RAPID DEFENSE EXPERIMENTATION RESERVE

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

• RDER is a whole-of DoD effort, focused on advanced technologies In order to provide rapid capabilities to address our most difficult military challenges.
• Executed on a recurring annual basis, the program provides resourcing for promising prototypes to execute advanced experimentation and evaluation and, if warranted, accelerate transition to warfighting capability.
• Beyond merely evaluating individual capabilities and prototypes, RDER experimentation is focused on providing analysis and evaluation of comprehensive joint and multi-domain kill chains.
• With oversight through the DoD Innovation Steering Group, each cycle is initiated with an analysis of COCOM priority gaps and promising capability advances seen through, DARPA, Military Labs, Industry and our multi-national allies.
• On receipt of candidate prototyping opportunities, the selection process is increasingly informed by advanced analytics and computer based M&S to help evaluate proposed technologies/capabilities in a realistic environment.
• Once programs are selected and funded, R&E maintains oversight of progress on funded service and industry and ally prototypes, and develops advanced experimentation environments to enable evaluation of both prototype and corresponding CONOPS and TTPs.  This is done to provide comprehensive feedback in order to inform rapid acquisition decisions for those activities that show the highest promise in closing warfighter gaps.
• Experiments will be focused on integrated kill chain execution in as realistic an environment as possible, leveraging advanced constructive, virtual and live capabilities.  When appropriate, RDER will pair compatible technologies in order to demonstrate comprehensive advanced kill chains.
• While RDER provides a unique/focused capability to DoD, it is an integral component of a broader ecosystem which includes COCOM exercises, Service experiments and lab activities, Industry IRAD and commercial activities.  In order to minimize cost and disruption and accelerate experimentation opportunities, RDER experiments often leverage events executed by these partner activities.
• As early as prototype selection, transition plans are initiated and tailored for each RDER project.   This is accomplished in partnership with the acquisition community (services, COCOMs, A&S, etc.) to minimize any delays in production or negative impact to existing programs, should a prototype warrant transition.   R&E and A&S have collaborated to evaluate transition of successful RDER prototypes through A&S Competitive Advantage Pathfinders in order to develop a roadmap to successful transition.  The APFIT program, executed by R&E is another new tool that can aid in rapid transition.
• The combination of comprehensive all service/domain kill chain focus, analysis of potential capabilities across the innovation ecosystem, advanced analytics, experimentation and prototype evaluation, with partnered focus on rapid transition makes RDER a unique and valuable tool achieving an enduring advantage in a rapidly evolving contested landscape.