The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)) selected five small, non-traditional businesses to receive funding that allows them to move mature warfighting technologies into production.
The awards are part of a pilot program called "Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies" (APFIT) and are the first selected for FY 2025.
"With the backing of APFIT, these companies have an opportunity to push their innovations over the finish line," said Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Heidi Shyu. "We look forward to supporting additional projects important to warfighters as more funding is appropriated."
The five initial FY 2025 projects include:
- Advanced Tactical Flotation Systems, U.S. Special Operations Command
- Athena - Counter Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS) Fused Air Picture, U.S. Air Force
- Coral Drift, U.S. Army
- Small Unmanned Aircraft Defense (SUADS), U.S. Air Force
- Software-defined Tactical Optical Modem for Performance and Ruggedization (STOMPeR), U.S. Marine Corps
Each selected project will receive at least $10 million in funding.
APFIT is part of OUSD(R&E)'s multi-pronged approach to moving technology out of the development cycle faster to ensure warfighters have what they need to combat current and emerging threats.
As a pilot program first funded in FY 2022 with a $100-million appropriation, APFIT prioritizes small and non-traditional businesses without adequate resources to bridge the gap between development and production. The following year in FY23, the program received $150 million and in FY2024, funding doubled to $300 million. As a competitive, merit-based program, APFIT targets production line maturation, low-rate initial productions, or augments existing program procurement funding to increase production quantities. The APFIT program has now helped 46 companies across the United States grow, creating jobs and increasing production capability for the future.
About USD(R&E)
The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering USD(R&E) is the Chief Technology Officer of the Department of Defense. The USD(R&E) champions research, science, technology, engineering, and innovation to maintain the United States military's technological advantage. Learn more at www.cto.mil, follow us on Twitter @DoDCTO, or visit us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/ousdre
