the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (USD(R&E)) with innovation-focused experimentation and prototyping. Activities focus on early exploration of potentially game-changing emerging technologies and concepts; harnessing small and non-traditional business innovation to address Department of Defense (DoD) challenges; and, mid-term, mission-focused capability development of advanced systems to address DoD Modernization needs. Executed in partnership with the Services, Joint Staff, and Combatant Commands, DM&P programs increase the speed of innovation through the use of an uncharacteristic RDT&E execution model disbursing funding across the four fiscal quarters following receipt of the appropriation. With funds available throughout the year of execution, DM&P enables the USD(R&E) to nurture innovation from small businesses and non-traditional performers, and to accelerate emerging and disruptive technologies. Since program inception in 2006, this atypical execution model has enabled the Emerging Capabilities Technology Development (ECTD) and Quick Reaction Special Projects (QRSP) programs to successfully act as innovation engines for the DoD. This execution model causes the DM&P PE to lag traditional RDT&E PE obligation and execution benchmarks, however, since inception both the ECTD and QRSP programs have achieved an unbroken 100% obligation rate. With an emphasis on joint and interagency partnerships, DM&P project selection is guided by Department-level strategies and priorities, such as the Joint Warfighting Concept, DoD Modernization priorities, the National Defense Strategy, and the Combatant Commands’ Integrated Priority Lists (IPLs). New projects are selected with inputs from the Services and Agencies, the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Strategic Capabilities Office, the Defense Innovation Unit, and other organizations to deliver capabilities with the widest benefit to the joint warfighter, synchronize prototyping efforts across the DoD, and reduce duplication. Leveraging innovative ideas from small business and non-traditional performers, academia, government labs, and the industrial base, DM&P funding supports risk-reducing joint prototyping, red teaming, experimentation, and demonstrations. ECTD prototyping projects increase the speed of technology innovation by reducing technology risk for emerging capabilities. ECTD prototyping, experimentation, and red teaming validations enable developers to showcase new and maturing capabilities. Exploring vulnerabilities in emerging technologies, ECTD red teaming activities enable the Department to make informed decisions early in capability development when design changes are cost effective and programs can be re-directed if developmental dead ends are discovered. QRSP prototypes, experiments, and demonstrations quickly explore new, higher-risk technology areas, by partnering with small and non-traditional businesses that have the potential for immediate, game-changing impacts. Due to the relatively low average cost of projects, QRSP is able to explore higher-risk opportunities with potentially higher reward. Completed DM&P projects transition to joint programs and joint warfighters through early operationally relevant prototypes; technology adoption into programs of record; integration into system level, multi-year joint demonstrations; and, through advanced research and engineering efforts like the Warfighting Lab Incentive Fund for further development of tactics, techniques, procedures, and concepts of operation (CONOPs).

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2022
• Source ID: 0603338D8Z_3_0400_PB_2022
• Change Summary Explanation: The FY 2021 increase for emerging capabilities technology support, disruptive air and missile defense, open source intelligence, remote advise and assist technology development, artificial intelligence enabled sensor network, and stratospheric balloon research. The FY 2022 funding request was reduced by $1.701 million to account for the availability of prior year execution balances. Additional decrease due to internal realignment to Program Element 0603648D8Z Joint Capability Technology Demonstration (JCTD) for proper alignment and execution of the Time Sensitive Targeting Defeat (TSTD) focus area.
• Service Agency Name: Office of the Secretary Of Defense

Entities

Organizations

• Office of the Secretary of Defense

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Advanced Electronics
• Autonomy
• C4I
• Cyber
• Electronic Warfare
• Ground and Sea Platforms
• Human Systems
• Sensors
• Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Artificial Intelligence
• Combatant Commanders
• Command And Control
• Communication Systems
• Department Of Defense
• Disruptive Technology
• Electromagnetic Spectra
• Electronic Warfare
• Emerging Technology
• Machine Learning
• National Security
• Test And Evaluation
• Time Sensitive Targets
• Unified Combatant Commands
• United States Central Command
• War Games
• Warfare

Fields of Study

• Computer science

Readers

• Defense Technology Research and Development.
• Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
• Military Science and Technology Research and Modernization.