RDER Archives

Undersecretary of Defense for Research & Engineering Heidi Shyu meets with Maj. Grover Smith of the Indiana National Guard during Technology Readiness Experimentation (T-REX) 2023 at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. (Defense Department photo).

Pentagon wants $450M for RDER tech experiments in fiscal 2025

The Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve is a signature initiative of DOD CTO Heidi Shyu.

Mar 11, 2024 By Jon Harper

U.S. Marines with Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and members of the 2nd Royal Australian Regiment conduct an amphibious assault utilizing Combat Rubber Reconnaissance Crafts at Fog Bay during exercise Talisman Sabre 15, in the Northern Territory, Australia, July 11 2015. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by MCIPAC Combat Camera Gunnery Sgt. Ricardo Morales/Released)

US military to bring RDER, T-REX tech initiatives to Australia

The Pentagon is bringing a key ally into its Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve and Technology Readiness Experimentation efforts.

Jan 31, 2024 By Jon Harper

Pentagon creating new role to break down ‘language barrier’ between non-traditional vendors, DOD

The so-called “transition concierge” role will act as “the translator between the non-traditional [companies] and the weapon system developers,” according to Dave Tremper.

Dec 8, 2023 By Mikayla Easley

Pentagon green-lights procurement of 3 ‘pretty special’ RDER capabilities

The Deputy's Management Action Group signed off on the plans, Pentagon CTO Heidi Shyu said.

Dec 2, 2023 By Jon Harper

Pentagon completes second technology experiment for RDER initiative

The second Technology Readiness Experimentation 2023 (T-REX 23-2) conducted 11 “full scale assessments” of new warfighting technologies.

Oct 27, 2023 By Mikayla Easley

U.S. Air Force Airmen board a C-130J Super Hercules from the 36th Airlift Squadron assigned to Yokota Air Base, Japan in support of Northern Edge 23-2 at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, July 7, 2023. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Airman 1st Class Alexandria Byrd)

Northern Edge exercise becomes test field for prototypes from DOD’s Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve

Technologies associated with RDER are deploying as part of the joint training exercise series.

Jul 19, 2023 By Brandi Vincent

Heidi Shyu sits down with key leaders during a visit to Fort Bliss 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, during Network Integration Evaluation 15.2 in 2015. (DoD photo)

Fielding timelines for RDER capabilities will be determined ‘case by case,’ Shyu says

The Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve initiative is intended to help the U.S. military quickly fill capability gaps identified by the Joint Staff and combatant commanders.

Apr 5, 2023 By Jon Harper

Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Heidi Shyu participates in a virtual event for Engineers Week, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Feb. 23, 2022. (DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando)

Big boost in RDER funding tied to plans to conduct multiple technology ‘sprints’

The Pentagon’s fiscal 2024 funding request for the Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve (RDER) nearly doubled compared to the request for 2023.

Mar 16, 2023 By Jon Harper

Photo of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab’s Kossiakoff Center. (Photo courtesy of JHU-APL)

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab lands Pentagon RDT&E contract worth up to $10.6B

The research, development, test and evaluation work will be for a variety of programs throughout the Defense Department.

Aug 22, 2022 By Jon Harper

DOD schedules industry day for new rapid defense experimentation initiative

Pentagon officials will meet with industry on July 26 to discuss plans for its RDER project.

Jul 14, 2022 By Jon Harper