Operation Patriot Crucible spends some time with Defense Innovation Unit

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Laura Berry | JOINT BASE CAPE COD, Mass. -- Members of the Massachusetts National Guard's Command Team receive a demonstration on the use of commercial quadcopters from the Defense Innovations Unit during Operation Patriot Crucible in August 2019. (Massachusetts National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jamie Gaitan)  

JOINT BASE CAPE COD, MA, UNITED STATES

10.23.2019

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Laura Berry 

Massachusetts National Guard Public Affairs

Members of the Massachusetts and New Jersey National Guard had the opportunity to work with the Defense Innovation Unit during Operation Patriot Crucible in the summer of 2019 at Joint Base Cape Cod.
Patriot Crucible is now an annual exercise in Massachusetts, where units conduct battalion-level operations such as dismounted and mounted patrols, base security, chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and detainee missions.
During the exercise, three platoons trained on commercial quadcopters from DIU and used them during mounted patrols, detainee and entry control point operations. Additionally, the participants executed night flights with infrared camera-equipped quadcopters and used additional thermal camera sensors.
The DIU, a Department of Defense organization, collaborates with US military branches, combatant commands, and component organizations to seek out and rapidly prototype commercial solutions to military challenges.
The feedback the National Guardsmen gave on the technologies they were using during the Patriot Crucible will have a direct impact on the multiple projects focused on Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems technology to be fielded in the near future.
Historically, the National Guard and Reserve components do not have the opportunity to provide input into acquisition programs.
Getting first hand feedback and experience with new technology is beneficial to both the companies that are developing this technology and to the people who will be using it on the ground.
“DIU’s involvement with Patriot Crucible has enabled commercial companies with little to no experience working with the DoD the opportunity to receive direct feedback from warfighters who will be relying on their technology to win tomorrow’s fight,” said Cpt. Chris Bonzagni, who works as a DIU program manager and serves as a Massachusetts Air National Guardsman in the 102nd Fighter Wing. DIU’s staff includes active duty military from every US military service, including reservists, the National Guard, civilians, and contractors with extensive private sector experience.
Current DIU efforts include supporting the Army’s Short Range Reconnaissance program. This project aims to identify and prototype new drone capabilities with commercial companies that specialize in on-demand, “eye in the sky” technologies. The SRR program intends to deliver an inexpensive, rucksack portable, vertical take-off and landing drone that provides the Soldier on the ground with a rapidly deployable scouting capability to gain situational awareness beyond the next terrain feature.
Complementing this effort is the Group 1 UAS architecture initiative, centered on delivering a secure architecture that allows US and allied drone manufacturers a blueprint for seamless technology integration with DOD sUAS. Specific development items include next generation small avionics hardware, high-definition dual camera sensors with daytime and thermal capabilities, open source software, small UAS software applications, and data links. The project will also feature open source software development, improving the ability of the equipment to operate in conjunction with other armed forces.
The participants of next year’s Operation Patriot Crucible will be trying out more new technology as DIU plans to continue to attend this exercise and other future National Guard events.

• Date Taken: 10.23.2019
• Date Posted: 10.23.2019 12:32
• Story ID: 348873
• Location: JOINT BASE CAPE COD, MA, US