ADELPHI, Md. – The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory released its fiscal 2024 report of two DEVCOM programs, Catalyst Pathfinder and Accelerating FORCE (Future Operational Requirements, Capabilities and Experimentation).
The report highlights tactical innovation and technology transition achievements from the two programs that are designed for enhanced lethality, an increase in readiness and improved military modernization by integrating public and private sector innovators and Soldiers in collaborative teams to solve technical problems.
The report notes the shared successes of the collaborative programs in helping to reshape the Army's approach by working to deliver Soldier-driven solutions at speed and scale.
Catalyst captures Army unit-defined problems and feedback from warfighters to enable research partners to develop solutions. Through a web tool, called the Soldier Innovation Platform, the program captures Soldier-identified opportunities and helps connect Soldiers with researchers to work together from project identification through transition.
Pathfinder collaborates directly with Soldiers to curate Army-identified problems and integrate public and private sector partners for execution and transition.
Accelerating FORCE identifies and analyzes essential U.S. Army requirements and modernization gaps and interjects emerging technologies to help fill those gaps and compress the technology transition timeline.
Year-in-Review 2024 highlights include:
- Soldier Innovation and Engagement: Army units from 16 states and two countries actively participated in tactical innovation efforts through Catalyst Pathfinder during fiscal 2024.
- Enhanced Data Analytics: The Catalyst program included 495 new submissions from 411 new users on the Soldier Innovation Platform during fiscal 2024. The program also developed advanced analytics tools that now enable cross-tenant data aggregation, user-controlled privacy settings, and aligning innovation opportunities with warfighting functions.
- Tangible Impact: During fiscal 2024, there were 54 funded innovation projects for the Pathfinder program, with engagement across 29 Commands, Corps and Divisions focused on delivering high-impact, user-centric technologies.
- 100% Technology Transition Rate: Under Accelerating FORCE, all four technologies selected for the fiscal 2024 transition successfully moved forward with transition partners, following 17 field experimentation events conducted with Soldier engagement and feedback. This transition rate underscores the program's growing influence in accelerating viable capabilities for the warfighter.
A Foundation for Readiness
“Catalyst Pathfinder and Accelerating FORCE are changing how the Army prepares for future missions by focusing on tactical solutions designed by and with Soldiers' real-world needs in mind and enhancing the Army's agility, resilience and technological edge,” said Dr. Arwen DeCostanza, ARL program manager for both programs. “The result is a robust innovation ecosystem that builds a faster path from research to fielded capabilities.”
The programs:
- bridge emerging science and commercial technology to Army readiness needs;
- leverage university and small business research aligned with warfighter priorities;
- deliver a repeatable, data-informed approach to transitioning technologies from concept to field-ready solutions; and
- provide a strategic pathway to ensure long-term defense application.
The experimental methodology at the core of these programs is driven by DEVCOM ARL and the DEVCOM Armaments Center, in collaboration with the Civil-Military Innovation Institute and ACME Corporation. Together, they enhance the Army's agility, resilience and technological edge across the force.
For more information on the report and the Army’s tactical innovation initiatives, visit the Catalyst, Pathfinder and Accelerating FORCE Program website.
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The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory, known as DEVCOM ARL, is the Army’s research laboratory. Nested strategically within DEVCOM and the Army Futures Command, ARL’s mission is to Operationalize Science. ARL identifies and executes disruptive research leading to scientific discovery and emerging technologies for Army continuous transformation. A hallmark of ARL’s mission is collaborative partnerships to broaden Army access to expert talent and accelerate transitions of science-enabled capabilities. For information, visit https://arl.devcom.army.mil/.
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