Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)

Mission— DIU

DIU increases the Department's access to commercial technologies and talent, with the ultimate goal of fielding technology at a pace that effectively deters our adversaries and helps ensure victory if we are forced to fight. Consistent with the Administration's 2026 interim National Defense Strategy and the National Defense Science and Technology Strategy, this new era of competition requires technological superiority to ensure the United States’ ability to project power, maintain international norms and rule of law, provide credible deterrence, and prevail in conflict.

Mission— Tactical Vehicle Hybridization

Objective:​ TVH is a non-propulsive system that utilizes standard 6TE batteries to store 'excess' energy from the vehicle's diesel engine to power vital combat systems. It directly enables greater operational reach by extending the time and distance tactical vehicles can operate; saving lives and money by reducing fuel use (~40%) and reducing resupply convoys. In combat scenarios the Return On Investment is estimated to be less than 1 month. Approach:​ FMTV (Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles) vehicle platform Developed by Shyft Group subsidiary Blue Arc EV, this kit uses an upgraded alternator to harvest energy from the rotating engine, to power native vehicle functions as usual, while also directing energy to 3x 6T li-ion batteries for use when the engine is off. LVSR (Logistics Vehicle System Replacement) vehicle platform Developed by Blackburn Energy, this kit adds a belt to the driveline to harvest the kinetic energy of the spinning shaft, thereby taking advantage of the efficiency gain behind the transmission. Energy is then directed towards up to 6x 6T li-ion batteries.

Mission— Defense Advanced Battery Supply Chain

Problem: DoD is vulnerable to an adversarial battery supply chain, as China dominates the market for active electrode materials and most high-volume Li-ion cell manufacturing today. Solution: Leverage commercial energy storage technology to maximize DoD energy resilience. Standardize battery form-factors with regard to use-case and platform performance reqs to lower qualification, procurement and sustainment costs. Onshore and scale domestic/Allied battery cell production in the 10s-100s of MWh/yr, aligning baseline performance profiles of unmanned systems with commercial market Partners: OASD (A&S) IBAS,DEVCOM GVSC,NAVSEA05 Battery Safety,DEVCON - GVSC, AVMC,NAWCAD,AFMC,OSC,DON-OE/OPNAV N94,PEO Ships,PMS 500

Mission— DIU

DIU increases the Department's access to commercial technologies and talent, with the ultimate goal of fielding technology at a pace that effectively deters our adversaries and helps ensure victory if we are forced to fight. Consistent with the Administration's interim 2026 National Defense Strategy and the National Defense Science and Technology Strategy, this new era of competition requires technological superiority to ensure the United States’ ability to project power, maintain international norms and rule of law, provide credible deterrence, and prevail in conflict.

Mission— Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)

On April 4, 2023, the Secretary of Defense elevated DIU as a direct report, placing the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) under the Secretary’s authority, direction and control and provided guidance on DIU’s reporting and management structure. This change significantly increased the scope and scale of DIU’s responsibilities and authorities as reflected in the DIU 3.0 strategy. In the National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2026, Congress elevated DIU as a Principal Staff Assistant (PSA) to the Secretary of Defense, codifying DIU as the DoD's innovation organization and advisor to the SECDEF and DEPSECDEF, and supports the Department's initiatives to build enduring advantages across the defense ecosystem - the Department of Defense, the defense industrial base, and the array of private sector enterprises and academia that create and sharpen the Joint Force’s technological edge, with a focus on innovation and rapid adjustment to new strategic demands. The DIU mission is to strengthen U.S. national security by accelerating the adoption of commercial technology throughout the military and growing the national security innovation base. DIU partners with organizations across the DoD and the interagency to rapidly prototype, field, and scale commercially derived solutions to meet the most critical operational capability gaps identified by the Department with the focus, speed, and scale required to help deter major conflict and win if forced to fight. With offices in Silicon Valley, Boston, Austin, Chicago, and the Pentagon, DIU is able to attract the best and brightest talent and cutting-edge solutions. For the Department of Defense (DoD) to effectively implement the NDS and counter the pacing challenge of China while simultaneously addressing the other strategic threats facing the nation, it must leverage commercial technology with the focus, speed, and scale necessary to deter major conflict and win if forced to fight. The Secretary of Defense’s decision to realign DIU as a direct report and empower it to provide leadership, namely through serving as the Advisor to the Secretary on commercial technology innovation and chairing the Deputy’s Innovation Working Group is a reflection of this imperative. Spurred by trillions of dollars of private investment, innovation in many critical areas of technology central to military power is proceeding at a much faster rate in the private sector than in the traditional defense sector. Progress in 11 of the 14 critical technology areas identified by the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (R&E) is primarily led by the commercial sector, with the most cutting-edge technology more likely to occur in its research and development pathways, tested and refined through its relentless market-driven requirements. DIU strengthens the Department’s ability to rapidly prototype, acquire and field commercial technology at a pace that effectively deters our adversaries and helps ensure victory if we are forced to fight. Working across the country, and in collaboration with our allies and partners, DIU is developing new ways of doing business, growing our national security innovation base to include more "non-traditional" companies that had previously not collaborated with the military, working with traditional vendors in novel ways to increase efficiency and efficacy, and challenging innovators to share their knowledge and expertise in support of our nation's defense. Through a competitive prototype process, DIU identifies and provides access to technology companies and products on behalf of DoD partners. Additionally, DIU executes projects to leverage commercial sector technology analogous to military applications thereby increasing dual-use technology agility for the DoD. DIU funds facilitate the award of projects that can augment commercial technologies, existing government-owned capabilities, or concepts for defense application. DIU focuses on seven technology areas where commercial industry is the lead: • Artificial Intelligence (AI)/ Machine Learning (ML) – Applying AI/ML learning to accelerate critical decision making and operational impact. • Autonomy – Adopting and countering autonomous systems with a focus on human-machine interaction and scalable teaming. • Cyber – Making enterprise combat information open, accessible, and secure for defense personnel across the globe. • Energy – Leveraging proven advancement in energy and materials technology to enhance capabilities and strengthen resilience across installation and distributed operations. • Human Systems – Optimizing the human system and its enabling platforms through enhanced equipment, innovative training, and novel health applications. • Space – Developing on-demand access to space, persistent satellite capabilities, and broadband space data transfer. • Emerging Technology - Focused on developing and delivering innovative quantum applications, hypersonics capabilities, and advanced material solutions.

Mission— Hypersonic unmanned wingman

DIU increases the Department's access to commercial technologies and talent, with the ultimate goal of fielding technology at a pace that effectively deters our adversaries and helps ensure victory if we are forced to fight. Consistent with the Administration's 2026 interim National Defense Strategy and the National Defense Science and Technology Strategy, this new era of competition requires technological superiority to ensure the United States’ ability to project power, maintain international norms and rule of law, provide credible deterrence, and prevail in conflict.

Mission— Reusable hypersonic technology

DIU increases the Department's access to commercial technologies and talent, with the ultimate goal of fielding technology at a pace that effectively deters our adversaries and helps ensure victory if we are forced to fight. Consistent with the Administration's 2026 interim National Defense Strategy and the National Defense Science and Technology Strategy, this new era of competition requires technological superiority to ensure the United States’ ability to project power, maintain international norms and rule of law, provide credible deterrence, and prevail in conflict.

Mission— Nuclear advanced propulsion and power

DIU increases the Department's access to commercial technologies and talent, with the ultimate goal of fielding technology at a pace that effectively deters our adversaries and helps ensure victory if we are forced to fight. Consistent with the Administration's 2026 interim National Defense Strategy and the National Defense Science and Technology Strategy, this new era of competition requires technological superiority to ensure the United States’ ability to project power, maintain international norms and rule of law, provide credible deterrence, and prevail in conflict.

Mission— Industrial_foreign_influence

DIU increases the Department's access to commercial technologies and talent, with the ultimate goal of fielding technology at a pace that effectively deters our adversaries and helps ensure victory if we are forced to fight. Consistent with the Administration's 2026 interim National Defense Strategy and the National Defense Science and Technology Strategy, this new era of competition requires technological superiority to ensure the United States’ ability to project power, maintain international norms and rule of law, provide credible deterrence, and prevail in conflict.

Mission— Innovation with academia

DIU increases the Department's access to commercial technologies and talent, with the ultimate goal of fielding technology at a pace that effectively deters our adversaries and helps ensure victory if we are forced to fight. Consistent with the Administration's 2026 interim National Defense Strategy and the National Defense Science and Technology Strategy, this new era of competition requires technological superiority to ensure the United States’ ability to project power, maintain international norms and rule of law, provide credible deterrence, and prevail in conflict.

Mission— Defense Innovation Onramp Hubs Expansion

DIU increases the Department's access to commercial technologies and talent, with the ultimate goal of fielding technology at a pace that effectively deters our adversaries and helps ensure victory if we are forced to fight. Consistent with the Administration's 2026 interim National Defense Strategy and the National Defense Science and Technology Strategy, this new era of competition requires technological superiority to ensure the United States’ ability to project power, maintain international norms and rule of law, provide credible deterrence, and prevail in conflict.

Mission— Defense Innovation OnRamp Hubs

DIU increases the Department's access to commercial technologies and talent, with the ultimate goal of fielding technology at a pace that effectively deters our adversaries and helps ensure victory if we are forced to fight. Consistent with the Administration's 2026 interim National Defense Strategy and the National Defense Science and Technology Strategy, this new era of competition requires technological superiority to ensure the United States’ ability to project power, maintain international norms and rule of law, provide credible deterrence, and prevail in conflict.

Mission— Hydrogen at the Tactical Edge of Contested-Logistics (HyTEC)

DIU increases the Department's access to commercial technologies and talent, with the ultimate goal of fielding technology at a pace that effectively deters our adversaries and helps ensure victory if we are forced to fight. Consistent with the Administration's 2026 interim National Defense Strategy and the National Defense Science and Technology Strategy, this new era of competition requires technological superiority to ensure the United States’ ability to project power, maintain international norms and rule of law, provide credible deterrence, and prevail in conflict.

Mission— Synthetic Fuels for Contested Environments

Problem: Defense fuel / operational energy logistics are reliant on the global energy supply chain, which is easily disruptible. Current transport means are costly, inefficient, slow, and vulnerable to attack. Solution: Obtain ASTM and TRIPOL certified synthetic diesel and jet fuels and mass produce them in both installation and mobile systems Partners: AFRL & TCO , DOE, OECIF, US Army OCE (SMR Integration), USA Corps of Engineers, NORTHCOM / SOUTHCOM / CENTCOM / TRANSCOM, PEO CS&CSS, PEO SOFSA

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (13)