Navy Warfighting Experiments and Demonstrations

The PE 0603758N: Navy Warfighting Experiments & Demo program is managed by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and is designed to accelerate the development, demonstration, and transition of advanced technologies to meet current and future operational needs of the Navy and Marine Corps. The program's primary objective is to deliver science and technology breakthroughs through prototyping, fleet experimentation, and operational demonstrations. It supports a continuum of innovation activities from initial discovery to operational delivery, ensuring that new capabilities are rapidly matured and evaluated in relevant environments.

Project 1097: NavalX (Naval Accelerator) focuses on rapid development and deployment of technologies that address user-defined operational problems. NavalX consolidates several innovation lines, including rapid prototyping, technology analysis, innovation agility, regional Tech Bridges, and innovation operations. Its goals include developing disruptive capabilities within five years, fostering collaboration across the Naval Enterprise, and enabling early warfighter feedback through live exercises and demonstration events such as Integrated Battle Problem and Trident Spectre. NavalX also manages technology scans, AI ecosystem development, and workforce training to support agile innovation processes.

Project 2918: Navy Warfighting Experiments and Demo is dedicated to applying recent technology breakthroughs to operational needs, moving concepts from proof-of-principle to full-scale prototypes for warfighter experimentation. This project executes operational experimentation plans, including Fleet Battle Problems and Limited Objective Experiments, to inform science and technology product development and accelerate technology maturation. It also conducts international experimentation, operational analysis, and modeling studies to quantify the military utility of emerging technologies, supporting decisions on further development, transition, or divestment.

TechSolutions is a component of Project 2918 that delivers rapid science and technology solutions based on direct warfighter requests. Its objective is to develop, demonstrate, and deliver prototypes that enable warfighters to achieve mission success more efficiently. TechSolutions plans to develop new prototype solutions, leveraging technological advancements to address urgent operational needs identified during Fleet and Force interactions.

Precision Strike Technology supports Naval Precision Strike Operations by enabling the Navy to quickly locate, target, and strike critical targets. The program conducts kill-chain studies to recommend engineering trades for weapon system interoperability and data fusion, and tests advanced weapon system capabilities. These efforts are aimed at improving the Navy's ability to counter anti-access and area denial environments and enhance long-range targeting through partner sensor data integration.

Congressional Adds (Project 9999) include targeted investments such as the Passive SONAR sensor AI testbed, NavalX Regional T&E Accelerator, AUKUS Pillar II Navy Initiatives, and Warfighter Experience Lab. These adds support development of AI and machine learning algorithms for acoustic signature classification, commercialization pipelines for dual-use startups, co-development of advanced capabilities with AUKUS partners, and mixed reality environments for evaluating novel warfighting technologies. Each add is designed to address specific operational gaps or strategic priorities identified by Congress and Navy leadership.

The Navy Warfighting Experiments & Demo program element funds advanced technology development efforts with Technology Readiness Levels 4-6, integrating subsystems into prototypes for field experiments and tests. The program is justified by its alignment with the National Defense Strategy and Navy research priorities, providing both immediate solutions to commanders and options for future capability development. Through its diverse portfolio, the program aims to maintain maritime superiority and ensure the safety and effectiveness of naval forces in a rapidly evolving threat environment.