Multi-domain Experimentation and Demonstration Venues
Abstract
These complementary, agile, and flexible experimentation and demonstration capabilities and venues support the National Defense Strategy’s priority to increase the rate of innovation and enable Service, Combatant Command, and Agency user evaluation of emerging novel technologies in relevant environments. Demonstration venues include the Thunderstorm venue for small and non-traditional businesses; the Stiletto maritime technology platform; and, other tailored multi-domain venues and ad-hoc demonstrations. These experimentation and demonstration venues support the rapid discovery and transition of emerging technologies across the range of military operations. The venues provide the DoD and interagency partners with an opportunity to identify and evaluate new and emerging technologies both from commercial and government sectors through a series of technology demonstrations, experiments, vignettes, and related activities. The venues also offer a streamlined experimentation and demonstration process that encourages system developers to engage directly with the warfighter. These engagements enable rapid innovation and adoption of new technologies to meet operational needs through the exploration of military utility, and identification of potential risks of emerging technologies. In FY 2018, Thunderstorm, Stiletto, and other venues conducted 20 demonstration and experimentation events which featured 124 innovative technologies from focus areas including dense urban and subterranean warfare; enhanced lethality for small unit operations; tactical ISR; and, resilience for collaborative systems of networked sensors. Seventeen of these technologies transitioned directly to DoD operational users or were leveraged by formal programs of record, including an autonomous maritime landing system for unmanned autonomous vehicles (UAVs); a long-range geolocation capability; and, a long-range vertical takeoff and landing fixed-wing UAV. In FY 2018, these demonstration and experimentation venues also provided 75 small businesses and non-traditional innovators with the warfighter feedback critical to rapidly mature their technologies into viable prototypes.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2020
- Source ID
- e860c4b3b40098166dfd6a1e8d3f1ae2