Rapid Reaction Fund
Abstract
The Quick Reaction Special Projects (QSRP) Program supports four separate projects that provide rapid funding to expedite development and transition of new prototypical technologies to the warfighter. The QSRP Program provides the flexibility to mitigate emerging threats and addresses needs that arise outside the two-year budget cycle. The Rapid Reaction Fund (RRF) is fully executed through the Rapid Reaction Technology Office (RRTO). RRTO was established to accelerate the development and transition of high-potential science and technology (S&T) projects into operationally useful prototypes in the execution years. The RRTO leverages the Department of Defense (DoD) S&T base and those of the other federal departments, academia and industry; stimulates interagency coordination and cooperation; accelerates the fielding of prototypical capabilities and concepts to counter anticipated and emerging threats; and, provides feedback to the S&T community to guide long term developmental strategies. Projects support high level Department strategies and objectives, such as Better Buying Power 3.0 and the Defense Innovation Initiative and geographic Combatant Command (COCOM) priorities. RRTO anticipates adversaries' exploitation of technology, including available and emerging commercial capabilities. Prototypes delivered by RRTO demonstrate the feasibility of a new technology, enable integration into larger systems and provide cost effective capabilities to operational users faster than the typical acquisition cycle. In prior years, RRTO has explored novel methods and new approaches for persistent surveillance for counter-insurgency; developed alternate power sources for sensors and systems; provided low-cost capabilities for small-footprint operations; expanded human, social, and cultural knowledge; increased small unit situational awareness; advanced the interface between law enforcement and military operations; developed advanced biometrics and forensics capabilities; supported denied area operations; performed strategic multi-layer assessments; and, established an innovation outreach cell that facilitates better interactions with small companies developing emerging technologies that do not normally do business with the DoD. In FY 2017, RRTO will continue to explore new and emerging capabilities to support irregular warfare operations in support of the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology & Logistics), the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Research and Engineering) and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Emerging Capability & Prototyping) goals. With project selection occurring during the execution year, the RRTO's focus areas for FY 2016 projects include: capabilities to operate in denied areas; navigation in global positioning system-denied environments; persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) architectures; ISR sensors; global warming’s impact on operations in the Arctic; novel power sources for unmanned vehicles; emerging undersea warfare technologies; adaptive manufacturing to rapidly field prototypes; interface of law enforcement and military operations; biometrics and forensics science and technology; autonomous operations; data processing, exploitation and dissemination; exploitation of new and emerging cell phone technologies; counter-proliferation initiatives; wargaming and red teaming of emerging threats and capabilities; strategic communications and multi-layer assessments; and, non-traditional approaches to leverage innovative businesses. The typical length of an RRTO project falls within a six to 18 month range in order to more effectively respond to the Warfighter. Success stories and significant transitions of note for FY 2015 include: •Calderaevent: Calderaevent successfully demonstrated the ability to have situational awareness in denied environments. Technologies leveraged by this effort include precise timing equipment, military-grade radio sets and government developed algorithms. The capability was successfully demonstrated with accuracy of 10 meters at Trident Spectre 2015 at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Virginia. In early 2016, the Calderaevent capability will be demonstrated in the U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM) area of responsibility with nodes in Hawaii, Japan, Australia and aboard an underway Navy ship in support of a transition decision to a program of record. •Green Flash: Completed and transitioned the Green Flash prototype providing an overhead threat event countdown and notification application for smart phones. Details of this project are classified. •Operationalizing “Just Doesn’t Look Right”: Completed the demonstration of a capability to give peacekeepers and military police enhanced situational awareness and a better understanding of culturally relevant suspicious behaviors, potentially reducing the learning curve for new missions and facilitating personnel safety and mission completion. Project deliverables transitioned to U.S. Southern Command, the Uruguay military, and elements of the United Nations. •Flume: Completed phase one of the Flume assured data delivery software project which provided assured delivery of data over existing networks used by U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). This phase consisted of technical discovery, testing and documentation. •Forward Firing Flare: Completed the Forward Firing Flare project which delivered two ALE-47 chaff/flare launchers in the forward firing configuration for incorporation aboard nonstandard aircraft. The products transitioned to assets deployed in support of U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM). •Intelligent Materials Sensor System (IMSS): The IMSS prototype uses a unique phosphorescent nano material to provide target information when illuminated. Following a demonstration of this optically-transparent tagging mechanism from a military aircraft LITENING Targeting Pod, IMSS received contracts in FY 2015 from USSOCOM and the U.S. Army.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2017
- Source ID
- P828_0603826D8Z_3_0400_PB_2017
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- Root: Quick Reactions Special Projects (QRSP)
- Child Accomplishment: Low Cost Innovative Projects (Projects Less Than One Million Dollars Each)
- Child Accomplishment: Omni
- Child Accomplishment: Strategic Multi-Layered Assessment (SMA) Cell
- Child Accomplishment: Biometrics and Forensics Science and Technology
- Child Accomplishment: Faster Short Tandem Repeat (FaSTR) Human Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) Profiling System
- Child Accomplishment: Innovation Outreach Program
- Child Accomplishment: Open Source Data Analysis and Applications Focus Area
- Child Accomplishment: Autonomous Systems and Behaviors Focus Area
- Child Accomplishment: Urban Characterization Focus Areas
- Child Accomplishment: Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Focus Area
- Child Accomplishment: Additive Manufacturing Focus Area
- Child Accomplishment: Undersea Warfare and Technology Focus Area
- Child Accomplishment: Interface of Military Operations with Law Enforcement and Border Protection Focus Area
- Child Accomplishment: Red Teaming in Support of Emerging Capabilities Focus Area