Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering

The Department of Defense today announced 12 additional awards to bioindustrial firms via the Distributed Bioindustrial Manufacturing Program (DBIMP). This announcement brings the DBIMP to 25 awards to date totaling $42 million. The awards are some of more than 30 expected to be conferred as part of the White House's Executive Order 14081, "Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy," aimed at bolstering America's bioeconomic strengths while helping the Department achieve advanced defense capabilities. More at: https://lnkd.in/ekMagWGn

The United States Department of Defense executive director for the Office of Developmental Test, Evaluation, and Assessment, Christopher Collins, recently visited Naval Undersea Warfare Center Newport to discuss developmental Test and Evaluation as a Continuum (dTEaaC), underscoring the need for an agile Test & Evaluation (T&E) process to address evolving global threats through a framework that combines mission and system engineering with T&E. The dTEaaC approach aims to enhance decision-making and lifecycle management in DoD by incorporating assessments from the earliest stages of planning and development, ensuring data collection throughout, enabling stakeholders to make informed decisions at key points and advocating for a campaign of learning across the capability development lifecycle. This approach ensures complex systems are developed and deployed more efficiently to meet the needs of the warfighter. For more information, email [email protected]:[email protected].

The United States Department of Defense Science Board (DSB) recently released a comprehensive study about digital engineering capabilities entitled, "Digital Engineering Capability to Automate Testing and Evaluation.” Highlights include digital engineering’s force-multiplying capabilities, such as improvements of cost, schedule, and performance of complex projects and programs. It also further emphasized the need for digital engineering as threats shift and new capabilities emerge. For more information on this and other reports R&E is undertaking to support national defense, visit https://lnkd.in/eRRyy7QB.

The United States Department of Defense recently released Version 4.2 of the Cyber Resilient Weapon Systems Body of Knowledge to assist public and private sector workforces in designing, engineering, and safeguarding cyber resilient weapon systems. Version 4.2 offers several performance and resource upgrades to enhance user engagement. Key features include simplified searches, automatic checks for broken links, expanded resource information, and improved review board functionality for greater efficiency. The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense’s System Security team launched this resource in May 2021 for the system security engineering and science and technology communities and will continue to improve it with periodic updates. For more information on this free public resource, visit: https://lnkd.in/gAjxUwBY

R&E’s Digital Engineering, Modeling & Simulation (DEM&S) team is pioneering the transition from Systems Modeling Language (SysML) version 1 to 2, to enhance Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) implementation across the enterprise. ?? ?? SysML v2 is designed to meet the evolving practice of MBSE, addressing the challenges of increasing system complexity and technological advancements with improvements in language precision, expressiveness, and interoperability.? ?? The transition is estimated to impact 25 percent of the engineering workforce and inspire practitioners to embrace the future of systems engineering to unlock system quality, agility, and innovation throughout the system lifecycle.?? ? Learn more about SysML v2 at https://lnkd.in/ecTAcdD5.?#digitalengineering #sysml #innovation

R&E recently hosted an event to demonstrate next-generation autonomous systems designed to enhance naval operations, improve situational awareness, and bolster defense capabilities in an increasingly complex maritime environment. The event was conducted in support of the AUKUS Advanced Capabilities line-of-effort — known as Pillar II — and featured new and emerging technologies in preparation for future collaboration between the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. The MBP initiative provides a unique platform for the discovery of opportunities for cooperative development among AUKUS partners. By fostering a spirit of innovation and collaboration, participants are identifying areas where joint research, development, assessment, and experimentation can advance combat capability in the maritime domain. More at: https://lnkd.in/gkJ-x2BF

Technology Readiness Experimentation (T-REX) 24-2, taking place Aug. 17 – 29, is in full swing at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. Last week, along with hosting Under Secretary Shyu and other R&E leaders, who got to see the 75 technologies being assessed, the experimentation also included a sling load drop demonstration of an autonomous underwater and surface vehicle (AUSV) by Indiana National Guard soldiers, and a visit from U.S. Rep. Greg Pence. The AUSV being assessed can sail and submerge autonomously to collect data above and below the ocean’s surface and relay critical information to commanders and other warfighters. R&E is leading the development and fielding of autonomous capabilities that support the United States Department of Defense’s Combined, Joint, All-Domain Command-and-Control (CJADC2) priority. The technologies assessed at T-REX 24-2 have the potential to move on to other training events, like Northern Edge and the upcoming Autonomous Warrior Exercise in Australia, for further evaluation prior to being approved by the Deputy Management Action Group for eventual transition to the services.

The Department of Defense today announced the selection of a team of American and Finnish academic researchers to investigate the fundamental questions that may give rise to revolutionary advances in future communication systems. The BARI program allows academic teams from the United States and partner countries to merge their unique skill sets and resources to pursue high-risk basic research. During the U.S.-Finland project's four-year period of performance, the U.S. research team will receive up to $4 million from the Basic Research Office within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering while the Finnish team will receive up to €3 million (about $3.3 million) from the Research Council of Finland. More at: https://lnkd.in/eaJjVzU9

This week, Under Secretary Shyu and other leaders from R&E’s Mission Capabilities (MC) office attended Distinguished Visitors Day Aug. 19 during Technology Readiness Experimentation (T-REX) 24-2 at Camp Atterbury, Indiana.? T-REX runs Aug. 17 – 29 and is part of the United States Department of Defense’s initiative to fast-track new joint capabilities to the services. R&E partners with the Indiana National Guard, which provides critical tactical and operational space at Camp Atterbury’s training grounds. Members of the Guard experiment with emerging technologies, providing valuable data and feedback used for further development. T-REX 24-2 includes more than 75 emerging technologies, which have the potential to move on to other training events, like Northern Edge and the upcoming Autonomous Warrior Exercise in Australia, for further evaluation prior to being approved by the Deputy Management Action Group for eventual transition to the services.

Academic leaders and Department of Defense (DoD) officials discussed research innovation partnerships at the National Defense Industrial Association’s Emerging Technologies conference in Washington, D.C. The panel hosted by Dr. Binda Nair, director of Basic Research in the Office of Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering,?highlighted the collaborative approach between DoD and universities, emphasizing the significant contributions made by universities to national security. Key topics included the DoD's investments in physical sciences at universities, the role of universities in supporting national defense, and the Multi-Disciplinary University Research Initiative's impact on military capabilities. While acknowledging the progress achieved, the panel also emphasized the need to address challenges and accelerate efforts to ensure national security in the face of fast-moving near-peer competitors. To read more visit : https://lnkd.in/eRWshUV2?