SOF Advanced Technology Development

Mission— Engineering Analysis

This project provides a rapid response capability to support Special Operations Forces (SOF) programs and capabilities across the enterprise. The purpose is to correct system deficiencies, improve asset life, and enhance mission capability through the means of feasibility studies, analysis of alternatives, pre-developmental risk reduction studies, and engineering analyses. This project provides the engineering required to improve the design and performance integrity of the SOF equipment and software and to integrate disruptive “off-the-shelf” technologies to meet current and emergent capability gaps. This project also conducts risk reduction studies, analyses, and demonstrations to support emerging, time-critical equipment, weapons, and sensor enhancements.

Mission— SOF Advanced Technology Development

S200 Advanced Technology Development This project conducts rapid prototyping and Advanced Technology Demonstrations (ATDs). ATDs provide a means for evaluating the utility of emerging/advanced technologies in operationally relevant environments with Special Operations forces (SOF) users. Evaluation results are included in a transition package, which assists in the initiation of or insertion into an acquisition program. ATDs also address projects that are a result of unique joint special mission or area-specific needs for which a few-of-a-kind prototypes must be developed on a rapid response basis, or of sufficient time sensitivity to accelerate the prototyping effort of a normal acquisition program in any phase. The ATD investment strategy is aligned to establish future SOF capability in support of Joint Warfighting Concepts. S201 Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve (RDER) This project funds Unites States Special Operations Command RDER projects via Office of the Secretary of Defense process. USSOCOM RDER projects accelerate technology from prototypes to validated joint SOF and SOF/Conventional forces military capabilities to support operations in highly contested environments. USSOCOM RDER projects are 12-24 month efforts focused on fast iterations of prototyping between technologists and warfighters through experimentation. SF101 Engineering Analysis This project provides rapid response capability for the investigation, evaluation, and demonstration of technologies for SOF platform (ground, air, and maritime) and soldier system-unique requirements. Timely application of SO-peculiar technology is critical and necessary to meet requirements in such areas as: sensor integration; enhanced situational awareness; near-real-time intelligence to include data fusion; threat detection and avoidance; electronic support measures for threat geo-location and specific emitter identification; navigation; target detection; weapon performance integration; and future SOF platform and soldier system requirements. This project provides additional engineering analysis and testing required to transition items from national forces to theater forces.

Mission— Advanced Technology Development

This project provides for rapid prototyping, Advanced Technology Demonstrations (ATDs) and Joint Capability Technology Demonstrations. It is a means for demonstrating and evaluating the utility of emerging/advanced technologies in operationally relevant environments with Special Operations Forces (SOF) users. This project integrates disruptive solutions and emerging technologies and then presents them in technology demonstrations, in conjunction with joint experiments and other assessment events. Evaluation results often facilitate the initiation of new programs and the insertion of appropriate technologies to acquisition programs. This project leverages key stakeholder relationships with the Department of Defense and government technology developers to address unique, joint special mission or area-specific needs for which a few rapid prototypes must be developed on a responsive basis, or of sufficient time sensitivity to accelerate prototyping efforts of a normal acquisition program in any phase.

Mission— Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve

USSOCOM's component of the Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve (RDER) is executed within this program element (PE) Element of Cost (EOC). To facilitate rapid modernization of the force, the Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve (RDER) initiative was established in the Defense Planning Guidance for Fiscal Years 2023-2027, to encourage multi-component experimentation through a campaign of learning. Services, Agencies, and other participating organizations are to identify "best of breed” capabilities developed among the DoD prototyping programs, and execute approved projects through large-scale, cross- service experiments in order to refine and/or validate the Joint Warfighting Concept (JWC). Organizations nominate proposals to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)) that are multi-component — involving Joint Services, International partners and/or other government agencies and link to one or more of the four key supporting concepts ("functional battles”) of the Joint Warfighting Concept: Joint Concept for Fires, Joint Concept for Command and Control, Joint Concept for Contested Logistics, and Joint Concept for Information Advantage.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (8)