Navy Warfighting Experiments and Demonstrations

The Navy Warfighting Exp & Demo program, managed by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), focuses on developing science and technology breakthroughs to meet current operational needs. This initiative emphasizes prototyping solutions for warfighters, fleet experimentation, and operational demonstrations. The program is divided into six key areas: Naval Warfare Experimentation, Operations Analysis, NavalX innovation operations, Tech Solutions, Naval Precision Strike Operations, and Undersea Systems Payloads and Weapons. Each area supports the continuum of science and technology from discovery to delivery, ensuring that Sailors and Marines are equipped with cutting-edge capabilities.

NavalX (Naval Accelerator) plays a crucial role in accelerating the development and deployment of technologies that address user-defined problems. It consolidates previous projects under a single umbrella to enhance transparency and execution oversight. NavalX's efforts include rapid prototyping through Fleet Experimentation events, technology analysis and development to address capability gaps, and fostering innovation agility through digital environments. Additionally, Tech Bridges cultivate local business ecosystems to facilitate tech scanning across non-traditional businesses.

The Navy Warfighting Experiments and Demo project applies recent technological breakthroughs to meet operational needs through full-scale prototypes for warfighter experimentation. This involves managing multi-year science and technology experimentation plans in response to emerging concepts and doctrines. The project also emphasizes international collaboration through exercises like COMPACFLT PACIFIC DRAGON and COMSIXTHFLT FORMIDABLE SHIELD. It aims to provide decision-quality information for future science and technology investments.

Congressional Adds within this program include initiatives such as Naval tech bridges, small unmanned surface vessels for expeditionary forces, Swampworks research, and the SCOUT experimentation campaign. These efforts support specific areas of interest identified by Congress but are not included in other projects within the program element. These initiatives contribute to advancing naval capabilities by leveraging congressional interest in specific technological advancements.