Emerging threats from peer and near-peer uncrewed systems (UxS) have reshaped the character of war, necessitating the development of new solutions at a faster pace. Warfighters require today’s UxS to meet urgent operational needs. The United States Department of War’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is using a new and agile process to evaluate new technologies, involve warfighters early in development, and advance the prototyping, iterating, and fielding of technologies that can deliver operational advantage at speed.
Project G.I. will more rapidly identify, assess, iterate and integrate “ready now” autonomous solutions at scale for participating units. Platforms of interest include uncrewed aerial systems and supporting items.
“Today, warfighters lack the unmanned systems needed to train for combat and prevail if called upon to use them,” said Doug Beck, then director of DIU. “DIU is laser focused on getting best-of-breed technology in the hands of the warfighter today and scaling it for training, adoption and readiness. Our team continues to partner with military operators for hands-on testing, evaluation and feedback. Doing this at speed will in turn help catalyze the necessary scaling and readiness through major acquisition and training efforts across the services that will deliver strategic impact — and will simultaneously support the flywheel of American private sector dynamism in delivering against that strategic need.”
Project G.I. improves current programs of record by incorporating end-user feedback and slashing delivery timelines that can stretch years into the future. The effort will tap into high technical readiness level solutions in the small and medium uncrewed system industry, with a focus on less exquisite platforms well suited for rapid adaptation to military needs.