Rapid Prototyping Program

Multi-domain Unmanned Secure Integrated Communications (MUSIC) develops and integrates an advanced networked capability to ensure tactical communications in denied and degraded environments. The capability leverages multiple available communication networks to create resilient and dynamic communication pathways that seamlessly adapt to changing conditions. The highly dynamic and distributed communications network is designed to scale across thousands of nodes and automatically prioritize traffic flows across the mission network in real-time. In FY 2024, MUSIC demonstrated and evaluated a minimum viable prototype (MVP) with repackaged commercial module and software-defined networking (SDN) features.

This effort integrated and assessed the capability of new technologies to identify, track, target, and defeat enemy Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). As low-cost lethal drones have proliferated across the world, the United States’ ability to counter and defend against these threats at scale needs to evolve. Integration of new sensor technology with directed energy weapons may provide a cost effective, scalable solution. In FY 2024, this effort experimented with directed energy, high powered microwaves, and other capabilities to support defense against small UAS. The effort completed analysis Q4 FY 2024 and informed requirements for U.S. Army programs.

This effort is integrating and demonstrating a maritime capability. Additional details are classified.

This effort is developing and integrating a sensing technology in support of weapons systems. Additional details are classified.

This effort provided a venue to quickly discover, demonstrate, and assess new and innovative warfighting capabilities, accelerate joint innovation, and provide a body of evidence and feedback for future warfighting concept development. In FY 2024, five Counter Unmanned Aerial System (CUAS) technologies were integrated and assessed for the detection and characterization of multiple near-ground, slow-moving, high-value targets. The CUAS assessment was conducted in conjunction with domestic and foreign technologies to test integration of systems and to simulate battlefield actions with counter-purpose systems. The assessment was completed Q4 FY 2024, and results are informing U.S. European Command CUAS requirements and activities.

The Low Size, Weight, Power, and Cost (SWaP-C) Radio Frequency (RF) Sensors project integrated and demonstrated a resilient communications system that includes low probability of intercept / low probability of detection (LPI/LPD) tools to provide constant connectivity at minimum power. The wireless, networked, low-SWaP, low-cost RF sensors provide asymmetric awareness over large maritime areas. The prototypes monitor RF signals that indicate crewed or uncrewed activity over large geographical areas, particularly areas that stretch along a critical border or shoreline. In FY 2024, the project integrated the sensor network and demonstrated capabilities within a realistic environment.

This effort integrates, demonstrates and assesses multiple mine and fast attack craft prototypes in support of combatant command (CCMD) mission threads. Prototypes seek to provide autonomy for identification, targeting, and battle damage assessment with kinetic effects.

This project develops and integrates novel payloads and capabilities into existing unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to aid in kill-chain closure at the tactical edge. Prototypes seek to provide identification, targeting, and battle damage assessment with kinetic and non-kinetic effects focused on autonomous target recognition, identification, and terminal engagement. UAS will integrate swarm coordination and collaboration in multi-agent mission roles. In FY 2024, the Swarming Prototype Attack UAS integrated commercial UAS with novel electronic warfare (EW) payloads in support of testing and assessment in a realistic environment. The project demonstrated the ability to find and fix a target, then apply an EW attack.

Tallneck is developing and demonstrating a Counter- Command, Control, Computing, Communications, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Tracking (Counter-C5ISRT) capability. Additional details are classified.

LSHORAD experimentation will test and validate the effectiveness of innovative defensive capabilities in real-world scenarios. Tested capabilities will provide a critical layer of protection against low-altitude threats. The experimentation will focus on detection and tracking, interception and neutralization, and the operational integration into seamless air defense infrastructures and command and control (C2) networks.

This effort matures platforms, and develops and integrates payloads, in support of stratospheric domain operations. High altitude payloads enable and improve multi-domain communication and collaboration and provide additional ISR capabilities. In FY 2024, the effort successfully performed platform airworthiness evaluations for high-altitude operations with preliminary integrated mission payloads. This included development of three platforms: a long endurance UAS, and two variants of solar high-altitude long endurance platform systems.

RAST is integrating and testing satellite communications for use in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Satellite communications provide UAS with a redundant, high bandwidth pathway for communication links and for beyond line-of-sight (BLOS) operation. Integration with group 3 UAS is a critical next step to enable longer endurance platforms to operate at their full potential range and loiter times.

Emerging Prototypes and Enablers supports the acceleration of DoD, CCMD and Service priority efforts, to include urgent and emergent requirements, which provide unique capability and/or address critical gaps; Special Access Program assimilation and operational management; prototyping through small business and non-traditional pathways; and the rapid development of technologies for inclusion in experimentation venues. Individual efforts are identified and refined throughout the year of execution through interactions with industry, academia, Service representatives, and CCMDs. Prospective efforts are closely coordinated with the CCMDs and Services to deconflict, improve jointness, and increase transition to Service acquisition programs. Candidate prototype projects undergo a selection process that assesses joint warfighter impact, transition potential, and technical merit/feasibility. Selected sub-projects target key capabilities that enable leap-ahead improvements in joint warfighter capability.

Weapons Kinetic / Non-Kinetic Effects explores the delivery of weapon systems and long-range kinetic and non-kinetic effects in support of joint offensive and defensive tasks to create specific lethal effects on a target. This area includes counter positioning, navigation, and timing, and techniques designed to deceive enemy observers and/or mitigate, disrupt, or negate adversary capabilities. Individual efforts are identified and refined throughout the year of execution through interactions with industry, academia, Service representatives, and CCMDs. Prospective efforts are closely coordinated with the CCMDs and Services to deconflict, improve jointness, and increase transition to Service acquisition programs. Candidate prototype projects undergo a selection process that assesses joint warfighter impact, transition potential, and technical merit/feasibility. Selected sub-projects target key capabilities that enable leap-ahead improvements in weapons effects.

Contested Logistics/Sustainment explores the coordinated use, synchronization, and often sharing of logistics resources to deploy, support, and sustain highly dispersed joint forces in highly contested environments. Individual efforts are identified and refined throughout the year of execution through interactions with industry, academia, Service representatives, and CCMDs. Prospective efforts are closely coordinated with the CCMDs and Services to deconflict, improve jointness, and increase transition to Service acquisition programs. Candidate prototype projects undergo a selection process that assesses joint warfighter impact, transition potential, and technical merit/feasibility. Selected sub-projects target key capabilities that enable leap-ahead improvements in contested logistics/sustainment.

Collaborative Multi-Domain Autonomy explores the use of multi-domain uncrewed systems and autonomy to increase warfighting capabilities and to mitigate/negate risk to warfighters. Individual efforts are identified and refined throughout the year of execution through interactions with industry, academia, Service representatives, and CCMDs. Prospective efforts are closely coordinated with the CCMDs and Services to deconflict, improve jointness, and increase transition to Service acquisition programs. Candidate prototype projects undergo a selection process that assesses joint warfighter impact, transition potential, and technical merit/feasibility. Selected sub-projects target key capabilities that enable leap-ahead improvements in uncrewed/multi-domain autonomy.

Sensors and Data Analytics explores networks of sensors and data collection assets, data analysis, and dissemination resources used to provide information to the Joint force about strategic and tactical threats. Individual efforts are identified and refined throughout the year of execution through interactions with industry, academia, Service representatives, and CCMDs. Prospective efforts are closely coordinated with the CCMDs and Services to deconflict, improve jointness, and increase transition to Service acquisition programs. Candidate prototype projects undergo a selection process that assesses joint warfighter impact, transition potential, and technical merit/feasibility. Selected sub-projects target key capabilities that enable leap-ahead improvements in sensors and data analytics.

Resilient Communications explores the ability to maintain hardened mission-capable systems that allow for secure freedom of communications in contested electromagnetic spectrum environments. This includes alternate positioning, navigation, and timing. Individual efforts are identified and refined throughout the year of execution through interactions with industry, academia, Service representatives, and CCMDs. Prospective efforts are closely coordinated with the CCMDs and Services to deconflict, improve jointness, and increase transition to Service acquisition programs. Candidate prototype projects undergo a selection process that assesses joint warfighter impact, transition potential, and technical merit/feasibility. Selected sub-projects target key capabilities that enable leap-ahead improvements in Resilient Communications.

Kill Web Interoperability explores the process by which Joint Force Commanders plan, direct, coordinate, and control forces to accomplish assigned missions and enable Joint kill webs. Individual efforts are identified and refined throughout the year of execution through interactions with industry, academia, Service representatives, and CCMDs. Prospective efforts are closely coordinated with the CCMDs and Services to deconflict, improve jointness, and increase transition to Service acquisition programs. Candidate prototype projects undergo a selection process that assesses joint warfighter impact, transition potential, and technical merit/feasibility. Selected sub-projects target key capabilities that enable leap-ahead improvements in Kill Web Interoperability.

Wolfpack develops multi-domain prototypes that can deliver payloads, both kinetic and non-kinetic, to a target from small, containerized launchers. Wolfpack leverages proven delivery platforms and integrates payloads to support intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), kinetic, and decoy missions using attritable and swarming uncrewed systems. Wolfpack enables joint mission engagement using integrated command and control (C2) of the Wolfpack uncrewed platform and payload of swarming uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) that interface with multi-Service control systems. In FY 2024, Wolfpack modified a UAS for carry and release of smaller, group 1 UAS for ISR and kinetic missions. The work included the development of a flyable UAS prototype, integration of common launch tubes and group 1 UAS payloads, and functional system ground testing including demonstrated jettison capability for airborne payload delivery.

(Resilient Communications) (MATER) addresses the current challenge of low cost, attritable, frequency agile radios enabling joint force interoperability, especially on size, weight, and power (SWaP) constrained uncrewed platforms. The project leverages multi-billion-dollar commercial investments in the development of low-cost software-defined transceivers for the cellular industry and adapts these to military-relevant waveforms and applications for platforms. This project is built upon the latest microelectronic processors operating in 5G cellphones, mobile broadband, and internet of things (IoT) devices. Using these industry standard chipsets as the basis for a family of military communication devices allows the DoD to reap the benefits of their built-in advanced signal processing, encryption, and acceleration capabilities, and also to gain the size and power benefits of microelectronics manufactured at commodity scale on advanced micro-electronics manufacturing nodes for low SWaP applications.

The HRCM effort will advance the state of the art for area effects munitions through the maturation of the Distributed Fuzing Architecture (DFA) and Long Range Dispense Submunition (LRDS) technologies. The DFA is a modular, internal power and data transmission architecture that enables a variety of area effects payloads to be integrated into an assortment of delivery platforms. Its design supports the intermingling of different submunition effectors into a single carrier platform, adding significant tactical flexibility and capability. LRDS is a state-of-the-art submunition effector being developed to incorporate advances in machine learning, warhead technologies, and novel flight structures. The resulting submunition will provide the warfighter with a highly lethal, long range, low cost, precision attack capability. HRCM will be demonstrated in a live fire exercise in collaboration with Army Long Range Precision Fires.

The Joint Fires Network (JFN) prototype will connect sensors and weapon systems using enterprise and edge information technology to remove the latency of target quality data between multi-domain forces. The JFN will combine actionable and distributed data from sensors from multiple Services to find, fix, track, target, engage, and assess (F2T2EA) targets using the most viable weapon system through an integrated joint fire control solution that will enable information and decision superiority at the combatant command level. In FY 2024, the effort refined, tested, and demonstrated a federated JFN capability with advanced application integration.

This effort will demonstrate advanced energetics applications in multiple system prototypes to show improved warhead effectiveness and lethality, improved propulsion performance, and operational gains from novel materials. Aligns to FY 2024 NDAA Section 243 requirement to incorporate CL-20 into 3 weapon systems. Selected systems for incorporation and intended performance improvements are classified.

Cryptid Stare is developing and demonstrating an indications and warnings (I&W) array capability. Additional details are classified.