Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve (RDER)

The Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve (RDER) program, managed by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, is designed to support joint experimentation efforts across the Department of Defense (DoD). The primary goal is to address complex military challenges by accelerating technology transition and scaling up capabilities through a multi-year campaign of learning. This initiative involves collaboration among various Services and agencies to identify and prototype "best of breed" capabilities within large-scale joint experiments. The program aims to validate and refine the Joint Warfighting Concept (JWC) by leveraging interconnected systems that explore new warfighting concepts.

RDER's objectives include planning, integrating, and overseeing joint experiments while providing assessments on project viability. The program utilizes validated mission vignettes to assess Measures of Effectiveness and Measures of Performance through Modeling and Simulation. Integrated Assessment plans are developed for each prototype, with data collected during Service demonstration venues or Combatant Command Training Exercises such as Project Capstone, Northern Edge, Valiant Shield, Talisman Sabre, Grey Flag, Joint Battle Problem, and TREX. The final assessment consists of a comprehensive body of evidence that includes Modeling and Simulation data, range or exercise performance, and DOTMPLF issues.

The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)) manages RDER's multiple experimentation events and conducts integration activities with the Joint Force. OUSD(R&E) recommends new projects, reviews progress, and incorporates promising prototypes into existing exercise venues. The program also focuses on risk reduction experiments that meet technology maturation milestones for multi-component experiments. By doing so, RDER facilitates decisions on transitioning promising capabilities with the Services.

In addition to its core management functions, RDER coordinates with Combatant Commands' exercise planning cells to conduct experiments that evaluate system design requirements for participation in multiple venues. This includes establishing a government reference architecture for integrating multiple prototypes into single experimentation events. The program employs Opposing Force (OPFOR) threat emulation to create operationally relevant environments for conducting experiments. Data collection teams are deployed to record joint operational data and assess prototype performance against established measures during these events.