DCTO(MC), MISSION CAPABILITIES

RAPID DEFENSE EXPERIMENTATION RESERVE

Rapid
Modernization

Pronounced “Raider,” RDER is an initiative that
will facilitate more rapid modernization by focusing
prototyping and experimentation efforts on
multi-Component missions.

Current opportunities

U.S. Marines and Philippine Marines participate in an amphibious landing during KAMANDAG 2 at Naval Education Training Command, Philippines, Oct. 6, 2018. KAMANDAG 2 is an exercise used to promote cohesion between nations in counter-terrorism, humanitarian operations, and disaster relief. This exercise is executed using Assault Amphibious Vehicles. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Kevan Dunlop)

RDER Begins in FY23

RDER welcomes solicitations as part of Defense Modernization & Prototyping (DM&P) listed on SAM.gov

Visit SAM.gov

Capabilities. Alignment. Innovation.

RDER Provides Critical Benefits to the DoD

01 Accelerate Joint innovation

02 Expand International Partnerships and Multi-lateral engagement

03 Focus Service joint experimentation

04 Quickly demonstrate and assess innovative ideas

05 Provide feedback to future Warfighting concept development

How RDER WORKS

The Secretary of Defense will create a budget reserve for allocation in the FY 2023 President’s Budget request to expand multi-Component experimentation in a structured, multi-year campaign of learning.

The Secretary will select among proposed experiments based on alignment to Joint missions and potential to yield demonstrable warfighting utility.

Demonstrations and experiments will be conducted at key exercise venues.

Successful demonstrations and experiments will be quickly transitioned to the Components for fielding as new systems or approaches.

Lifecycle costs will be considered for any RDER initiative
that has the potential to result in a new capability.

How to Participate

Proposal requests will begin in FY23

Proposals from industry and other interested parties will be requested and screened for RDER participation.

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Latest News

Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr. Kathleen H. Hicks Meets with Software Industry, Academia in Mountain View, California

Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr. Kathleen H. Hicks visited locations around Mountain View, California, today, where she met with software industry leaders, researchers and academia to discuss Department of Defense priorities under the National Defense Strategy and historic investments into innovation and modernization ($130.1 billion) under the Fiscal Year 2023 budget request.