The Pentagon’s research and engineering directorate is investigating manufacturing challenges that are affecting the defense industrial base and hindering its ability to deploy capabilities aligned with key technology areas.

The chairman’s mark of the fiscal 2023 defense appropriations bill recommends spending about $1.8 billion on these efforts.

Ten nontraditional contractors were each given $10 million to help bring prototype technology into full production.

The Defense Innovation Unit has enabled a number of technologies that are now being put to use in Ukraine.

Pentagon officials will meet with industry on July 26 to discuss plans for its RDER project.

The initiative is intended to develop new military capabilities and address racial disparities in Pentagon R&D funding.