Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve (RDER)

The Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve (RDER) is a program element managed by the Office of the Secretary of Defense and overseen by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)). Its primary objective is to coordinate, manage, and integrate a multi-year campaign of joint experimentation across the Department of Defense (DoD). RDER aims to accelerate the transition of promising prototype technologies into operational use by leveraging joint Service experimentation, focusing on rapid capabilities that address complex military challenges. The program was established to enable multi-component experimentation, facilitate a campaign of learning, and support rapid adoption of new technologies by the Services.

RDER program management is responsible for overseeing the execution of prototypes sourced from the Services to address identified capability gaps. This includes evaluating candidate technologies through technical maturation, monitoring innovation across Service laboratories, industry, academia, and federally funded research and development centers, and selecting best of breed prototypes for integration into joint experiments. Program managers ensure that cost, schedule, and performance objectives are met within the context of the Joint Warfighting Concept (JWC), focusing on key functional areas such as Fires, Command and Control (C2), Information Advantage (IA), Contested Logistics, and Space and Cyber operations.

Experiments integration involves coordinating with Combatant Command exercise planning cells to conduct experiments and ensure technical readiness. This line item funds the integration of prototypes into multiple experimentation events and supports operational readiness reviews, safety assessments, and compliance with technical maturity standards. The integration effort is designed to strengthen interoperability and innovation by ensuring that emerging capabilities are effectively incorporated into joint operational frameworks.

Experiment design provides analytical resources to establish system-of-systems architectures for integrating multiple prototypes within a single experimentation event. RDER evaluates system-level designs to develop government reference architectures, ensuring seamless employment of prototype technologies across geographically dispersed venues. Measures of Effectiveness (MOEs) and Measures of Performance (MOPs) are defined and collected at each event, and integrated assessment plans are developed for each technology to validate technical maturity and interoperability.

Experimentation execution encompasses the collection and analysis of experimental system performance data against established MOEs and MOPs. RDER establishes command and control networks for data collection, deploys experimentation units for onsite governance, and utilizes the Deployable Experimentation White Cell (DEWC) for operational oversight. This phase ensures that daily operational updates and assessments are provided to senior DoD leadership, supporting informed decision-making regarding the transition of prototype capabilities.

Opposing Force (OPFOR) threat emulation creates realistic, threat-informed environments for experimentation by representing composite adversary capabilities. This includes the procurement and deployment of personnel, equipment, and infrastructure to emulate maritime, air, and ground threats, as well as electromagnetic spectrum emitters and decoys. The objective is to provide operationally relevant scenarios that rigorously test the effectiveness of experimental technologies in multi-domain environments.

Data collection and assessment supports the personnel and tools required to record, analyze, and assess joint operational data during experimentation events. Data collection teams are co-located at various venues and provide independent assessments of prototype performance, generating daily reports and recommendations. This function ensures that a robust body of evidence is available to inform decisions on technology transition and adoption.

In FY 2025, the DoD Services assumed responsibility for many of the experimentation functions previously managed by RDER, maintaining continuity and oversight of prototype development and integration. The RDER program was eliminated in FY 2026 as part of a broader effort to streamline defense innovation, reduce redundancy, and optimize resource allocation toward higher-impact modernization initiatives. This transition is intended to sustain innovation and readiness in joint defense experimentation while aligning resources with evolving strategic priorities.