In response to a critical assessment from the Senate Appropriations Committee regarding the Pentagon’s Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve (RDER), the program’s chief architect defended its contributions, asserting it has already provided “critical” military capabilities that are not being pursued elsewhere. Under Secretary for Research and Engineering Heidi Shyu expressed to Breaking Defense on Thursday evening that RDER aims to address gaps in military technology that the services have overlooked.
Shyu emphasized that RDER is designed to support the more prominent Replicator program, stating, “Everything we’re doing is pre-Replicator,” and clarified that RDER’s efforts do not duplicate Replicator’s objectives.
RDER, affectionately pronounced “rider,” is Shyu’s initiative to identify and fast-track “critical” technologies that lack funding. The idea originated three years ago when Shyu entered the Pentagon, where she encountered budget constraints that delayed funding until last year. „Our budgeting process is a two-year cycle…then we were sprinting to do the actual experimentation,” she explained. The program is focused on validating the technological readiness of prototypes through rigorous testing, ensuring they have military applicability before integrating them into exercises.
Shyu outlined the structured approach RDER employs, which includes field testing various prototypes—ranging from solar-powered UAVs to unmanned surface vehicles—followed by military utility assessments during significant military exercises, such as Northern Edge and Valiant Shield.
The necessity of this methodology is underscored by Shyu’s desire to avoid wasting military personnel’s time on unproven technology or taxpayer funds on unworthy systems. Subsequently, only the prototypes that demonstrate both technological viability and military utility are submitted to the Deputy’s Management Action Group (DMAG) for approval for production and rapid deployment.
Shyu reported that four prototype systems have received DMAG endorsement, with two classified for security reasons and the other two addressing notable deficiencies in future combat capabilities. Among the discussable projects, Shyu highlighted an ultra-high-altitude balloon system designed to carry surveillance instruments or communications relays, filling a capability void that the military services had previously overlooked. “Once we developed the capability and tested it, both the Air Force and the Army said, ‘Hey, we want this,’” she noted.
The second approved project aims to help the Marines integrate sensors with RDER assistance, improving their delivery timelines significantly. Additional innovative projects are underway, such as ultra-long-endurance solar-powered drones and upgrades to Navy unmanned surface vessels.
As production-ready technologies emerge, they may also serve as candidates for the Replicator program, led by Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks. Unlike RDER, Replicator focuses on scaling proven technologies into mass production rapidly for military deployment.
Shyu concluded that RDER and Replicator serve complementary roles within the military’s modernization efforts, with their distinct but aligned objectives. Following this, Senate proposals regarding RDER will proceed to a vote after the August recess, facing challenges in reconciling differences with a notably less expensive appropriations plan passed by the Republican-run House. The outcome of specific RDER provisions amidst these budget negotiations remains uncertain.
