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Through T-REX, DoD seeks to fill technology gaps

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The Defense Department’s Technology Readiness Experimentation is all about finding the technology needles in the haystack.

Through this live-fire and prototype demonstration, T-REX is trying to validate the technical maturation and military utility of specific technologies to fill gaps in the warfighters’ arsenal.

These gaps could be urgent operational needs or from an integrated priority list developed by the goals set by the Joint Staff.

“T-REX is unique in the case that we’re take technologies right out of the laboratory. We’re talking technology readiness levels anywhere between four and six, which is our initial entry criteria. There are special use cases, where we go a little earlier than that, if it’s software use initiatives, but we need to make sure that as prototypes come into fruition from concept and we’re driving the capability and fielding into the warfighters hands, that it works,” said  Lt. Col. Matt Limeberry, the commander of the Rapid Assessment of Prototype Technology Readiness (RAPTR) Task Force in Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, on Ask the CIO. “That technology come with their white sheets, their quad charts, and we say, ‘Hey, if you have an unmanned aerial system that can fly an endurance of eight hours and carry a 10-pound payload, well, prove it in any platform, any domain, outside of the laboratory and outside of a controlled environment.’”

Limeberry said his team of about 100 uniformed personnel on the RAPTR Task Force, stationed at Camp Atterbury-Muscatatuck in Indiana, puts these technologies through their paces in an environment that closely duplicates certain operational environments.

Indiana National Guard industry partners test launch unmanned aerial systems designed to enhance real-time surveillance and battlefield awareness at the Department of Defense’s 10-day Technology Readiness Experimentation event, hosted by the Indiana National Guard’s Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve Task Force at Camp Atterbury, near Edinburgh, Indiana, on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Jonah Alvarez, Indiana National Guard Headquarters)

“As these technologies come through and use T-REX as a venue, we want to be that publisher, that clearinghouse and underwriting authority for technologies going to the warfighter. That speed of relevancy matters,” he said. “As technologies are being assessed in T-REX, they get that military utility feedback from the warfighter, and can iterate on the spot. That’s purposeful for a reason because it helps us buy down risk now for the future warfighter. What we say is let the warfighter fight tonight with tomorrow’s technology. T-REX does that. It helps us buy down risk. It helps us save costs and iterate technology fast and early, fail often and fast, because when the warfighter needs it.”

Brandon Bean, the senior director for artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions in the chief technology office in the defense division at General Dynamics-IT (GDIT), said his team experienced these concepts in action. He called T-REX  “the ideal proving ground. It created realistic, fast-paced and unforgiving circumstances.”

DOGMA platform put through its paces

At the T-REX exercise in the summer of 2024, GDIT and its partners, including Amazon Web Services, tested out the Defense Operations Grid-Mesh Accelerator (DOGMA) platform, which is an AI software that is aiming to modernize long-range communications to support U.S. air defense systems.

GDIT says DOGMA integrates cloud and AI technologies with satellite connectivity capabilities in order to streamline data processing, analysis and decision making.

Bean said the Army and GDIT used T-REX to validate the platform’s adaptability, latency and ability to perform under pressure, while still being able to show how modular edge AI capabilities can extend decision making to the tactical edge, even without reliable communications.

“We combine resilient mesh networking edge optimized compute and real time AI and machine learning inference to process sensor data without the reliance on the persistent cloud connectivity when necessary, but when we’re in a disrupted, degraded, intermittent and low-bandwidth (DDIL) condition, we’re able to also extend connectivity beyond the edge of the battlefield using AWS as a secure cloud backbone,” Bean said. “It was originally built for NORAD and the Alaskan command to predict aircraft trajectories in low visibility radar denied environments, using historical and real-time sensor data. It was originally built for looking for what we call big hunks of metal in the sky. We quickly were able to adapt the solution for T-REX to adapt to the counter UAS mission.”

Bean said GDIT pivoted its use case toward counter UAS in about two weeks leading up to the exercise and then during T-REX, it modified the technology again in about eight hours to test it at the edge with low-bandwidth.

“In an environment like T-REX,  there’s always something that’s going to be thrown at you. The first was being able to identify when we wanted to design our model retraining triggers. When you’re working on data like UAS data, over time, that data will drift, and that could be from a compendium of things and it’s mainly just the way the data is being sent and we are adding new sensors. So we really were able to get a good sense of what the real world conditions would be, allowing us to essentially model the auto-retraining of our models based on that live data drift and orchestrate how we do that at the edge when we’re actually in detail,” he said. “Another one would be our edge orchestration logic. We’re currently working to harden how DOGMA prioritizes its edge workloads when compute is constrained. That was one of the big things we dealt with out there.”

T-REX is a twice-a-year exercise

Limeberry said during T-REX, the Army has key performance measures to evaluate the technologies against to ensure they meet warfighter needs. These include everything from supply chain risk management to scalability to being able to change, correct and adjust in near-real time.

Bean said DOGMA could be used by other agencies beyond DoD. He said the Department of Homeland Security, for example, is another agency with UAS mission areas, whether it’s Customs and Border Protection or FEMA. The Agriculture and Interior departments also are using drones to measure and manage land and wilderness areas.

“There are a lot of a lot of places out there where people don’t really assume DOGMA is beneficial, but anywhere that you need analytics and you need data moved off of the objective, whether that objective is an internet of things sensor, whether it’s a camera, whether it is edge compute, some type of a radar sensor, DOGMA is applicable,” he said. “It’s that secure backbone that allow you to get that data off of the objective and somewhere that you can use it, whether it is out at the edge or back at the core data center.”

Limeberry said DoD has used T-REX to look at an assortment of other technologies too, including resiliency in that communication, predictability in the AI modeling and deterring, detecting and defeating adversarial aerial platforms that threaten the security of bases.

“We are prefacing into 2026 and we’re looking at what we call ‘Top Gun,’ which is a first-person view UAS platforms and drone-on-drone conflict. We are looking at offensive and defensive swarming capabilities, multi domain, collaborative autonomy, so controlling air, maritime and aerial platforms at the same time through learning autonomous stacks,” he said. “It’s all about how we achieve some of the latest administration executive orders of American drone dominance. These tie into those policies and procedures that we want to achieve in American made and manufactured requirements to build our defense industrial base moving forward into the future.”

The post Through T-REX, DoD seeks to fill technology gaps first appeared on Federal News Network.

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JUST IN: President Trump Signs Executive Order Authorizing Pay for TSA Amid Schumer Shutdown

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55 seconds ago

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March 28, 2026

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Serious expression of a man in a suit during a formal event, highlighting intense focus and engagement.

Serious expression of a man in a suit during a formal event, highlighting intense focus and engagement.

President Trump on Friday signed an executive order authorizing pay for TSA agents amid the Schumer shutdown.

Major airports across the US are experiencing delays due to TSA staffing issues.

President Trump deployed ICE agents to airports across the country to help travelers swiftly get through security lines after Democrats blocked funding for the Department of Homeland Security.

On Thursday evening, Trump announced he has instructed the Department of Homeland Security to pay the TSA Agents.

Trump said he will sign an order instructing DHS Chief Markwayne Mullin to pay TSA agents.

“The Radical Left Democrats, and their “Leader,” Cryin’ Chuck Schumer, have made it very clear where they stand, and that is, ON THE SIDE OF CRIMINAL ILLEGAL ALIENS, AND NOT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

“They are refusing to fund Immigration Enforcement unless the Republicans agree to their Open Border Policies, which will never, ever happen again. They almost destroyed our Country, allowing 25 Million People to enter from Prisons, Mental Institutions, and Insane Asylums, those that are Drug Dealers, and thousands of Murderers, many of whom killed more than one person. Because the Democrats have recklessly created a true National Crisis, I am using my authorities under the Law to protect our Great Country, as I always will do!” Trump said.

“Therefore, I am going to sign an Order instructing the Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, to immediately pay our TSA Agents in order to address this Emergency Situation, and to quickly stop the Democrat Chaos at the Airports. It is not an easy thing to do, but I am going to do it! I want to thank our hardworking TSA Agents and also, ICE, for the incredible help they have given us at the Airports. I will not allow the Radical Left Democrats to hold our Country hostage any longer. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump said on Thursday afternoon,” Trump added.

President Trump on Friday signed the order authorizing pay for TSA agents.

Later Friday, President Trump called on the Republicans to nuke the filibuster.

“The Republicans should TERMINATE THE FILIBUSTER, and VOTE! Haven’t they had enough of this nonsense from the Radical Left Lunatics that are looking to destroy our Country? MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump said.

The post JUST IN: President Trump Signs Executive Order Authorizing Pay for TSA Amid Schumer Shutdown appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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Pentagon Will Redirect Weapons Meant for Ukraine to the Middle East

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58 seconds ago

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March 28, 2026

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Department of War may have to prioritize the conflict in the Middle East over the never-ending war in Ukraine

Too many wars, not enough weapons and munitions.

The military operation in Iran has started affecting supplies ‌of the US military’s critical munitions, leading the Department of War to evaluate whether to redirect weapons that were originally meant for Ukraine to ​the Middle East.

Reuters reported:

“The weapons ​that could be redirected include air defense interceptor missiles ​purchased through a NATO initiative launched last year, under ⁠which partner countries buy U.S. arms for Kyiv, the ​report said.

The consideration comes as U.S. operations in the region intensify. ​Admiral Brad Cooper, the Central Command chief leading U.S. forces in the Middle East, said on Wednesday the U.S. had hit over 10,000 ​targets inside Iran and was on track to limit Iran’s ​ability to project power outside its borders.”

The ⁠Defense Department wants to ensure that US forces in the Middle East, as well as its allies, ‘have what they need to fight and win’.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte did not answer questions regarding the Pentagon’s plans.

Euronews reported:

“Rutte said it was not his place to comment on critical support, but assured that essential military equipment ‘continues to flow’ to Ukraine, alongside military intelligence from the US.

Ukrainian officials have openly voiced concerns that Washington’s attention and resources have been more focused on the Middle East.

These fears have been echoed by the European leaders. French President Emmanuel Macron said at the end of last week’s EU summit in Brussels that the Iran war ‘must not divert our attention from the support we give Ukraine’.”

The Pentagon has notified the US Congress that it will divert about $750 million in funding to ‘restock the US military’s own inventories, rather than to send additional assistance to Ukraine’.

Read more:

TRUMP TO OIL TANKERS: “SHOW SOME GUTS!” – President Says Iran’s Navy Is Finished, Urges Ships to Sail Through Strait of Hormuz

The post Pentagon Will Redirect Weapons Meant for Ukraine to the Middle East appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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HOUSE GOP STRIKES BACK: Furious Republicans Move to ADD ICE Funding and Voter ID to Senate’s DHS Garbage Deal With Democrats — Will Force ‘Cowardly Senators’ Back to D.C.

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1 minute ago

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March 28, 2026

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Person speaking in a formal setting expressing opinions on political behavior, with text overlay highlighting views on courage and accountability.Person speaking in a formal setting expressing opinions on political behavior, with text overlay highlighting views on courage and accountability.Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN)

House Republicans are done playing games with the Senate’s latest RINO surrender.

In the early hours of Friday morning, the Senate, reportedly with only five senators present, passed a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding package by voice vote.

But there was a catch.

The bill conveniently excluded full funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and key components of Customs and Border Protection, the very agencies responsible for immigration enforcement, deportation operations, and cracking down on criminal illegal alien activity, including drug and sex trafficking.

Thune left D.C. immediately following the betrayal, reportedly escorted by a private detail for a two-week Easter recess.

The House Freedom Caucus and MAGA patriots aren’t letting this surrender stand. Republicans in the House are already moving to amend the Senate’s pathetic offering, intending to force the Senate to actually do its job.

Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) announced that the House Republicans will amend the garbage deal, restoring funding for ICE and adding a voter ID requirement.

Rep. Ogles: “So what the Senate did last night was they passed a bill that did not fully fund the government, meaning child sex trafficking investigation unit isn’t funded. They didn’t fully fund Homeland Security. So we’re focused on amending the bill and putting that back in, and we’re going to add in voter ID in the process. They’re cowardly. They didn’t do their job, and now they left town. They should come back and they should have to do their job.”

WATCH:

According to NOTUS, House Speaker Mike Johnson is preparing to put a 60-day continuing resolution (CR) on the floor this weekend.

This CR would fund all of DHS, including the critical ICE operations the Senate tried to kill.

Majority Whip Tom Emmer reportedly informed members that President Trump has given the “go-ahead” to pursue this strategy to protect the homeland.

The post HOUSE GOP STRIKES BACK: Furious Republicans Move to ADD ICE Funding and Voter ID to Senate’s DHS Garbage Deal With Democrats — Will Force ‘Cowardly Senators’ Back to D.C. appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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