Advanced Expeditionary Warfare Development (AEWD)

AEWD (also known as ARL IV) is an IDIQ to support Army Red Team efforts and other activities that provide timely response toward enhancing Army Expeditionary Forces, Joint Warfighters with Army Components, and organizations that encounter and influence agile/adaptable threats. These include development or enhancement to items and systems for employment against rapidly evolving threats and in partnership building initiatives for items and systems employed by small units, expeditionary and special operations forces and other irregular warfare operators. Efforts may include studies, technical investigations, research, development, experimentation, assessments, limited quantity delivery and in-theatre field logistics support for appropriate end-items or systems.  Items or systems developed under this contract shall generally be of maturity for field demonstration and assessment by military or Government operations personnel in an operational or operational-like environment.

Technology Transition for Advanced Research and Development: Provide industrial, organizational and technical support to transition ARL technologies into capabilities.  Technologies may include: advanced communications devices and systems; information technologies; electronic, mechanical and electro-mechanical systems; field power generation technologies; and advanced materials.

Countering Adaptable Threats: Provide advanced technology equipment, subsystems and systems, along with necessary field support to critical defense operations involving highly adaptable threats.  These threats are characterized by their ability to access and employ technologies rapidly, evolving their tactics to quickly counter changes to US forces deployment and employment of countermeasures.

Irregular Warfare Support: Provide equipment, systems and technical field support to operations that span the DIMES model: Diplomacy, Information, Military, Economic, and Societal-cultural development activities.  These range from contained combat operations to information operations and include identifying and providing support to international law enforcement.  Partnership building will often be a necessary part of this support, requiring that ITAR limitations to employment by Partner Nations and Coalition Forces be minimized.

Expeditionary Forces and Special Operations: Provide equipment, systems and technical field support to the range of Special Operations and Expeditionary Forces.  These will generally consist of team to Company or Regiment size operations and include rapid deployment capabilities. This involves the rapid deployment and sustainment of these forces in remote and austere locations.

Deployable Force Protection: Provide equipment, systems and technical field support to force protection for Forward Operating Bases, Combat Outposts, and mobile operations involving small teams. These operations may be characterized by joint activities involving security forces from the host nation.

Countering Adaptable Threats: Provide advanced technology equipment, subsystems and systems, along with necessary field support to critical defense operations involving highly adaptable threats. These threats are characterized by their ability to access and employ technologies rapidly, evolving their tactics to quickly counter changes to US forces deployment and employment of countermeasures.