Advanced Innovative Technologies

The Advanced Innovative Technologies program, managed by the Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO) within the Office of the Secretary of Defense, is a key element of the Department of Defense's Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) portfolio. Its primary goal is to develop, demonstrate, and transition operationally impactful capabilities to address emerging threats and enhance the lethality of the Joint Force in contested environments. The program supports the Interim National Defense Strategy and works in partnership with the military Services, Defense Agencies, Combatant Commands, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Intelligence Community, and other OSD offices.

A major objective of the program is to fund and manage approximately 25 prototype project teams annually, with support provided through subject matter experts, programmatic support teams, and Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) contractors. This includes labor, travel, and office infrastructure to ensure effective project execution and oversight. The program also funds facility and IT upgrades, including migration to new secure networks and minor renovations to support evolving mission requirements.

The Pele Mobile Nuclear Microreactor is a significant Congressional add under this program. Its goal is to develop and demonstrate a transportable nuclear microreactor capable of producing electric power, with an emphasis on safety, regulatory compliance, and minimizing risks related to radiation exposure and proliferation. In FY 2026, the program will complete final site design, move into construction and assembly, fabricate reactor components, and prepare fuel for insertion. The project also collaborates with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to establish regulatory processes for future transport and transition decisions.

Several projects within the program, such as Asgard, Bedlam, Black Marlin, Epic, Equinox, Gollum, Lazarus, Legend, Oculus Prime, Providence, and Rolling Dice, are classified and their specific goals and objectives are available only at higher classification levels. These projects collectively focus on prototyping and risk reduction activities to address critical national security challenges. Funding and project phasing are adjusted according to classified priorities and threat assessments.

The Emerging Opportunities line funds rapid implementation of new capabilities or augmentations based on the latest intelligence and threat analysis. Projects are selected each fiscal year to accelerate delivery of high-impact capabilities, potentially reducing development timelines. This approach ensures the program remains responsive to evolving operational needs and intelligence-driven requirements.

The program also supports the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) initiatives by transferring a portion of its extramural R&D budget to fund small business innovation. This fosters technological advancement and supports the integration of novel solutions from the private sector into defense capabilities.