Mountain View, California – On Friday, December 6, 2024 the Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III toured Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to participate in a counter unmanned systems capabilities demonstration and engage with commercial industry leaders during a visit to Silicon Valley on Dec. 6, 2024 ahead of the Reagan National Defense Forum. The engagement showcased cutting-edge drone capabilities, allowed meaningful discussion with technology leaders, and reinforced a commitment to delivering emerging technologies in support of Department of Defense priorities.
During the visit Secretary Austin engaged with uniformed personnel assigned to DIU’s Joint Reserve Detachment.
“It’s great to be at DIU and to have the chance to spend time with the amazing innovation out here in Silicon Valley – and across the country – along with the opportunity to discuss the critical effort to counter the significant threat from unmanned systems,” said Austin. “This is a centrally important effort for the Department and the nation and it will take all of us, together, to achieve this mission.”
The visit reinforces DIU’s role in catalyzing the Department’s innovation efforts – while acting as the front door for partners in the commercial tech sector as a clear entry point for companies and talent in the nation’s major tech centers and in innovation hubs across the country.
“We are proud to be a part of the imperative effort to counter unmanned systems – and we are working closely with partners across the Department, and with companies from hardware to software, to advanced manufacturing and the funders that support them to ensure we can deploy the very best tech with the focus, speed and scale necessary to get after it,” said DIU Director Doug Beck.
This meeting is just one part of the broader roll-out of the Department’s Strategy for Countering Unmanned Systems, which builds on other major initiatives and how DIU is identifying high-impact opportunities for the commercial sector to leapfrog ahead in C-UAS technology.
Learn more about the strategy here: https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3986597/dod-announces-strategy-for-countering-unmanned-systems/