Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)

ICYMI: The Hudson Institute hosted a webinar “Accelerating Replicator and Fielding Technologies for Today’s Fight.” Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) Deputy Director Aditi Kumar shared lessons learned for scaling and fielding commercial technology across the DoD. Key to the initiative's success has been frequent and clear communication with partners in the commercial sector, Combatant Commands. “Making sure that we have that network and visibility into what’s happening in the technology sector - both domestically and overseas - that’s where DIU can add value,” she said. As the DoD moves into Replicator 2, DIU will continue to encourage innovation through clear, consistent demand signals. “What’s cutting edge today, if we do our jobs right, should not be the cutting edge in 2027 and beyond,” she said. Watch the full interview here, moderated by Bryan Clark: https://lnkd.in/e-UEj-CN

US Navy platforms require increased power and energy production, storage, and distribution for a range of maritime applications and threats. Following a competitive CSO process, Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) with the Navy awarded Siemens Energy a contract to develop a militarized solution based on its commercially available BlueVault Energy Storage System technology. The technology solution may enable vessel engine efficiency, decrease fuel consumption and emissions, increase operational endurance, and reduce lifecycle cost to shipboard equipment.  “This project propels us toward the next generation of power and energy systems for the Fleet,” said James Dempsey, Team Ships Director for Science & Technology. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gdpiVCd3

Family of Advanced Standard Batteries for Unmanned Systems - (FASTBAT-U) Solicitation just posted! As the need for reliable energy storage technologies grows, the Department of Defense (DoD) faces complex supply chain challenges. Establishing access to robust sources of compliant batteries, and supporting the growth of domestic battery manufacturing capacity, is of critical importance to the Defense industrial base. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is seeking fully commercialized, rechargeable battery cells that meet the performance needs of small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) to include Group 1 and 2, with diverse mission requirements. The proven (TRL 7+, MRL 7+) solutions with recurring commercial revenue, transparent materials sourcing, and at minimum, a manufacturing pilot line and roadmap to onshore, friendshore, or scale domestic/Allied production in the 10s-100s of MWh/yr. Responses requested by 1/09/2025. Details here: https://lnkd.in/eVTQXXDN #UAS #batteries #power

This is a great initiative by AUVSI — Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International to help grow the drone innovation base and to raise the standard of industry verification. #suas

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is seeking a National Capital Regional Director. This job announcement will be accepting applications until Midnight (EST) on 26 December 2024. Position duties include, but are not limited to: - Serving as the National Capital Regional (NCR) Director and acting as the principal responsible for building and maintaining DIU's regional presence in the NCR. - Operating as a liaison with commercial entities, including academia, venture incubators, and commercial accelerators in the region, coordinating with other DoD innovation organizations operating within the region. - Determining and allocating resources necessary to achieve regional objectives, and represent DIU at key national and regional events. DIU is a United States Department of Defense organization focused exclusively on accelerating the adoption of commercial technology to transform military capability and capacity, while growing the national security innovation base. Learn more and apply here: https://lnkd.in/eP8nFcgw

Forward Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems Command and Control (FCUAS C2) System solicitation posted! The growing threat of adversarial unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) poses a significant global risk to critical infrastructure and force concentrations. Current command and control (C2) systems are not optimized to address the speed at which kill chain decisions (detect, track, identify/ assess, defeat) must occur to counter unmanned systems. As the UAS threat increases, a single operator conducting air defense operations may be overwhelmed. To counter this ever-increasing and adaptive threat, the #DoD seeks a tactical edge based C2 system that enables a single operator to manage multiple targets and is capable of fire control providing the ability to rapidly adapt to counter swarms of unmanned systems along with other potential manned or unmanned system threats Reaponses requested by 12/23/2024. Details found here: https://lnkd.in/eiMR8DU2 #UAS #CUAS

In partnership with Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) Innovation Unit, the Defense Health Agency is advancing a transformative “Digital Front Door” to serve as a state-of-the-art digital healthcare management tool for the 9.5 million beneficiaries of the Military Health System. This proposed DFD solution will deliver a comprehensive suite of digital capabilities, emphasizing both patient and provider experience. More than 220 companies responded to DIU’s competitive AOI, showcasing the high demand and interest in advancing military healthcare technology. After a rigorous selection process, four companies were awarded prototype OT contracts: BDR Solutions LLC, Bluestaq , Clearstep and EY . Read more: https://lnkd.in/eMRB3XCd

Key representatives from the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) were in Simi Valley this weekend , where the team met with industry reps, Congressional leaders and foreign officials at the 2024 Reagan National Defense Forum. With a number of top-tier national security conversations, DIU was part of a panel focused on “Can we build again?” where we highlighted taking the important technology that is being developed to a point of production and scale.  Themes of the session included the need to build the future of the U.S. military force by recruiting dual fluent talent, the imperative to move beyond innovation and toward scale, and the advantages of harnessing the multiplying power of commercial investments. DIU Director Doug Beck shared the stage with distinguished panelists Christopher Calio, President and CEO, RTX; Gen. Randy A. George, Chief of Staff, US Army; Daniel Jablonsky, Chairman and CEO, Ursa Major and Senator Angus King, U.S. Senate, Maine. Aaron Mehta of Breaking Defense moderated.  Watch here: https://lnkd.in/emVmmc5w

Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) was honored to host U.S Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin for his second visit to our Mountain View office last week. During the meeting, Sec. Austin engaged with defense and commercial technology leaders and participated in a counter unmanned systems technology and capabilities demonstration. “It’s great to be at DIU and to have the chance to spend time with the amazing innovation out here in Silicon Valley – and across the country – along with the opportunity to discuss the critical effort to counter the significant threat from unmanned systems,” said Austin. “This is a centrally important effort for the Department and the nation and it will take all of us, together, to achieve this mission.” United States Department of Defense https://lnkd.in/e4rdqqms

Focusing on the importance of collaboration in support of the United States Department of Defense’s broader strategy to integrate data, analytics and AI across its operations, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) Director Doug Beck and the DoD Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office Dr. Radha Iyengar Plumb participated in a fireside chat themed ‘Speed-to-Scale’ moderated by the Director of the Stanford Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation Dr. Joe Felter. The discussion focused on highlighting key efforts underway to advance DoD’s adoption of innovative digital capabilities. Together with CDAO, DIU is working to lower the barriers to entry with AI companies, working to streamline processes and finding ways to scale commercial solutions. Watch the discussion here: https://lnkd.in/eUcuKNrn #defensetechnology #innovation #CDAO #AI