🦖
About T-REX
OUSW R&E Technology Readiness Experimentation
📄 What is T-REX?
⚙️ How It Works
🎬 T-REX in Action
🏭 Industry Participation
📍 Where T-REX Happens
🦖 What is T-REX?
Technology Readiness Experimentation (T-REX) is the Department of Defense's enduring campaign of joint experimentation. Run under the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, T-REX gives the Joint Force a repeatable way to discover, demonstrate, and assess new warfighting capabilities before committing to full-scale acquisition.
"T-REX provides an operationally relevant environment that allows technology to be properly assessed within Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 4–6 as a proponent in a Tier 1 Activity before a Tier 2 Joint Rapid Experimentation System of Systems validation."
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Mission: Conduct U.S. and ally/partner experimentation and assessments to build a Body of Evidence that supports Senior Leader acquisition decisions to accelerate the transition of warfighting capabilities.
Why T-REX Exists
Traditional acquisition cycles are too slow relative to peer competition, commercial technology change, and the proliferation of low-cost autonomous systems. T-REX narrows that gap by validating technologies in operationally relevant conditions, capturing warfighter feedback early, and producing evidence that acquisition communities can use. The goal: modernize at the speed of relevance.
⚙️ How T-REX Works
Each T-REX event combines scenario-based operational experimentation with structured data collection and industry engagement. The process builds a "body of evidence" that supports faster fielding decisions.
Step 1
Discover
Identify emerging technologies and operational gaps across Services and CCMDs
Step 2
Demonstrate
Prototype systems operate alongside real units in realistic tactical scenarios
Step 3
Assess
Structured data collection and operator feedback build the body of evidence
Step 4
Transition
Proven capabilities move to joint exercises, rapid procurement, or programs of record
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Past Success: T-REX has delivered measurable impact by putting emerging technologies into warfighter hands early — identifying performance gaps, refining CONOPS, and accelerating maturation well before traditional acquisition milestones. Key outcomes include reducing time to transition, improving mission effectiveness, and aligning technologies with real warfighter needs.
🏭 Industry Participation
Industry Partners have three levels of options for participating in T-REX. Submit your technology overview, company name, and the operational problem you're addressing to
ousw_re_t-rex_exdev@army.mil.
Tier 1
Full Assessment
Complete operational evaluation with OUSW R&E assessment reporting
- Operationally Relevant Environmental Testing
- Screened Entry/Exit Criteria (TRL)
- OUSW R&E Assessment Report
- Storyboard Created
- Booth in Prototype Technology Display (PTD)
Tier 2
Integration
Enhanced environment with interoperability and prototype integration
- Enhanced Operational Environment
- Interoperability & Integration Options
- Storyboard Created
- Booth in Prototype Technology Display (PTD)
Tier 3
Exposure
Display booth with direct exposure to decision-makers and partners
- Booth in Prototype Technology Display (PTD)
- Exposure to CCMDs, Services, Gov Partners
- Storyboard Created
📍 Where T-REX Happens
🏕️ Camp Atterbury JMTC
Primary Hub
Edinburgh, Indiana. 40,000+ acres, 12+ ranges. Primary venue for semi-annual T-REX events.
🏙️ Muscatatuck UTC
Urban Environment
Butlerville, Indiana. Urban terrain, infrastructure, and multi-domain threat-representative environments.
🚢 Maritime Experimentation
Maritime
Embedded in maritime exercises to stress unmanned systems and multi-domain capabilities in open water operations.
