Camp Atterbury hosts T-REX 24-2 to test new tech

CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. — The Department of Defense and the Indiana National Guard hosted engineers and developers at Camp Atterbury on Tuesday to test futuristic new tech advancements.

This is better known as T-REX 24-2.

“T-REX is on the hunt for innovative, replicable and inexpensive defense technologies, and we fill that billet in abundance,” said Tim Dunnigan, CEO and president of MMS Products Inc.

Whether it be drones or software security, the goal for all 78 industry partners is to simplify the objective for service members in their time of need.

“We want to make sure that once it gets into the hands of the warfighter, that it’s applicable from day one,” said Brett Barbee, vice president of business development for Firestorm. “We want to reduce the cognitive load on our warfighters.”

Developed to support RDER, or the Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve, the Department of Defense will ultimately select some of these technologies for use in conflict.

“Technology changes quickly, threats change rapidly,” said Marcia Holmes, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for Mission Capabilities with the Department of Defense.

“RDER reaches down into development and it pulls out those capabilities that show promise to the joint fight to accelerate now.”

Many of the technological advancements were selected in 2022, to be potentially used as early as 2025.

This week was the first step in that process toward becoming operational.

More importantly, this week allowed real user testing by Indiana National Guard Members.

“We’re really pleased and thankful for the opportunity to come here and engage with not just the warfighters, but the T-REX assessors,” said Barbee.

Holmes added that not all 78 technologies will be selected, but the assessments allow engineers to rework and improve their product and return in later years.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 59.