The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering conducted the first of multiple Joint Interagency Field Experimentation (JIFX) technology showcases Feb. 6 - 8 at Camp Roberts, California.
The event, a partnership between R&E's Office of Innovation and Modernization and the Naval Post Graduate School, aimed to foster the defense innovation ecosystem by bringing together stakeholders across the Department of Defense and U.S. Government with technology developers from industry and academia.
JIFX is part of the DoD's holistic effort to support technology maturation and lead to transition through partnerships with Services, Combatant Commands, and other defense agencies to enable effective, affordable, and critically needed early-stage prototype technologies.
The event takes place four times a year and provides innovators access to Camp Roberts' sprawling training areas for operational field testing, showcase their emerging solutions, and gain valuable feedback from government subject-matter experts. Each event aims to identify, influence, and mature early prototype technologies into next-generation capabilities that will support the United States national security objectives.
"Collaboration with industry is key to the Department of Defense's ability to resolve some of our greatest technological and security challenges," said Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Heidi Shyu. "Field showcases like JIFX will allow us to explore, develop and field the capabilities that our troops deserve.
JIFX 24-2 focused on Multi-Domain Uncrewed Systems and countermeasures. Multi-Domain UxS encompasses autonomous vehicles capable of traversing between physical environments, such as moving along in "boat mode" before taking off above the waves as an Unmanned Aircraft System. Approximately 25 companies and non-traditional performers showcased their novel multi-domain UxS and countermeasures at the event.
Technology developers can submit innovative solutions for future JIFX events. For more information about how to participate in future JIFX events, visit: https://nps.edu/web/fx/participate.
Learn more about JIFX at https://nps.edu/web/fx.