WEBVTT

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Thank you , Angie . I appreciate it .

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Um , well , we've got a small but

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mighty panel . Um , we've got our user

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representative capability gaps , uh ,

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person who helps us identify what the

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users really need . We have an

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acquisition professional , um , to

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accelerate a very adaptive and

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accelerated acquisition professional .

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We have a science and technology

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division chief . Um , that's really

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friendly for industry partners and we

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have an industry partner represented on

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this panel . So I think we've got the

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essential ingredients that are needed ,

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maybe not all of the ingredients , but

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a big chunk of the essential

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ingredients to have a great panel this

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afternoon and to move capabilities to

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the warfighter on an expedited basis .

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So we appreciate your attendance . Um ,

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I do want to say thank you to NDIA ,

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ASMDA , and ADAA for , um ,

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pulling this whole thing together .

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It's an awesome event , um , with all

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the headliners that are brought here

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and so , uh , I appreciate your

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attendance and , uh , we look forward

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to answering your questions . So I

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think the way we'll , uh , operate with

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this , uh , we'll cycle through some

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opening comments , 57 minutes ,

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something like that for each panel

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member to introduce themselves a little

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bit more than what you see on the

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screen , a name and a title , uh , and

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give you a little bit of background on

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their organization , missions ,

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functions , what drives them , what

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their objectives are just a little bit ,

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you know , 557 minutes , something like

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that . And then we'll start to

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transition into questions . So , uh ,

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we appreciate your attendance here and ,

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uh , uh , Colonel Miller , I'll turn it

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over to you . Thank you , sir . Hey

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ladies and gentlemen , I'm Colonel Adam

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Miller . I am the deputy director for

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uh directed energy , uh , for the

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directed energy prototype office , uh ,

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which is part of the RCO , uh , and my

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office is responsible for crafting , uh ,

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the future strategy for how we will

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procure high energy lasers , and I hope

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to talk quite a bit about that today .

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Uh , we do call that the enduring high

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energy laser system . Uh , and I think ,

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um , um , I'm excited today to , to

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share some of that . Uh , previously ,

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I was the program manager for the Rido

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counter UAS efforts for high energy

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lasers , some highlights there . In

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2022 we deployed a couple of palletized ,

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uh , high energy laser systems in

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support of fixed site defense to the

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SINO AOR and then in 2023 to the Indo

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Paycom AOR . Uh , additionally , uh ,

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the office , um , developed what we

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call the Army Multi-purpose high energy

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laser , the AMEL . There's 4 total , uh ,

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2 infantry squad vehicle variants and 2 ,

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joint light tactical vehicle variants ,

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and so we're very proud of , of that

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accomplishment . Uh , our sister office ,

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the DEM Shorad office , uh , during

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that same time . Um , had deployed

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for DEM Sho a Stryker high energy laser

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systems , uh , to the SENO AOR and was

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very busy , busy , uh , managing , uh ,

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the execution of that deployment . And

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so that's , that's super important from

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an influence perspective on , on how we

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go about looking at procuring the

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future of high energy lasers . So those

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three systems primarily , um , and ,

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and so we're proud of all of that work

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collectively . I'm a career acquisition

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officer . Uh , before that , and air

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defense artillery officer , short range

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air defense artillery , so Shora . Um ,

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previous assignments , uh , from before

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Rido , I was a product manager at PEO

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Missiles in Space in the integrated Fis

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Command , um , uh , integrated

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integrated Fis Mission command Office ,

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uh , primarily focused on software . Uh ,

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and then before that command , I spent

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2 years at the Pentagon as a systems

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coordinator . For counter rocket

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artillery and mortar , as well as in

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the executive office of the Department

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of the Army as a special assistant to

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the director of the Army staff , uh ,

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and then of course before that , 8 p.m.

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time here at PO missiles in Space

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supporting PAC-3 MSC , and what we

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called at the time , uh IAMD integrated

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A missile defense . So that's about the

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last 10 years of my acquisition career .

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Uh , I'm today looking at about a total

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of 26 , almost 26 years of service , uh ,

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and I've had the incredible opportunity

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to witness , um , a very large amount

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of strategic uh institutional change in

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our army , um , for me as a young hoed

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officer , um , in and around 9/11 ,

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seeing how the branch . was going to

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change as we were entering the global

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war on terrorism . Impacted me as a

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lieutenant and then in 2017 as a young

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lieutenant colonel seeing the

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development of Army Features Command

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and the cross functional teams uh and

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seeing all that sort of come together

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to to get at um acquisition

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efficiencies uh and and bridging that

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valley uh as as best we can , uh , so

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making those those major changes all

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kind of impacted me . Uh , but today is

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no less important . I think today we're ,

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we're at another crossroads . Uh , I'm

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excited to see where the where the

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department goes , where the institution

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goes , uh , from here , and I think as

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we look to deliver game changing

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modernization capability for our army ,

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um , I'm excited for the potential for

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high energy lasers and directed energy ,

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and I think uh we'll have a good

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conversation about some of that today

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and I'm happy to be here . Thanks .

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Uh , good morning . I'm , uh , Colonel

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Mark Pliny . I'm the director of the

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Army for the Air and Missile Defense

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cross-functional team out at Fort Sill ,

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Oklahoma . Um , and what , what the AMD ,

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uh , CFT does is they really kind of

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spotlight capabilities that the army

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leadership wants to accelerate and

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bring forward fast , right ? So it's a ,

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it's a small but , but uh lean , but

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very powerful organization , uh , that ,

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that does that on behalf of the chief

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of staff of the army . Um , and so as

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the capability development , um ,

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requirement holder , um , we have 6 ,

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signature modernization efforts that

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we're currently going after . Um , AIMD

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or what commonly known as the

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integrated battle command System or

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IBCS , kind of small UAS , MShoAD ,

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LTAMS , IPIC , and then directive

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Energy . Uh , so this is a very , very

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timely discussion for a lot of the

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things that are going on within our

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portfolio . Uh , and then what we do is

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we integrate across the stakeholders

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across the army and the air and missile

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defense enterprise to really transform

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and deliver those advanced capabilities

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to our war fighter um in a timely basis .

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Um , so as , as many of you know , the

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AI community is decisively engaged in

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the most consequential transformation ,

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air defense capability uh growth ever ,

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right ? We're in the process of growing .

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Up to 18 Patriot battalions total with

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uh a composite AMD uh battalion out

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in out in Guam . And really what we're

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trying to do is we're trying to connect

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sensors and shooters on a common fire

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control architecture to leverage the

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best out of all of our sensors and the

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best shooter to not only have an

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accessible engagement , but to bend the

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cost curve per engagement . And that's

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I think why why directed energy is , is

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so important as we look at this from a

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holistic perspective . The amount of

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disruption and the character of war

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that we're seeing right now

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demonstrated in the Ukraine Russian

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conflict is unprecedented , and it

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continues to accelerate at a lightning

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pace . So we're seeing adaptation of

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capabilities at the tactical edge

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anywhere from weeks to days , which ,

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which is extremely challenging to

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maintain pace with that . Um , and then

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what we need to do on , on the

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defensive side is we need to maintain

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pace with that , and we need to partner

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with our industry partners to continue

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to innovate and provide our war fighter

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with the best capabilities . We can see

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our competitors have been investing

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heavily in their unmanned aircraft and

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missile systems as we saw in the

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Israeli conflict over the past couple

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of months , the air missile , the

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missile threat to our interests and

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capabilities are , are real . Um , and

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it requires us to modernize our air

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missile defense capabilities as I

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talked about , and then really

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partnering with , with our teammates ,

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uh , in industry , uh , here and , and

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garnering the lessons learned from

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across those conflicts is , is

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essential . So what I want to do is

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talk a little bit about kind of what

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we've seen in the uh the unmanned

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system , uh , environment and , and why

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as the capability uh developer , it's ,

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it's critical that we do that . So , Um ,

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Unmanned aircraft system or drones are

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changing the kind of war . We're seeing

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a lot of uh UAS systems paired with

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long range shooters to provide accurate

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precision fires as , as needed on time

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in the right place on the , on the

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battlefield . And we , we really need a ,

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a holistic mix for how we go about

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defeating these , these drones from

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both a kinetic and non-kinetic uh

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weapon system mix . Directed Energy has

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shown a lot of great potential to

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provide a low cost alternative to the

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conventional air missile defense

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interceptors that cost hundreds of

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thousands of dollars and to really

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complement other kinetic defeat

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capabilities that we have and we're

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currently developing like the 30

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millimeter proxy ammunition . The laser

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weapon systems have have really

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demonstrated their , their proof in the

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Group one , group 2 level , so the

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small and slow drones at a fraction of

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the cost . So we're really bending the

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cost curve per engagement with the

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utilization of directed energy . And

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from an operational perspective , what

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it does is it also reduces the

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logistics back when that I need to move

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those munitions , so I can move fuel or

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have an engagement at $1.50 per

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engagement of fuel like having to have

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multiple missile handlers moving

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munitions forward . The AMD CST is

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approved requirements for IPIC , MSHAD ,

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and counter UAS which all contain the

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requirement built within that for a

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low-cost capabilities that , that

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increase our ability to sense , act ,

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and , and decide . And these require

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requirements can be fulfilled or

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accelerated uh by uh the DE systems .

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So once we get past the initial cost

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piece of the development and the

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procurement of DE systems , uh , we

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think that it'll , it'll overarchingly

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drive our , our cost curve down . um ,

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and we're continuing to learn a lot

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from the prototype efforts that are

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ongoing . Uh , as part of Red Sands and

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SEO , um , MyFI , uh ,

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or the SIFWIs that are sponsored by the

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Army Futures Command , and I'm truly

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excited to see a lot of the

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capabilities that we have on

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operational assessments worldwide with

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respect to DEM ShoAD , our pilotized

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high energy laser , and then our AMEL

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capabilities that are currently being

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tested . Uh , so thanks for the ,

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thanks for the , the time and I'll turn

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it over to the other table to do the

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introductions . Thanks . Awesome ,

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thank you , sir . Uh , my name is John

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Gerty . I'm the vice president of DE

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Systems for uh AV um prior Blue Halo ,

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and I want to start out today by saying

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thank you , um , not only to the SMD

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symposium for allowing directed Energy

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this time at the table today and to

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speak to all of our industry partners ,

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but to General Stewart and to General

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Rash for your inspiring opening

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comments this morning and all your

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support in getting these DE systems

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into the fight today . I also want to

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thank our industry partners as well as

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our government , uh , counterparts and

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stakeholders . I think directed energy

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is one of the most unique technologies

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and that is fundamentally a team sport .

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And so across the services and across

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our , our interactions with the RTA .

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And across industry at large , I think

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this is a team sport and today is a

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massive day for directed energy as it's

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a culmination of decades of lessons

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learned and opportunities for

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technology to physically be in the

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hands of war fighters and we couldn't

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be more excited to be part of that

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fight . Um , a little background about

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me , I , I started my career , uh , in

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high powered microwaves and the fence

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and transitioned over into , uh ,

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working with the richto on our first

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palletized high energy laser systems

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and , uh , the notable directed energy ,

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uh , MOAD DEMO ad systems and

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ultimately culminating into amp hell in

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the future fight that Colonel Miller

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talked to for enduring hell . And so I ,

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I , I fundamentally want to drive home

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that today is a massive day that

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directed energy is no longer part of

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fantasy and science fiction . It is

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very much part of the reality that we

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are seeing on the battlefield today ,

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uh , things that you're seeing like in

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uh the European fights and as we

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prepare for potential other fights and

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other , uh , COOs . Um , this threat is

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incredibly real and directed energy is

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the right answer for facing the

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proliferated swarm threats that poses

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our , our nation , uh , some grave

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danger . So we're excited to be part of

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that fight today , um , and I think as

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a , as an industrial coalition . Uh ,

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we are ready for that transition point

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to procurements and into actual

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production of these systems and getting

14:16.451 --> 14:18.729
them in the hands of war fighters , uh ,

14:18.729 --> 14:21.062
more so than we're already seeing today .

14:21.062 --> 14:20.979
I think the last comment I , I really

14:20.979 --> 14:23.580
have to drive home on is getting to see

14:23.580 --> 14:26.010
a soldier get behind these Xbox

14:26.010 --> 14:28.260
controllers and shoot down drones .

14:28.299 --> 14:30.299
It's . longer exciting to be at the

14:30.299 --> 14:32.521
range and kill drones . We are doing it

14:32.521 --> 14:35.075
today actively , reliably , and I think

14:35.075 --> 14:38.515
as as an entire DE coalition , we are

14:38.515 --> 14:40.626
so excited to see that transition and

14:40.626 --> 14:42.515
see this be very much part of the

14:42.515 --> 14:44.626
framework for the fight of the future

14:44.626 --> 14:46.682
as well as today . So thank you very

14:46.682 --> 14:48.793
much and looking forward to answering

14:48.793 --> 14:52.440
your questions . Good morning .

14:53.030 --> 14:55.859
My name is Doctor John Mason . I am

14:55.859 --> 14:57.803
representing the Space and Missile

14:57.803 --> 15:00.109
Defense Command Tech Center . Um , so

15:00.109 --> 15:02.165
I've been working in directed Energy

15:02.165 --> 15:05.270
for , uh , about 5 years , so I got my

15:05.270 --> 15:07.214
start in industry , so I have some

15:07.214 --> 15:09.381
experience kind of what it's like on ,

15:09.381 --> 15:11.214
on that side , and now I've been

15:11.214 --> 15:13.381
working with the Space Missile Defense

15:13.381 --> 15:15.214
Command for about 2 years . Um ,

15:15.214 --> 15:17.048
initially , right , uh , my , my

15:17.048 --> 15:18.826
initial work was in designing .

15:19.020 --> 15:20.650
Instruments and systems that

15:20.650 --> 15:22.817
characterize high energy laser systems

15:22.817 --> 15:24.872
to assess system performance um from

15:24.872 --> 15:28.590
that point on , I actually worked on a

15:28.590 --> 15:31.530
program , the ALWM , the Affordable

15:31.530 --> 15:33.799
laser Weapon module , um , which was

15:34.359 --> 15:36.330
one of the first palletized CUAS

15:36.330 --> 15:38.849
systems that was in development and .

15:39.409 --> 15:41.631
Uh , laid a lot of the groundwork for ,

15:41.631 --> 15:43.909
for some of the follow-on systems . Uh ,

15:44.169 --> 15:46.450
my focus at the tech center , we have

15:46.450 --> 15:48.672
basically three lines of effort when it

15:48.672 --> 15:51.130
comes to directed energy . Um , one is

15:51.130 --> 15:53.510
the basic research , uh , where we're

15:53.510 --> 15:55.621
constantly pushing the bounds further

15:55.621 --> 15:59.200
on what is possible . Um , 2 is looking

15:59.200 --> 16:01.599
at taking that technology and maturing

16:01.599 --> 16:03.710
that technology to the point where it

16:03.710 --> 16:05.710
is transitionable into existing and

16:05.710 --> 16:07.880
future prototypes , and 3 is

16:07.880 --> 16:09.769
understanding the threats and the

16:09.769 --> 16:11.769
vulnerabilities of the threats that

16:11.769 --> 16:13.880
we're expecting to see . We live in a

16:13.880 --> 16:15.824
very fast pace , um , and engaging

16:15.824 --> 16:17.936
environment and understanding exactly

16:17.936 --> 16:19.991
how to engage these things with high

16:19.991 --> 16:21.991
energy laser systems , uh , is very

16:21.991 --> 16:24.150
important . So I wanted to , to leave

16:24.150 --> 16:26.206
you with a story that highlights the

16:26.206 --> 16:28.150
importance of S&T in in what we're

16:28.150 --> 16:30.440
doing . Uh , so I want to take you back

16:30.440 --> 16:33.210
to the year 2000 , right ? Boy bands

16:33.210 --> 16:35.530
are , are , are in , right ? Britney

16:35.530 --> 16:38.080
Spears is very popular . And there's a

16:38.080 --> 16:40.479
company called Blockbuster , right ? On

16:40.479 --> 16:42.701
a Friday night you would go out and you

16:42.701 --> 16:44.701
would rent a movie from Blockbuster

16:44.701 --> 16:46.868
with your family in a brick and mortar

16:46.868 --> 16:48.979
store , um , and it was a big thing ,

16:48.979 --> 16:50.979
right ? Blockbuster was the biggest

16:50.979 --> 16:53.035
thing that existed . Then along came

16:53.035 --> 16:54.868
this small little company called

16:54.868 --> 16:56.479
Netflix . Netflix approached

16:56.479 --> 16:58.535
Blockbuster to purchase them and and

16:58.535 --> 17:00.479
Blockbuster says no , we're good ,

17:00.479 --> 17:02.535
right ? We have uh a product that we

17:02.535 --> 17:04.839
use , uh , it's working well , and they

17:04.839 --> 17:08.150
focus their investment . On expanding

17:08.150 --> 17:10.489
that existing technology and didn't

17:10.489 --> 17:13.979
focus on what was next in the same time ,

17:14.660 --> 17:17.079
Netflix spent that same time to develop

17:17.079 --> 17:18.801
infrastructure and to focus on

17:18.801 --> 17:22.550
streaming so when uh high speed

17:22.550 --> 17:25.229
internet came out , Netflix was primed

17:25.229 --> 17:27.670
and positioned to capitalize on the

17:27.670 --> 17:31.050
next generation . Blockbuster , on the

17:31.050 --> 17:34.930
other hand , treated its product as a

17:34.930 --> 17:37.930
finished end result and failed to

17:37.930 --> 17:41.489
invest in the S&T necessary to adapt to

17:41.489 --> 17:45.359
the future . So in today's world

17:45.359 --> 17:47.470
we're at our Netflix moment right for

17:47.470 --> 17:49.640
directed energy . We need to continue

17:49.640 --> 17:51.770
to design these systems in such a way

17:52.079 --> 17:55.160
that we can upgrade for the evolving

17:55.160 --> 17:57.327
threats as our adversaries continue to

17:57.327 --> 17:59.049
evolve , and we need to have a

17:59.049 --> 18:02.329
continuous sustained investment in S&T

18:02.760 --> 18:04.630
in order to prepare for the next

18:04.630 --> 18:07.270
generation of technology . So with that ,

18:07.359 --> 18:09.510
I'd like to open up the the panel and

18:09.520 --> 18:11.576
and kick it back over to Mr . Pike .

18:15.420 --> 18:17.642
Thanks team . I , uh , appreciate those

18:17.642 --> 18:20.369
comments . um , so small but mighty is ,

18:20.459 --> 18:23.510
uh , and smart . Is , uh , is pretty

18:23.510 --> 18:25.621
obvious , uh , to me after getting to

18:25.621 --> 18:28.119
know these guys for just a few days now .

18:28.150 --> 18:30.910
So , um , I believe we've got a number

18:30.910 --> 18:33.390
for you to text your questions in to

18:33.390 --> 18:35.939
the panel members . Uh , we'll spend ,

18:36.180 --> 18:38.790
uh , maybe around 45 , 50 minutes ,

18:38.949 --> 18:41.030
something like that on , on doing

18:41.030 --> 18:43.380
questions . I'll get started with , uh ,

18:43.390 --> 18:45.557
an initial round of questions , but we

18:45.557 --> 18:47.723
obviously want to be able to take your

18:47.723 --> 18:49.890
questions from the audience . And so ,

18:49.890 --> 18:52.290
um . I , I may go off script and I , I

18:52.290 --> 18:54.512
apologize to the members here , but a ,

18:54.512 --> 18:56.679
a couple of the things that , uh , you

18:56.679 --> 18:58.734
know , that were discussed obviously

18:58.734 --> 19:00.901
raised some , some questions even in ,

19:00.901 --> 19:02.957
in my mind . And so Colonel Paini in

19:02.957 --> 19:05.068
particular , you talked about some of

19:05.068 --> 19:07.280
the operational use cases , uh , where

19:07.280 --> 19:09.530
directed energy has been useful and

19:09.530 --> 19:11.810
been exploited , uh , where it's been

19:11.810 --> 19:14.032
fielded at least in prototypes and made

19:14.032 --> 19:16.520
contributions , mostly focused on small

19:16.930 --> 19:20.750
UAS . Um , are there any thoughts , and

19:20.750 --> 19:22.750
this may bring in some of the other

19:22.750 --> 19:24.861
panel members as well . I know in the

19:24.861 --> 19:27.028
past folks have envisioned much higher

19:27.028 --> 19:29.910
power lasers , uh , chemical lasers ,

19:30.030 --> 19:33.430
not really electric , electric powered

19:33.430 --> 19:35.869
lasers like we pursue today , but the

19:35.869 --> 19:37.758
higher power lasers , those other

19:37.758 --> 19:39.980
missions that are out there besides the

19:39.980 --> 19:42.091
small counter UAS type missions for ,

19:42.150 --> 19:44.949
uh , missile defense at large or any of

19:44.949 --> 19:47.060
the panel members , maybe we'll start

19:47.060 --> 19:50.699
with you , Colonel Pollini . Yeah , we ,

19:50.800 --> 19:52.856
we definitely believe that there's a

19:52.856 --> 19:55.270
requirement and an operational need for

19:55.719 --> 19:58.199
high energy lasers in support of our

19:58.199 --> 20:00.630
integrated fire protection capability ,

20:00.800 --> 20:02.839
right ? So , uh , cruise missile

20:02.839 --> 20:05.400
defense , rockets and and mortar

20:05.400 --> 20:08.839
defense , um , there's definitely a a

20:08.839 --> 20:11.680
space and a need for that , um , and it

20:11.680 --> 20:13.847
definitely would burn , you know , I ,

20:13.847 --> 20:16.140
I , I'd rather much uh pay for a couple

20:16.140 --> 20:17.920
of gallons of fuel in , in the

20:17.930 --> 20:21.349
theoretical , right , versus a A 100

20:21.359 --> 20:23.790
$100,000 interceptor in all the

20:23.790 --> 20:26.660
logistics backbone that's needed , uh ,

20:26.869 --> 20:29.147
particularly as we start to , you know ,

20:29.147 --> 20:31.469
push these capabilities forward in

20:31.469 --> 20:33.469
support of an operational mission ,

20:33.469 --> 20:35.747
right ? The logistics requirement , uh ,

20:35.750 --> 20:37.939
to move all those munitions is pretty

20:37.939 --> 20:40.709
burdensome on our strategic , uh , lift

20:40.709 --> 20:42.989
infrastructure . So , um , any way that

20:42.989 --> 20:44.933
we can gain efficiencies and , and

20:44.933 --> 20:47.260
really kind of , um , provide that ,

20:47.339 --> 20:50.920
that . Complementary mix of capability

20:51.209 --> 20:53.489
to defeat these threats as they emerge

20:53.489 --> 20:56.290
and , and uh and evolve over time , we

20:56.290 --> 20:58.568
think is the , the winning combination .

21:02.420 --> 21:06.060
From a technology perspective . I'll

21:06.060 --> 21:08.227
just , I'll just go from , from a Rido

21:08.227 --> 21:11.630
perspective , um , so 17 prototypes to

21:11.630 --> 21:14.180
date , Rickto's been after this , uh ,

21:14.189 --> 21:16.849
now for 5 or 6 years when it , when it

21:16.849 --> 21:19.099
first stood up and a lot of the DE

21:19.099 --> 21:22.380
technology came over from SMDC , um ,

21:22.459 --> 21:24.626
and we understand the requirement . We

21:24.626 --> 21:26.737
worked a lot with the AMD CFT and the

21:26.737 --> 21:28.459
Forest Hill community on those

21:28.459 --> 21:30.910
requirements , um , as we look at our

21:30.910 --> 21:32.966
future system which we call enduring

21:32.966 --> 21:34.966
high energy laser . Um , to Colonel

21:34.966 --> 21:37.243
Polini's point , it is focused on , uh ,

21:37.243 --> 21:39.420
incremental capability , counter UAS

21:39.420 --> 21:42.500
first , uh , followed by , um , counter

21:42.500 --> 21:45.209
RAM potentially , uh , and so , um ,

21:45.339 --> 21:47.506
but I think at the end of the day from

21:47.506 --> 21:49.283
a material perspective the most

21:49.283 --> 21:51.969
important piece is , uh , designing a

21:52.219 --> 21:54.300
system that allows you to do in of

21:54.300 --> 21:57.250
upgrades . Um , but whether those are

21:57.250 --> 21:59.194
product improvements at the module

21:59.194 --> 22:00.861
level , uh , whether they are

22:00.861 --> 22:02.861
capability block upgrades , there ,

22:02.861 --> 22:05.083
there's a , there's a couple of ways to

22:05.083 --> 22:07.609
do it , um , but contracting for that

22:07.609 --> 22:10.089
capability , um , and allow and giving

22:10.089 --> 22:11.978
yourself just from an acquisition

22:11.978 --> 22:14.089
strategy the flexibility , uh , to be

22:14.089 --> 22:15.978
able to meet changing threats and

22:15.978 --> 22:18.500
changing , um , uh , environments , uh ,

22:18.569 --> 22:20.736
for a single system just so you're not

22:20.736 --> 22:24.109
locked into one piece . Yeah , Colonel

22:24.109 --> 22:26.276
Miller , I think to pull that thread ,

22:26.276 --> 22:28.109
uh , directed energy is uniquely

22:28.109 --> 22:30.442
positioned to be that scalable solution ,

22:30.442 --> 22:32.331
um , and starting with , with the

22:32.331 --> 22:34.442
counter UAS fight , what we're seeing

22:34.442 --> 22:36.331
overseas with how adversaries are

22:36.331 --> 22:38.276
changing the way they're employing

22:38.276 --> 22:41.160
drones , whether that be over 4G LTE or

22:41.160 --> 22:43.739
fly by wire with uh with fiber optics ,

22:44.119 --> 22:46.314
all of that change . Um , you know ,

22:46.515 --> 22:48.293
forces directed energy to think

22:48.293 --> 22:50.404
differently and to be able to be open

22:50.404 --> 22:52.314
for that modularity and for that

22:52.314 --> 22:54.704
enhancing lethality as as the fight

22:54.704 --> 22:56.815
continues to shift . I think directed

22:56.815 --> 22:58.648
energy is uniquely positioned to

22:58.648 --> 23:00.871
actually answer the call to ensure that

23:00.871 --> 23:02.926
not only from a cost perspective but

23:02.926 --> 23:04.375
from a reliability and uh

23:04.375 --> 23:06.515
maintainability and soldier operation

23:06.515 --> 23:08.750
ability . Um , they're actually able to

23:08.750 --> 23:10.910
scale to that , so we're seeing that

23:10.910 --> 23:13.021
firsthand with the systems that we've

23:13.021 --> 23:15.299
deployed with the richow , and I think ,

23:15.299 --> 23:17.660
uh , as we look forward into , um , uh ,

23:17.670 --> 23:19.281
continuing to build on those

23:19.281 --> 23:21.500
technologies we're , uh , we're very ,

23:21.510 --> 23:23.510
very excited and well positioned as

23:23.510 --> 23:27.410
directed energy so . And , and

23:27.410 --> 23:29.632
from an S&T perspective , right ? I , I

23:29.632 --> 23:32.000
think it's really important for us to

23:32.010 --> 23:35.410
to not lose sight on um what the future

23:35.410 --> 23:38.209
is . uh , there a lot of the systems

23:38.209 --> 23:40.380
that we have in development today um

23:40.380 --> 23:42.324
are based off of the technology of

23:42.324 --> 23:44.680
today , uh , and our adversaries are

23:44.689 --> 23:46.689
are very smart , right ? We have to

23:46.689 --> 23:48.856
give them credit where credit is due ,

23:48.856 --> 23:51.078
um , they quickly figure out what we're

23:51.078 --> 23:53.614
doing and they . In a , in a lot of

23:53.614 --> 23:55.781
ways find times , find ways to counter

23:55.781 --> 23:57.892
that . So , continuing to build these

23:57.892 --> 23:59.836
systems in a way so that we're not

23:59.836 --> 24:03.484
stuck at gen one of one , and , and we

24:03.484 --> 24:05.494
can adapt to the fight as , as the

24:05.494 --> 24:07.327
fight changes is , is critically

24:07.327 --> 24:10.910
important . Yeah , I appreciate that .

24:10.979 --> 24:13.146
Those are , those are great comments .

24:13.146 --> 24:14.757
I , I really appreciate that

24:14.757 --> 24:16.812
perspective . I , you know , my mind

24:16.812 --> 24:20.530
goes to in the PQ die kind of world of ,

24:20.619 --> 24:23.140
uh , from a soldier touch point and

24:23.140 --> 24:25.540
training and education and operational

24:25.540 --> 24:27.660
employment perspective , having that

24:27.660 --> 24:30.699
growth path of , of not having to start

24:30.699 --> 24:32.755
all over but having something that's

24:32.755 --> 24:35.089
already familiar to the user community ,

24:35.500 --> 24:38.540
uh , has a lot of , uh , importance and

24:38.540 --> 24:41.030
power , so . Uh , I , I appreciate

24:41.030 --> 24:42.974
those comments and that's , uh , a

24:42.974 --> 24:45.086
lesson unfortunately , we continue to

24:45.086 --> 24:47.219
learn over and over again from an

24:47.219 --> 24:49.819
industry perspective at large that they

24:49.819 --> 24:51.986
really need to be thinking about these

24:51.986 --> 24:53.979
echelons of technology advancement

24:54.829 --> 24:57.660
decades in advance and making . Uh ,

24:57.739 --> 24:59.572
even if they're relatively small

24:59.572 --> 25:01.295
investments in the science and

25:01.295 --> 25:03.572
technology world or industries's world ,

25:03.572 --> 25:05.699
IRA investments to , to look a little

25:05.699 --> 25:08.219
bit further out besides maybe just

25:08.219 --> 25:10.180
where we are right today and in

25:10.180 --> 25:12.699
particular in air defense , uh , where

25:12.699 --> 25:14.810
we had gotten to with the end of Cold

25:14.810 --> 25:16.810
War and , and a lot of other things

25:16.810 --> 25:19.032
that happened in the world , but , um .

25:19.032 --> 25:21.255
Certainly now have changed , uh , a lot

25:21.255 --> 25:23.143
of people's perspective and , and

25:23.143 --> 25:25.366
understanding of what's really required

25:25.366 --> 25:28.829
out there . Um , One other one

25:28.829 --> 25:30.773
that's maybe just a little bit off

25:30.773 --> 25:33.107
script and , and if you can't answer it ,

25:33.107 --> 25:35.218
that's fine , but again , when I hear

25:35.218 --> 25:37.440
you guys say things , it , it piques my

25:37.440 --> 25:39.551
interest at least . So the CIFIs Army

25:39.551 --> 25:41.662
Futures Command , you , you mentioned

25:41.662 --> 25:43.989
those and so for industry partners that

25:43.989 --> 25:46.910
are out there , any of you , uh , how

25:46.910 --> 25:49.550
does somebody find out about the SIFEs

25:49.550 --> 25:51.550
and how do they get engaged if they

25:51.550 --> 25:53.989
have products to bring Again , any of

25:53.989 --> 25:56.045
you , whether they're coming through

25:56.045 --> 25:58.211
the acquisition . Arena or through the

25:58.211 --> 26:00.322
S&T arena or another industry partner

26:00.322 --> 26:03.270
arena uh and or through Futures command

26:03.270 --> 26:05.630
and all the , uh , capabilities you

26:05.630 --> 26:07.741
guys have for technology scouting and

26:07.741 --> 26:09.963
those kind of things , how do we , um ,

26:10.030 --> 26:12.197
can we give industry a little bit of a

26:12.197 --> 26:14.380
perspective of what thoseIFI's are ?

26:17.589 --> 26:20.890
So SIFI's , uh , we do what's what uh a

26:20.890 --> 26:23.112
series was called Project convergence ,

26:23.112 --> 26:25.223
right ? And that's where we , we take

26:25.589 --> 26:28.079
uh operational ideas and try to

26:28.079 --> 26:30.750
experiment with them on in a realistic

26:31.390 --> 26:33.589
uh environment , right ? A realistic

26:33.589 --> 26:36.420
physical environment . Um , and I think

26:37.089 --> 26:39.311
The way we're utilizing syphilis or the

26:39.311 --> 26:41.311
way we think we're going to utilize

26:41.311 --> 26:43.478
syphilis as we , you know , transition

26:43.478 --> 26:45.719
to T2 command . Um , is really that's

26:45.719 --> 26:47.941
kind of the , one of the entrance gates

26:47.941 --> 26:50.449
to get to Project convergence , right ?

26:50.880 --> 26:53.880
Um , and so back it up one level , how

26:53.880 --> 26:56.260
do you get to SIFI ? So I think it's

26:56.260 --> 26:58.260
really a partnership between Adam's

26:58.260 --> 27:00.709
team and our team , uh , and coming to

27:00.709 --> 27:02.876
forums like this and , and finding out

27:02.876 --> 27:04.931
novel technologies that , you know ,

27:05.000 --> 27:07.167
hey , we didn't realize that that that

27:07.167 --> 27:09.389
was a capability , it may have some use

27:09.389 --> 27:11.619
in this space , right ? And , and

27:11.619 --> 27:14.130
trying to pull together that . That

27:14.130 --> 27:16.890
construct , um , kind of taking a , a

27:16.890 --> 27:19.849
more of a design theory kind of view of ,

27:19.890 --> 27:22.112
of the different capabilities and , and

27:22.112 --> 27:24.334
really trying to adapt on the gaps that

27:24.334 --> 27:26.446
we have and we know that we have , or

27:26.446 --> 27:28.612
they may be highlighting a gap that we

27:28.612 --> 27:30.834
didn't realize that we had , right ? So

27:30.834 --> 27:33.057
it's truly a a symbiotic relationship ,

27:33.057 --> 27:35.500
at least from the CFT's perspective ,

27:35.849 --> 27:38.890
um , and I know my team is , is always

27:38.890 --> 27:40.946
reaching out to the various industry

27:40.946 --> 27:43.168
partners to see what . They have on the

27:43.168 --> 27:45.223
horizon with respect to cutting edge

27:45.223 --> 27:48.484
technologies , AIML , um , and so , and

27:48.484 --> 27:50.564
a lot of the , a lot of the , the ,

27:50.645 --> 27:53.665
we're also referred a lot of uh

27:54.045 --> 27:56.045
organizations from Richto and PO

27:56.045 --> 27:58.267
missiles of Space which are really kind

27:58.267 --> 28:00.378
of our , our acquisition arms as part

28:00.378 --> 28:02.645
of the AMDCFT . So Adam , did you want

28:02.645 --> 28:05.479
anything ? From a prototyping

28:05.479 --> 28:08.359
perspective , um , we spend , uh , an

28:08.359 --> 28:10.526
incredible amount of time working very

28:10.526 --> 28:12.415
closely with the Joint County UAS

28:12.415 --> 28:14.359
office . I know they spoke up here

28:14.359 --> 28:17.050
earlier , um , or General Stewart , so

28:17.719 --> 28:21.219
it , it , I , I , and , and we have ,

28:21.400 --> 28:24.310
um , uh , a team within Rickdo that ,

28:24.439 --> 28:27.459
that . Supports both of those efforts ,

28:27.619 --> 28:29.786
right ? So there is a joint side to to

28:29.786 --> 28:33.089
our organization's mission . So not

28:33.689 --> 28:35.859
every couple of weeks I refer at least

28:35.859 --> 28:39.040
one vendor that way for counter UAS ,

28:39.369 --> 28:41.480
uh , and there are , there's a lot of

28:41.480 --> 28:43.591
innovation out there happening , um ,

28:43.591 --> 28:46.160
for directed energy , um , non-kinetic ,

28:46.380 --> 28:48.530
uh , I've seen much less , uh , and

28:48.530 --> 28:50.697
usually , you know , the best thing to

28:50.697 --> 28:53.079
do is to reach out to us directly , um ,

28:53.089 --> 28:56.209
and , and , uh , uh , we can have a

28:56.209 --> 29:00.060
discussion . Um , but you know , it ,

29:00.170 --> 29:02.170
it , this is , uh , it's a fabulous

29:02.170 --> 29:04.170
time because we have a lot of great

29:04.170 --> 29:06.114
Americans working on a ton of hard

29:06.114 --> 29:08.003
problems , uh , and so we , we're

29:08.003 --> 29:10.270
always opening to listen to , uh , the

29:10.270 --> 29:12.437
new innovation ideas that industry may

29:12.437 --> 29:14.030
have , uh , but we do have

29:14.030 --> 29:16.252
organizations resident in the army that

29:16.252 --> 29:18.419
are actively looking for you . We need

29:18.419 --> 29:20.697
to demonstrate it , we need to test it ,

29:20.697 --> 29:22.919
we need to see it and if uh if you need

29:22.919 --> 29:25.141
help , you can definitely reach out and

29:25.141 --> 29:24.310
we'll put you in contact with the right

29:24.310 --> 29:27.270
people , so . Yeah , I , I'd love to

29:27.270 --> 29:29.437
add to that , sir . Um , I think , you

29:29.437 --> 29:31.603
know , two work streams really come to

29:31.603 --> 29:33.770
mind and fundamentally I'll go back to

29:33.770 --> 29:35.826
my earlier statement directed energy

29:35.826 --> 29:37.826
and success in directed energy is a

29:37.826 --> 29:39.992
team sport . Um , so starting off with

29:39.992 --> 29:42.103
the first work stream , I , I have to

29:42.103 --> 29:44.270
hats off to the richto . Um , they are

29:44.270 --> 29:46.381
one of the most welcoming and forward

29:46.381 --> 29:45.770
thinking when it comes to new

29:45.770 --> 29:47.969
technologies , and they , the team

29:47.969 --> 29:50.136
there , some of the best and brightest

29:50.136 --> 29:52.080
great Americans that we've had the

29:52.080 --> 29:54.080
pleasure of working with , they are

29:54.080 --> 29:57.459
incredibly , uh , uh . Proficient at

29:57.459 --> 30:00.290
passing along some new technologies to

30:00.500 --> 30:02.611
other industry partners that might be

30:02.611 --> 30:04.556
integrators I think at least every

30:04.556 --> 30:06.500
other week we hear about a new kit

30:06.500 --> 30:08.222
that's available from a sensor

30:08.222 --> 30:10.333
component perspective that we're able

30:10.333 --> 30:12.556
to then uh get linked up with and start

30:12.556 --> 30:14.611
hopefully having . Conversations and

30:14.611 --> 30:16.833
dialogue about integrating some of that

30:16.833 --> 30:18.833
best of breed , uh , component tree

30:18.833 --> 30:20.833
that industry is developing I think

30:20.833 --> 30:22.833
second to that an SMD is a great uh

30:22.833 --> 30:24.833
opportunity to do it on my drive in

30:24.833 --> 30:27.000
this morning I was counting the number

30:27.000 --> 30:26.515
of industry partners that I've had a

30:26.515 --> 30:28.571
chance to meet for the first time at

30:28.571 --> 30:30.737
this event , um , and second to that ,

30:30.737 --> 30:32.904
you know , our , our team right now on

30:32.904 --> 30:32.234
the products that we developed , we

30:32.234 --> 30:35.435
have 65+ industry partners that are

30:35.435 --> 30:37.435
providing meaningful kit to our our

30:37.435 --> 30:39.602
systems that we're delivering . To the

30:39.602 --> 30:41.713
richto and I think yesterday alone we

30:41.713 --> 30:43.879
got linked up with another 5 that have

30:43.879 --> 30:45.824
uh awesome opportunities for us to

30:45.824 --> 30:47.991
integrate into the systems to continue

30:47.991 --> 30:50.380
to provide the cutting edge , bleeding

30:50.380 --> 30:52.491
edge technology that our war fighters

30:52.491 --> 30:54.390
deserve . So I think both on the

30:54.390 --> 30:56.612
industry side working together to build

30:56.612 --> 30:58.723
that best of breed coalition and then

30:58.723 --> 31:00.890
continuing to use the richto and other

31:00.890 --> 31:02.834
government stakeholders , uh , for

31:02.834 --> 31:05.001
feedback on the fight of the future as

31:05.001 --> 31:07.001
well as ways to get integrated with

31:07.001 --> 31:06.790
some of the material providers that are ,

31:06.869 --> 31:08.647
uh , executing programs today .

31:14.020 --> 31:16.131
So I always get the pleasure of going

31:16.131 --> 31:18.298
last and get all the good points taken

31:18.298 --> 31:20.464
already , uh , but , but you know just

31:20.464 --> 31:22.353
to kind of hammer that home right

31:22.353 --> 31:24.576
modular open systems architecture we've

31:24.576 --> 31:28.020
made a lot of efforts as an Army DE

31:28.020 --> 31:30.020
community and actually as a greater

31:30.020 --> 31:32.187
community as a whole over the last few

31:32.187 --> 31:34.500
years to implement that in a practical

31:34.500 --> 31:38.439
way , um , to better , um , define the

31:38.439 --> 31:40.495
interfaces of what's going on in the

31:40.495 --> 31:42.383
high energy laser systems . So by

31:42.383 --> 31:44.439
defining the interfaces , you reduce

31:44.439 --> 31:46.495
the barrier for , um , companies and

31:46.495 --> 31:50.189
technologies that have a part of the

31:50.189 --> 31:52.310
DE system , but maybe not the whole

31:52.310 --> 31:55.579
part . What we're realizing is that if

31:55.579 --> 31:57.790
we go out to just one industry .

31:57.925 --> 32:00.305
Partner to define the whole thing ,

32:00.435 --> 32:02.665
we're missing out on a great

32:02.665 --> 32:04.832
opportunity to incorporate some of the

32:04.832 --> 32:07.104
innovative technology that , uh , you

32:07.104 --> 32:09.505
industry partners are doing . So , um ,

32:09.635 --> 32:11.857
Colonel Miller's already , already kind

32:11.857 --> 32:13.968
of mentioned it . The eHealth program

32:13.968 --> 32:16.354
is a great first step to trying to

32:16.354 --> 32:17.910
implement those practices .

32:23.030 --> 32:25.252
Hey thanks team . I appreciate that and

32:25.252 --> 32:27.586
I again , I appreciate you kind of , uh ,

32:27.589 --> 32:29.756
flexing there a little bit with things

32:29.756 --> 32:32.033
I think the audience may be interested ,

32:32.033 --> 32:34.256
but I'm gonna pause there and not go uh

32:34.256 --> 32:36.367
deeper so we can start to get to some

32:36.367 --> 32:38.589
of the audience questions . We've got ,

32:38.589 --> 32:40.811
uh , maybe 25-ish minutes or so . So do

32:40.811 --> 32:42.922
we have some done from the audience ?

32:42.922 --> 32:43.978
Uh , yes , we do .

32:48.160 --> 32:50.104
There's been a frequent mention of

32:50.104 --> 32:52.680
testing prototypes which has value .

32:52.880 --> 32:54.769
What is the panel's view of using

32:54.769 --> 32:56.324
virtual prototyping to meet

32:56.324 --> 32:58.380
requirements and supplement the test

32:58.380 --> 32:59.380
process ?

33:05.369 --> 33:07.369
We do a lot of modeling in SIM , so

33:07.369 --> 33:09.890
virtual prototyping , especially in the

33:09.890 --> 33:13.420
M&S uh realm is super critical , but

33:13.979 --> 33:17.130
I mentioned earlier , to date , Row has

33:17.130 --> 33:20.160
developed about 17 prototypes . Give or

33:20.160 --> 33:22.609
take . Uh , we've deployed probably

33:22.609 --> 33:26.609
about 11 of those . Um , a handful of

33:26.609 --> 33:29.339
fixed site palletized systems , um ,

33:29.489 --> 33:31.770
HPM systems , and those striker-based

33:31.770 --> 33:35.589
systems . And we have

33:35.589 --> 33:37.989
learned an incredible amount um with

33:37.989 --> 33:39.433
all of those right on the

33:39.433 --> 33:41.600
sustainability front and what it takes

33:41.600 --> 33:44.949
to maintain those um on the lethality

33:44.949 --> 33:47.180
front and what we're looking at from a

33:47.180 --> 33:51.030
from a . Um , uh , and as a , uh , uh ,

33:51.040 --> 33:52.929
an aperture perspective or a beam

33:52.929 --> 33:54.929
quality perspective , and as Doctor

33:54.929 --> 33:57.096
Mason was mentioning earlier , right ,

33:57.096 --> 33:59.262
one thing we have learned is that it's

33:59.262 --> 34:01.262
super important for us to have open

34:01.262 --> 34:03.484
interfaces so we can iteratively change

34:03.484 --> 34:05.040
or modify what those system

34:05.040 --> 34:08.659
requirements may be . Um , we do

34:09.040 --> 34:11.280
quite a bit of , of , of modeling of

34:11.280 --> 34:13.502
the system , uh , in a test environment

34:13.502 --> 34:16.050
as well . Um , and we collect all of

34:16.050 --> 34:18.106
that data , uh , and we're trying to

34:18.106 --> 34:21.050
use that for this next iteration . Um ,

34:21.169 --> 34:24.010
so , so lots of interest , uh , in

34:24.010 --> 34:25.788
regards to that , that specific

34:25.788 --> 34:27.850
question . Um , last thing I'll say

34:27.850 --> 34:31.810
here is we have DE technical summits

34:31.810 --> 34:34.489
that we're doing , um , they are

34:34.489 --> 34:36.600
technology sharing events where we do

34:36.600 --> 34:39.090
invite industry in , uh , we share the

34:39.090 --> 34:41.257
interface control documents that we do

34:41.257 --> 34:43.879
have , the models that we have , um ,

34:43.889 --> 34:45.889
as part of the enduring solution in

34:45.889 --> 34:49.330
order to . Get more entrance um

34:49.330 --> 34:52.810
into , into our uh our programs , uh ,

34:52.929 --> 34:55.262
get some cleaner ideas in there as well .

34:55.262 --> 34:57.850
So , um , and , and love to talk about

34:57.850 --> 35:00.290
that in a little while also , but . Um ,

35:00.320 --> 35:02.949
it's very , very important , and , uh ,

35:03.090 --> 35:06.800
uh , we , we , you know , using our 17

35:06.800 --> 35:08.967
prototypes and all the testing and the

35:08.967 --> 35:10.856
demonstrations we've done to date

35:10.856 --> 35:12.911
because each one of those comes with

35:12.911 --> 35:15.244
operational assessments , um , you know ,

35:15.244 --> 35:17.356
usually , I usually , uh , by a third

35:17.356 --> 35:19.522
party , a tech or another party , um ,

35:19.679 --> 35:21.901
we use those to improve our processes ,

35:21.901 --> 35:22.901
so yes .

35:26.510 --> 35:28.288
Just kind of add on the virtual

35:28.288 --> 35:30.343
prototyping , um , there , there's a

35:30.343 --> 35:32.288
saying in mechanical engineering ,

35:32.288 --> 35:34.343
right , that it , it always works in

35:34.343 --> 35:36.399
solid works , um , and that , that's

35:36.399 --> 35:38.621
definitely the case . These are , these

35:38.621 --> 35:40.732
are incredibly complex systems , um ,

35:40.790 --> 35:43.159
and . You know , you can do some

35:43.159 --> 35:45.326
virtual prototyping that allows you to

35:45.326 --> 35:47.381
burn down some of that risk and help

35:47.381 --> 35:49.603
you anticipate some of those problems ,

35:49.603 --> 35:51.919
um , but there is no substitute for

35:51.919 --> 35:54.919
actually taking things out , um , and

35:54.919 --> 35:56.697
getting real operational data .

36:01.189 --> 36:03.245
Yeah , I , I think just to pull that

36:03.245 --> 36:05.356
thread from an industry perspective ,

36:05.356 --> 36:07.459
uh , these schedules for deploying

36:07.459 --> 36:09.570
direct energy systems do not have the

36:09.570 --> 36:12.020
luxury of , uh , the opportunity to be

36:12.020 --> 36:14.699
late . And so any opportunity , whether

36:14.699 --> 36:17.419
it be a a virtual modeling in SIM or an

36:17.419 --> 36:19.419
H will S will , uh , hardware

36:19.419 --> 36:21.252
integration labs , uh , software

36:21.252 --> 36:23.459
integration lab to burn down that risk

36:23.459 --> 36:25.739
early . I , I can speak for for some of

36:25.739 --> 36:28.139
our prototypes and programs we've been

36:28.139 --> 36:30.139
able to avoid having issues that we

36:30.139 --> 36:32.379
would have seen on the range by

36:32.379 --> 36:34.620
integrating some of that , uh , initial

36:34.620 --> 36:37.139
H will S will kind of modeling , um ,

36:37.179 --> 36:38.901
we're just better modeling and

36:38.901 --> 36:41.012
simulation to , uh , better influence

36:41.012 --> 36:43.012
designs early and often , so . Um ,

36:43.012 --> 36:45.012
that's been an integral part of our

36:45.012 --> 36:47.179
success , and I think industry is , is

36:47.179 --> 36:49.235
really looking at making sure we can

36:49.235 --> 36:51.068
continue to , uh , uh , maintain

36:51.068 --> 36:53.179
schedules and learn early and often .

36:55.239 --> 36:57.461
You know , those are great points and I

36:57.461 --> 37:00.489
know General Rash has uh . Uh ,

37:00.610 --> 37:02.666
reemphasize this over and over again

37:02.666 --> 37:04.850
throughout his career of , um , you ,

37:04.929 --> 37:07.649
you have to be able to anchor those

37:07.649 --> 37:09.871
models and Sims and validate them . And

37:09.871 --> 37:12.449
so , again , just for industry as a

37:12.449 --> 37:15.040
whole and for us as partners between

37:15.040 --> 37:17.207
industry and government . I appreciate

37:17.207 --> 37:18.929
your comments , Doctor Mason ,

37:18.929 --> 37:20.984
especially on that , that we have to

37:21.000 --> 37:23.111
make sure that we're just not kidding

37:23.111 --> 37:25.278
ourselves that it truly is anchored in

37:25.278 --> 37:27.500
truth , uh , before we get too far down

37:27.500 --> 37:29.439
the investment path , but , but

37:29.439 --> 37:31.590
obviously they are of great utility .

37:32.000 --> 37:34.222
Uh , some , some more from the audience

37:34.222 --> 37:37.000
Don . Oh yes , uh , how are operators

37:37.000 --> 37:39.360
being integrated into the design and

37:39.360 --> 37:42.149
development process of these DE systems

37:42.149 --> 37:44.205
and what are they saying about using

37:44.205 --> 37:44.120
them ?

37:48.169 --> 37:50.969
I'll go first on that one . So and the

37:50.969 --> 37:52.913
short answer is that they're being

37:52.913 --> 37:55.540
integrated as soon as possible . Um ,

37:55.929 --> 37:58.330
we do a very good job at Rito in my

37:58.330 --> 38:01.280
opinion , of , of integrating soldiers ,

38:01.449 --> 38:04.489
uh , with , uh , with our DE systems

38:04.489 --> 38:06.600
for demonstrations and of course as I

38:06.600 --> 38:08.711
mentioned , we've had 11 to date , 11

38:08.711 --> 38:10.989
or 12 that have actually been deployed .

38:10.989 --> 38:13.040
Uh , those deployed systems have

38:13.040 --> 38:16.379
actually been used by soldiers , um ,

38:16.439 --> 38:18.328
and in many cases in every case ,

38:18.639 --> 38:20.917
they're the same , it's the same squad ,

38:20.959 --> 38:23.479
platoon , battery , uh , that trained

38:23.479 --> 38:27.429
with those systems . Our challenge

38:27.429 --> 38:29.762
going forward , and this is where we're ,

38:29.762 --> 38:31.929
we're trying with what we're trying to

38:31.929 --> 38:34.096
do with the enduring solution is to do

38:34.096 --> 38:35.929
it even earlier , right , and to

38:36.429 --> 38:38.909
broaden the aperture beyond just use

38:38.909 --> 38:42.389
cases and lethality , um , so we want

38:42.389 --> 38:45.469
to bring soldiers in to help maintain

38:45.469 --> 38:48.870
the systems and we want to design um

38:48.870 --> 38:51.310
opportunities for soldiers to maintain

38:51.310 --> 38:53.366
those systems . So with the enduring

38:53.366 --> 38:55.699
solution , for example . Um , and again ,

38:55.790 --> 38:57.623
we know what the , what the high

38:57.623 --> 38:59.957
failure rate items are on these systems .

38:59.957 --> 39:02.123
So for the enduring solution , uh , we

39:02.123 --> 39:04.068
will have soldiers , uh , actually

39:04.068 --> 39:06.469
replace optics , uh , on the system ,

39:06.629 --> 39:08.796
right ? Uh , the , the optics on these

39:08.796 --> 39:10.796
systems are one of the high failure

39:10.796 --> 39:12.699
rate items . Um , and one of the

39:12.699 --> 39:15.340
challenges that we have and so as we

39:15.340 --> 39:18.610
look to design , uh , the beam director ,

39:18.820 --> 39:20.987
uh , we knew there was risk there , so

39:20.987 --> 39:23.042
we wanted to insert a , uh , a touch

39:23.042 --> 39:24.987
point opportunity , an integration

39:24.987 --> 39:26.987
event , a learning event , uh , for

39:26.987 --> 39:29.179
those soldiers to , to actually repair

39:29.179 --> 39:31.500
that optic , um , and it demonstrate

39:31.500 --> 39:33.340
that , uh , and of course in the

39:33.340 --> 39:35.507
lethality front we want , we want to ,

39:35.507 --> 39:37.699
to train they want we want them to

39:37.699 --> 39:39.866
train on the systems of course as soon

39:39.866 --> 39:43.129
as possible as well , um . The

39:43.860 --> 39:45.810
I think the third main point there

39:45.810 --> 39:48.939
would be the the user interfaces . Um ,

39:48.949 --> 39:51.370
if you look at the user interfaces for

39:51.370 --> 39:54.570
our AM health system and our PHealth

39:54.570 --> 39:57.169
system , our DMs sure ad , and even our

39:57.169 --> 39:59.800
enduring system , they are 90% common .

40:00.520 --> 40:02.631
Uh , so from a training perspective ,

40:02.631 --> 40:05.260
we do everything we can to not relearn

40:06.330 --> 40:09.129
what the soldiers are seeing . Um , on

40:09.129 --> 40:12.149
that GUI , uh , on that interface , uh ,

40:12.250 --> 40:14.330
and , uh , and so that it helps them

40:14.330 --> 40:16.489
track which is the hard part in the

40:16.489 --> 40:19.840
kill chain , so . Yeah , so I'll , I'll

40:19.840 --> 40:21.896
add , add a little bit more from the

40:21.896 --> 40:23.784
what we call the DotOPS , so your

40:23.784 --> 40:25.729
doctrine organization , training ,

40:25.729 --> 40:27.919
leader development , um , and , and

40:27.919 --> 40:30.141
just overall employment of the system ,

40:30.141 --> 40:32.308
right ? So I talked a little bit about

40:32.308 --> 40:34.475
what , uh , project convergence does ,

40:34.475 --> 40:36.530
right ? So what we do for that is we

40:36.530 --> 40:38.840
actually put it in a , in a combat

40:38.840 --> 40:41.250
environment . So , um , project

40:41.250 --> 40:43.840
convergences uh 5 Alpha last year was

40:43.840 --> 40:45.951
held out at Fort Irwin , California .

40:46.270 --> 40:48.326
And , and Project Convergence 6 will

40:48.326 --> 40:50.159
also be held out at Fort Irwin ,

40:50.159 --> 40:51.937
California , and it's put in an

40:51.937 --> 40:53.992
environment where it's operationally

40:53.992 --> 40:56.030
employed by a unit that's out there

40:56.360 --> 40:59.389
doing a , a force on force , uh ,

40:59.399 --> 41:02.159
rotation with a live op for , so a

41:02.159 --> 41:04.270
thinking opponent . That is gonna try

41:04.270 --> 41:06.381
to find vulnerabilities in the system

41:06.381 --> 41:08.548
and try to do what we're seeing on the

41:08.548 --> 41:10.603
battlefield with innovation on the ,

41:10.603 --> 41:12.548
you know , real-time innovation or

41:12.548 --> 41:14.770
employment innovation , uh , you know ,

41:14.770 --> 41:16.770
from the material of the employment

41:16.770 --> 41:18.881
perspective . Um , and so some of the

41:18.881 --> 41:21.048
stuff that we're also doing is part of

41:21.048 --> 41:23.270
that , that lead up to it . We talked a

41:23.270 --> 41:25.437
little bit about mythic and syphilis .

41:25.437 --> 41:27.659
Those are soldier touch points where we

41:27.659 --> 41:29.770
put soldiers in the actual prototypes

41:29.770 --> 41:31.881
or alongside the prototypes to garner

41:31.881 --> 41:34.159
those lessons learned , whether it's a ,

41:34.159 --> 41:36.110
a GUI or from an employment

41:36.110 --> 41:38.054
understanding perspective , from a

41:38.054 --> 41:40.277
doctoral perspective . How do I command

41:40.277 --> 41:42.499
and control a laser , right ? So if you

41:42.499 --> 41:45.870
go out to a The 460th Wi Fi that was

41:45.870 --> 41:48.110
about a month ago out at Fort Sill

41:48.510 --> 41:51.850
where we were firing the MSho a

41:51.850 --> 41:54.149
vehicles at the 50 kilowatt MSho a

41:54.149 --> 41:56.620
vehicles . There's a lot of stuff that

41:56.629 --> 41:59.070
that the platoon leader has to consider

41:59.070 --> 42:01.070
that I didn't have to consider as a

42:01.070 --> 42:03.389
platoon leader . So with more advanced

42:03.389 --> 42:06.469
capabilities means more potential for

42:06.469 --> 42:08.525
uh collateral effects that we , that

42:08.525 --> 42:10.136
were unintended , right ? So

42:10.590 --> 42:13.080
understanding . Um , where that laser's

42:13.080 --> 42:15.080
gonna go in time and space and then

42:15.080 --> 42:18.439
leveraging AI and ML capabilities to

42:18.439 --> 42:20.639
make sure that the , the background is

42:20.639 --> 42:23.580
clear of any satellites or the airspace

42:23.580 --> 42:26.189
is , is clear or , you know , the list

42:26.189 --> 42:28.522
just keeps going on and on and on , but ,

42:28.522 --> 42:31.159
um , from a , it's not just the actual

42:31.159 --> 42:33.381
material , it's the back , the backside

42:33.381 --> 42:35.103
of it which is really the more

42:35.103 --> 42:37.280
complicated part in many in many

42:37.280 --> 42:39.224
instances for understanding how to

42:39.224 --> 42:41.002
employ these new technologies .

42:43.169 --> 42:45.280
Yeah , I'd love to start , you know ,

42:45.280 --> 42:47.447
one of the mantras in our organization

42:47.447 --> 42:49.558
is there is no substitute for soldier

42:49.558 --> 42:51.780
feedback , and I'll give a unique story

42:51.780 --> 42:54.002
to that . Our first , uh , laser weapon

42:54.002 --> 42:53.669
system prototype we delivered to the

42:53.669 --> 42:55.719
richto , gosh , it's been about 44

42:55.719 --> 42:58.090
years ago now , um , our first Pell

42:58.090 --> 43:01.159
system , uh , a bunch of engineers that

43:01.159 --> 43:03.103
had been working in the lab for 24

43:03.103 --> 43:04.992
hours a day basically to get that

43:04.992 --> 43:06.937
prototype into the hands of , uh ,

43:06.937 --> 43:09.048
soldiers for new equipment training .

43:09.048 --> 43:11.159
We put together uh a training package

43:11.159 --> 43:13.159
that went along with that . It made

43:13.159 --> 43:15.270
sense in the lab and it made sense to

43:15.270 --> 43:17.381
to engineering folks , um , but we we

43:17.381 --> 43:19.381
handed that off to uh a 19 year old

43:19.381 --> 43:21.437
operator , um , the feedback that we

43:21.437 --> 43:21.050
got was instrumental . He's like , Hold

43:21.050 --> 43:23.106
on a second , sir . He's like , uh ,

43:23.106 --> 43:25.272
are you telling me that you want me to

43:25.272 --> 43:25.250
walk 1 kilometer back to the B dock ,

43:25.330 --> 43:27.330
flip that switch , then walk back 1

43:27.330 --> 43:29.386
kilometer to the system , um , stuff

43:29.386 --> 43:31.552
like that is so instrumental in making

43:31.552 --> 43:34.090
these systems successful and , uh , so

43:34.090 --> 43:36.201
the adoption curve actually increases

43:36.201 --> 43:38.229
for directed energy , so . Um , the

43:38.229 --> 43:40.340
richto has been phenomenal . Uh , the

43:40.340 --> 43:42.396
army at large has been phenomenal at

43:42.396 --> 43:44.507
inserting the , the opportunities for

43:44.507 --> 43:46.729
industry to interface directly with the

43:46.729 --> 43:48.840
warfighter . I think our Pell systems

43:48.840 --> 43:51.062
and especially the DEM Shorad system as

43:51.062 --> 43:53.173
those deployed , learned so much from

43:53.173 --> 43:55.285
the operators who loved operating the

43:55.285 --> 43:57.451
system so it feels like a video game .

43:57.451 --> 43:59.507
Um , but compounded with , uh , just

43:59.507 --> 44:01.451
those opportunities for us to make

44:01.451 --> 44:03.340
these systems better and give the

44:03.340 --> 44:05.451
opportunity in that decision space of

44:05.451 --> 44:07.507
do I fire a kinetic effector or do I

44:07.507 --> 44:09.729
fire the laser . They love the laser so

44:09.729 --> 44:09.449
much because they're used to it . It

44:09.449 --> 44:11.560
makes sense to them that they want to

44:11.560 --> 44:13.393
continue to fire up that laser .

44:20.199 --> 44:22.800
Would the panel discuss , uh , testing

44:22.800 --> 44:24.967
advanced technologies as it relates to

44:24.967 --> 44:26.689
range and drone restrictions ?

44:36.179 --> 44:38.401
Sure , I'll , I'll , I'll be the guinea

44:38.401 --> 44:41.320
pig . I'll take a stab at that one , So

44:41.320 --> 44:44.739
when it , when it comes to um ,

44:45.659 --> 44:49.290
Testing technologies when it for uh

44:49.290 --> 44:52.379
range and , and drone restrictions , I

44:52.379 --> 44:55.459
would say that . You know , you don't

44:55.459 --> 44:58.979
have to , to demonstrate utility , you

44:58.979 --> 45:02.340
don't have to necessarily um eat the

45:02.340 --> 45:04.760
whole elephant all at once , right ?

45:06.139 --> 45:09.290
Start with a simple problem .

45:10.760 --> 45:14.370
And demonstrate utility from there . As

45:14.370 --> 45:16.409
you're advancing this advanced

45:16.409 --> 45:19.500
technology . And as you continue to

45:19.500 --> 45:22.780
demonstrate your ability to um

45:23.719 --> 45:26.399
Perform against threats in a limited

45:26.399 --> 45:30.120
engagement . There's many people , many

45:30.120 --> 45:32.959
organizations , the RCO SMDC are happy

45:32.959 --> 45:36.610
to assist in really stretching the legs

45:36.610 --> 45:39.729
of , uh , the technology that you have ,

45:40.169 --> 45:43.209
um , as you start to show value to the

45:43.209 --> 45:45.840
community . Really , the thing that ,

45:45.899 --> 45:48.370
that we are looking for as a DE

45:48.370 --> 45:51.370
community is how do we get after the

45:51.370 --> 45:54.080
pressing threats and how do we continue

45:54.080 --> 45:57.750
to . Uh , move faster ,

45:58.070 --> 46:01.030
go farther , and be more effective ,

46:01.429 --> 46:03.485
right ? And that starts with some of

46:03.485 --> 46:05.540
the short range , some of the , uh ,

46:05.540 --> 46:09.389
simple targets first . Um , the , the

46:09.389 --> 46:11.949
pacing threats , right , we can get

46:11.949 --> 46:14.229
after that , uh , once we move past

46:14.229 --> 46:18.159
that first barrier . So I'll , I'll

46:18.159 --> 46:20.437
take another stab at it as well . So I ,

46:20.437 --> 46:22.969
uh , my , my interpretation of range

46:22.969 --> 46:25.159
restrictions is the ability to employ

46:25.760 --> 46:28.139
the capabilities on the range , right ?

46:28.149 --> 46:29.927
To , to kind of go out and do a

46:29.927 --> 46:32.149
demonstration or an experiment , uh ,

46:32.159 --> 46:34.760
shooting down a drone . And , and just

46:34.760 --> 46:36.840
to be very frank , we , a lot of our

46:36.840 --> 46:39.639
ranges we do need to re-envision how we

46:39.639 --> 46:42.360
get , give range access , right ? So

46:42.360 --> 46:45.659
the old days of You know , I , I go put

46:45.659 --> 46:47.881
in my range request , you know , a year

46:47.881 --> 46:50.103
out , and then , you know , I just kind

46:50.103 --> 46:52.159
of waste my time . I think , I think

46:52.159 --> 46:54.270
there's an understanding , you know ,

46:54.270 --> 46:56.326
at least within my community that we

46:56.326 --> 46:58.548
need to re-envision how do we do that .

46:58.548 --> 47:00.492
So if we're promising technology ,

47:00.492 --> 47:02.659
there may be a a bump , right ? It's ,

47:02.659 --> 47:04.826
it's not helpful to anybody to have to

47:04.826 --> 47:06.992
bump anybody , but I think if you have

47:06.992 --> 47:09.048
a very promising technology that can

47:09.048 --> 47:11.110
that can . Be a game changer or a

47:11.110 --> 47:13.610
revolutionary uh capability , we , we

47:13.610 --> 47:17.489
gotta redo that and it's not a , a get

47:17.489 --> 47:19.711
in line kind of thing . We need to have

47:19.711 --> 47:21.711
a fast pass to do that . And then I

47:21.711 --> 47:23.878
think we need to also uh reimagine how

47:23.878 --> 47:26.969
do we get for above the horizon

47:26.969 --> 47:29.025
engagements , in particular with our

47:29.025 --> 47:31.136
directed energy , it's not just the .

47:31.136 --> 47:33.358
Department of Defense that has a say in

47:33.358 --> 47:35.525
it , you have the FAA , you have other

47:35.525 --> 47:37.850
external federal agencies that have a

47:37.850 --> 47:40.570
stake in that . So we need to kind of ,

47:41.179 --> 47:43.379
you know , from my perspective , there

47:43.379 --> 47:45.601
needs to be a little bit of a reimagine

47:45.601 --> 47:47.712
and we need a little bit more work on

47:47.712 --> 47:49.712
how do , how do we get better range

47:49.712 --> 47:51.823
access , um , and I think a lot of it

47:51.823 --> 47:53.990
is proving the safety measures that we

47:53.990 --> 47:55.879
have , right ? We , we know where

47:55.879 --> 47:57.823
satellites are at , we know we can

47:57.823 --> 47:59.823
mitigate that . Uh , with blank out

47:59.823 --> 48:01.935
sectors or whatever , whatever safety

48:01.935 --> 48:04.101
measure we're taking , um , and so I ,

48:04.101 --> 48:05.990
I think this is a little bit more

48:05.990 --> 48:08.157
reimagination and get out of the , the

48:08.157 --> 48:10.010
old kind of Cold War era range

48:10.340 --> 48:11.340
infrastructure .

48:15.830 --> 48:17.879
a couple of thoughts from from a

48:17.879 --> 48:20.719
program manager perspective so um it's

48:20.719 --> 48:22.886
fairly obvious there's some things you

48:22.886 --> 48:25.052
can do at Yuma or Wiser that you can't

48:25.052 --> 48:27.163
otherwise do at a smaller range , say

48:27.163 --> 48:29.330
the Redstone Test Center for example ,

48:29.330 --> 48:31.163
uh , especially when it comes to

48:31.163 --> 48:33.386
directed energy over the horizon , uh ,

48:33.386 --> 48:35.497
engagements , um , and those sorts of

48:35.497 --> 48:37.608
things , so it . It , you know , we ,

48:37.608 --> 48:39.441
we work through it with the test

48:39.441 --> 48:41.552
community . It's always a fun , a fun

48:41.552 --> 48:43.497
time , um , you always wanna leave

48:43.497 --> 48:43.300
yourself plenty of time in that test

48:43.300 --> 48:45.522
schedule because you're gonna encounter

48:45.522 --> 48:47.744
those sorts of , uh , challenges , um ,

48:47.744 --> 48:49.633
and , and , and all of that , but

48:49.633 --> 48:51.911
there's also a creativity aspect to it ,

48:51.911 --> 48:53.967
responsible creativity , um . On the

48:53.967 --> 48:56.824
p.m. side , um , a lot of what we do is ,

48:57.004 --> 48:59.226
you know , spending time on , on how to

48:59.226 --> 49:01.544
tackle a hard problem , um , given you

49:01.544 --> 49:03.544
know those obvious restraints , and

49:03.544 --> 49:05.766
there's a lot of restraints on the , on

49:05.766 --> 49:07.488
the testing side . There's the

49:07.488 --> 49:09.711
predictive avoidance piece , um , and ,

49:09.711 --> 49:11.988
and those windows have to be certified ,

49:11.988 --> 49:14.725
um , and we found a lot of success in

49:14.725 --> 49:17.229
ground to ground shots . Um , which

49:17.229 --> 49:19.340
gives you much more flexibility , and

49:19.340 --> 49:21.580
there are actually , um , techniques

49:21.580 --> 49:23.302
and there's math that help you

49:23.302 --> 49:25.469
correlate , um , a ground to ground to

49:25.469 --> 49:27.636
a ground to air shot , uh , so we look

49:27.636 --> 49:29.691
at maximizing those opportunities as

49:29.691 --> 49:31.858
much as we can , uh , to save a lot of

49:31.858 --> 49:34.149
schedule to save a lot of cost , um ,

49:34.350 --> 49:36.520
and , and because many folks you you

49:36.530 --> 49:38.586
you don't realize a ground to ground

49:38.586 --> 49:40.919
shot with a directed energy weapon . Uh ,

49:40.919 --> 49:43.030
especially a high energy laser weapon

49:43.030 --> 49:44.974
is the most difficult shot you can

49:44.974 --> 49:47.197
actually make . It's actually much more

49:47.197 --> 49:47.159
difficult than a ground to air shot

49:47.159 --> 49:49.437
because of the , the atmospherics , uh ,

49:49.437 --> 49:52.409
lower to the earth , um , so , so , you

49:52.409 --> 49:54.909
know , using that correlation , you can ,

49:55.120 --> 49:56.898
you can get pretty close to the

49:56.898 --> 49:59.080
capability of a system , um , earlier

49:59.080 --> 50:01.659
in your schedule . Um , although , you

50:01.659 --> 50:03.760
know , it's not the same as , as an

50:03.760 --> 50:06.439
above the horizon shot , um , you know ,

50:06.600 --> 50:08.711
it , it , uh , it gives you a , a , a

50:08.711 --> 50:10.767
very good idea of the performance of

50:10.767 --> 50:12.767
that high energy laser . So not too

50:12.767 --> 50:15.879
much of a , uh , uh , a challenge that

50:15.879 --> 50:17.046
you can't mitigate .

50:20.389 --> 50:22.530
Yeah , I'll just uh pile on with one

50:22.729 --> 50:25.570
other comment , you know , my mind goes

50:25.570 --> 50:27.681
in different directions , but I think

50:27.681 --> 50:29.737
about , you know , you , you need to

50:29.737 --> 50:31.570
train like you're gonna fight so

50:31.570 --> 50:33.737
exercising that muscle , going through

50:33.737 --> 50:36.360
the process of , of having to do this ,

50:36.689 --> 50:38.850
uh , whether it's , you know , in

50:38.850 --> 50:41.320
theater in combat , you still may have ,

50:41.489 --> 50:44.120
uh , friendly forces you have to look

50:44.120 --> 50:46.370
out for or friendly aircraft or other

50:46.370 --> 50:49.080
things and so . Just going through that

50:49.090 --> 50:51.034
process over and over again it's a

50:51.034 --> 50:53.090
super question , but exercising that

50:53.090 --> 50:55.423
muscle and being trained , I think , uh ,

50:55.423 --> 50:57.423
is something we need to continue to

50:57.689 --> 51:00.530
familiarize ourselves with . Uh , it's

51:00.530 --> 51:03.770
not an uncommon problem even on the

51:03.770 --> 51:07.610
kinetic side . Where in some particular

51:07.610 --> 51:09.919
cases , the munitions are , are quite

51:09.919 --> 51:12.090
expensive and soldiers don't get many

51:12.090 --> 51:14.040
opportunities to train with live

51:14.040 --> 51:16.169
munitions . They're training on

51:16.169 --> 51:18.649
trainers or simulators and , and doing

51:18.649 --> 51:20.871
home station training and those kind of

51:20.871 --> 51:22.816
things using the C2 system and the

51:22.816 --> 51:25.010
decision-making systems , um , but

51:25.010 --> 51:26.843
actually going out there and the

51:26.843 --> 51:28.788
effects you talked about , Colonel

51:28.788 --> 51:31.010
Fellini . Of uh of having some of those

51:31.010 --> 51:33.232
mixed capabilities that are things that

51:33.232 --> 51:35.454
have to be factored in , uh , again for

51:35.454 --> 51:37.566
the operators between the kinetic and

51:37.566 --> 51:39.232
and directed energy are , are

51:39.232 --> 51:41.709
phenomenal but to me , uh , the , the

51:41.709 --> 51:45.070
more you can exercise those muscles and

51:45.070 --> 51:47.292
go through the process , the the better

51:47.292 --> 51:50.169
we're all collectively gonna be . Any

51:50.169 --> 51:53.419
more from the audience here , Don ? Yes ,

51:53.580 --> 51:55.747
let me get you another one here . Uh ,

51:55.899 --> 51:58.121
could the panel compare the role of the

51:58.121 --> 52:00.860
two primary technologies for DE high

52:00.860 --> 52:03.090
power microwave and high energy , high

52:03.090 --> 52:05.979
energy laser ? And how they might work

52:05.979 --> 52:06.979
together .

52:10.489 --> 52:13.649
Absolutely , um , so you've heard a lot

52:13.649 --> 52:16.530
in this symposium about the idea of a

52:16.530 --> 52:18.929
layered defense , right ? And that

52:18.929 --> 52:21.290
there is no silver bullet , right ?

52:21.370 --> 52:24.649
There's no one factor that is going to

52:24.649 --> 52:28.120
be , um , solve all of our problems .

52:28.810 --> 52:31.409
So typically with high energy lasers ,

52:31.530 --> 52:33.752
right , you're looking at getting after

52:33.752 --> 52:35.919
the , the far-reaching threats , the ,

52:35.919 --> 52:38.141
the one-offs that are , are really hard

52:38.141 --> 52:40.363
to get after . Um , and those are gonna

52:40.363 --> 52:42.419
be , you know , at distances further

52:42.419 --> 52:44.363
out than high-power microwaves can

52:44.363 --> 52:46.586
usually get to . Um , and then the high

52:46.586 --> 52:48.474
power microwaves are , are really

52:48.474 --> 52:50.697
important on that , that inner layer of

52:50.697 --> 52:53.100
defense , right ? And ensuring that you ,

52:53.209 --> 52:56.659
you can deny that airspace , um , for

52:56.659 --> 52:58.770
anything that comes closer , and that

52:58.770 --> 53:00.826
includes swarms , right ? High power

53:00.826 --> 53:03.048
microwaves are , are much better suited

53:03.048 --> 53:05.159
to get after the swarm problem , um ,

53:05.159 --> 53:07.270
than high energy lasers . So when you

53:07.270 --> 53:09.437
combine those two effectors together ,

53:09.580 --> 53:12.409
you have a pretty formidable defense ,

53:12.780 --> 53:15.459
um , against a bunch of , uh , aerial

53:15.459 --> 53:16.459
threats .

53:22.479 --> 53:25.610
OK , I think we'll , uh , Maybe pause

53:25.610 --> 53:27.832
there . Have you got just one more that

53:27.832 --> 53:30.054
we can rapidly get to , Don , or I know

53:30.054 --> 53:32.166
we've got some , uh , tight things on

53:32.166 --> 53:34.499
the back end . Let me , let me ask this .

53:36.949 --> 53:40.290
Mr . Gerty . What are the key focus

53:40.290 --> 53:42.969
areas for scaling to production that

53:42.969 --> 53:44.969
you are focused on to get these DE

53:44.969 --> 53:46.913
systems into the hands of more war

53:46.913 --> 53:49.330
fighters ? Oh gosh , uh , thank you for

53:49.330 --> 53:51.330
that question . I think , uh , it's

53:51.330 --> 53:53.219
what we spend every waking minute

53:53.219 --> 53:55.399
thinking about , um , in our industry

53:55.899 --> 53:58.560
um it's a multi it's a multi-le fight ,

53:58.570 --> 54:01.100
so , uh , scaling and I and I love what

54:01.100 --> 54:03.322
Colonel Miller was saying earlier about

54:03.322 --> 54:05.489
the construct of the enduring solution

54:05.489 --> 54:07.544
where we both on the industry and on

54:07.544 --> 54:09.378
the government side fully expect

54:09.378 --> 54:11.530
directed energy to to go up like a

54:11.530 --> 54:13.141
hockey stick from the demand

54:13.141 --> 54:15.086
perspective as well as the need to

54:15.086 --> 54:17.197
field these systems rapidly . And not

54:17.197 --> 54:19.030
any single component or material

54:19.030 --> 54:21.250
supplier is probably situated to to

54:21.250 --> 54:23.850
meet that demand today and so our focus

54:23.850 --> 54:26.072
has been on building that coalition and

54:26.072 --> 54:28.239
team to back into what the the richter

54:28.239 --> 54:30.461
has really laid out um from an industry

54:30.461 --> 54:32.517
perspective to make sure that we are

54:32.517 --> 54:34.572
ready to actually be producing these

54:34.572 --> 54:36.628
systems at scale and at volume and a

54:36.628 --> 54:38.128
lot of that has to do with

54:38.128 --> 54:40.128
multi-sourcing qualifying suppliers

54:40.128 --> 54:42.530
designing systems that have mature ICDs

54:42.530 --> 54:44.363
and backing into the work that .

54:44.363 --> 54:46.586
Richters already already put forward to

54:46.586 --> 54:48.697
make sure we're actually able to meet

54:48.697 --> 54:50.586
that demand curve , um , and then

54:50.586 --> 54:52.808
second to that is , and again to hit on

54:52.808 --> 54:52.469
some of the earlier topics we covered ,

54:52.760 --> 54:54.760
making sure that as we're designing

54:54.760 --> 54:56.927
these systems , it's not designed in a

54:56.927 --> 54:58.760
vacuum and so all of the lessons

54:58.760 --> 55:00.982
learned , I think we tallied up in some

55:00.982 --> 55:03.149
of our recent PMRs with General Rash .

55:03.149 --> 55:05.316
There are thousands of lessons learned

55:05.316 --> 55:07.093
from the last . 3 or 4 years of

55:07.093 --> 55:09.204
deploying these prototypes and making

55:09.204 --> 55:10.982
sure that those actually are uh

55:10.982 --> 55:13.149
incorporated into these future designs

55:13.149 --> 55:13.110
so as we're meeting that scalability

55:13.110 --> 55:15.379
curve , we're also making sure to not

55:15.379 --> 55:17.379
repeat some of the scar tissue that

55:17.379 --> 55:19.157
we've seen in the past so we're

55:19.157 --> 55:21.157
juggling a lot of those saucers and

55:21.157 --> 55:22.990
again I really have to thank the

55:22.990 --> 55:25.046
industry coalition that's been uh uh

55:25.046 --> 55:27.268
behind these prototypes today . And the

55:27.268 --> 55:29.490
future prototypes , uh , that we're all

55:29.490 --> 55:28.899
looking forward to see , uh , fielded

55:28.899 --> 55:31.066
here soon , but also to our government

55:31.066 --> 55:33.177
partners because I think that they're

55:33.177 --> 55:35.343
the ones that are not only pushing and

55:35.343 --> 55:37.288
driving us to meet that production

55:37.288 --> 55:39.455
curve 10 plus a year , but also making

55:39.455 --> 55:41.788
sure that we're in a position that . Uh ,

55:41.788 --> 55:43.899
when these systems get turned over to

55:43.899 --> 55:43.699
the soldier , it's not a question of

55:43.699 --> 55:45.866
will they work , it's when they work .

55:45.866 --> 55:47.977
So I think production scalability has

55:47.977 --> 55:50.143
been a big focus for us collectively ,

55:50.143 --> 55:52.255
and I think I'll open up to any other

55:52.255 --> 55:54.310
panelists for any of the things that

55:54.310 --> 55:53.699
we've missed , but that's what's been

55:53.699 --> 55:55.366
keeping me up at night , so .

55:59.010 --> 56:00.788
All right . Well , I , I really

56:00.788 --> 56:03.010
appreciate , uh , the questions and the

56:03.010 --> 56:05.232
interchange amongst the panel members .

56:05.232 --> 56:07.399
Um , I wanted to leave a little bit of

56:07.399 --> 56:09.621
time just for final thoughts or closing

56:09.621 --> 56:11.954
comments from each of the panel members .

56:11.954 --> 56:14.121
So , Doctor Mason , maybe we can start

56:14.121 --> 56:17.659
with you this time . So I

56:17.659 --> 56:19.659
really appreciate the questions and

56:19.659 --> 56:21.881
getting the opportunity to kind of talk

56:21.881 --> 56:24.179
through things today , um .

56:25.979 --> 56:28.860
Directed energy is here . Right , it is

56:28.860 --> 56:31.139
currently being fielded from an

56:31.139 --> 56:34.040
operational standpoint . However , it's

56:34.040 --> 56:36.389
very important that we as a community ,

56:37.479 --> 56:39.510
um , don't let directed energy get

56:39.510 --> 56:42.040
stagnant , and there's a lot of work

56:42.040 --> 56:44.379
that what we're doing right now is

56:44.379 --> 56:47.399
preparing directed energy for the next

56:47.399 --> 56:50.120
wave , the next threat , the next big

56:50.120 --> 56:54.000
technical innovation . So a lot of

56:54.000 --> 56:57.120
what you've heard today is taking the

56:57.120 --> 56:59.120
lessons that we've learned from the

56:59.120 --> 57:02.899
operational systems . And making sure

57:03.550 --> 57:06.870
that um we are working

57:06.949 --> 57:10.229
towards um continuing to maintain

57:10.229 --> 57:12.540
overmatch against a very aggressive

57:12.540 --> 57:15.739
pacing threat . Um ,

57:16.139 --> 57:18.820
so , in , in , from my perspective , I ,

57:18.939 --> 57:20.772
I think it's really important to

57:20.772 --> 57:23.129
realize that across the different

57:23.129 --> 57:25.129
organizations , you have a panel of

57:25.129 --> 57:27.570
four very diverse perspectives on DE

57:27.860 --> 57:29.749
and this community has never been

57:29.749 --> 57:31.860
closer and never been more tight knit

57:31.860 --> 57:35.439
in terms of ensuring that we , um ,

57:35.699 --> 57:38.360
advance this technology . Uh , so I

57:38.360 --> 57:40.582
encourage you to get involved , right ,

57:40.582 --> 57:42.489
and be part of that innovation ,

57:42.729 --> 57:45.560
innovative change , um , that we are

57:45.560 --> 57:47.560
moving towards with directed energy

57:47.560 --> 57:51.540
weapons . Thank you . Awesome . Uh ,

57:51.800 --> 57:53.879
again , thank you so much for , for

57:53.879 --> 57:56.046
everyone attending today . I think the

57:56.046 --> 57:58.157
directed energy roller coaster , um ,

57:58.157 --> 58:00.268
and has been a ride of a lifetime for

58:00.268 --> 58:02.379
all of us and then we're meeting with

58:02.379 --> 58:04.268
one of our , uh , PMs yesterday ,

58:04.268 --> 58:06.490
Colonel Thompson . And one of the , the

58:06.490 --> 58:08.657
quotes that came to mind is , uh , the

58:08.657 --> 58:10.768
greats do not forego , uh , that what

58:10.768 --> 58:10.419
is important for that what is urgent

58:10.419 --> 58:12.586
and I love what you just said , Doctor

58:12.586 --> 58:14.697
Mason innovation is key . Not only do

58:14.697 --> 58:16.641
we have to focus on delivering the

58:16.641 --> 58:18.808
prototypes that we need to today , but

58:18.808 --> 58:20.697
also focusing on the fight of the

58:20.697 --> 58:22.863
future and continually to to challenge

58:22.863 --> 58:22.820
ourselves on the industry side and .

58:23.185 --> 58:25.407
Making sure that we're focusing on that

58:25.407 --> 58:27.241
innovation , so we're constantly

58:27.241 --> 58:29.407
planning for the fight of the future .

58:29.407 --> 58:31.352
Directed energy is really the only

58:31.352 --> 58:33.352
scalable solution that I see on the

58:33.352 --> 58:35.463
industry side to meet this pacing the

58:35.463 --> 58:37.518
demand signal that we're seeing from

58:37.518 --> 58:39.629
just the fights across the globe . So

58:39.629 --> 58:41.629
it's been a great opportunity to be

58:41.629 --> 58:41.175
here today . I'm excited to represent

58:41.175 --> 58:43.735
that industry coalition and , uh , and

58:43.735 --> 58:45.068
thank you all so much .

58:48.729 --> 58:50.879
From a from a prototyping perspective

58:50.879 --> 58:52.990
with the enduring high energy laser ,

58:53.449 --> 58:57.370
we are attempting to um uh design

58:57.370 --> 59:00.270
the complexity out of these systems and ,

59:00.330 --> 59:02.689
and we're using our previous deployed

59:02.689 --> 59:04.909
systems , uh , our previous uh

59:04.909 --> 59:07.020
delivered systems to help do that and

59:07.020 --> 59:09.131
all of the data that we have gathered

59:09.131 --> 59:11.439
to date to do that . Uh , and then

59:11.439 --> 59:14.360
quickly , um , those , all of that data

59:14.360 --> 59:16.527
sort of falls into one of four areas ,

59:16.527 --> 59:18.304
right ? Uh , from a sustainment

59:18.304 --> 59:20.719
perspective , uh , we want soldiers to

59:20.719 --> 59:23.169
have that right to repair . We want

59:23.169 --> 59:25.280
soldiers to be able to maintain their

59:25.280 --> 59:27.739
equipment in these austere conditions ,

59:28.090 --> 59:31.449
uh , and so to that end we are looking

59:31.449 --> 59:34.060
at designing line replaceable units ,

59:34.449 --> 59:36.560
um , and these line replaceable units

59:36.560 --> 59:40.030
are what we expect , uh , the , the

59:40.030 --> 59:42.570
laser providers to actually manufacture

59:42.570 --> 59:45.639
we're looking . At a system that is ,

59:45.969 --> 59:48.919
uh , open interface , uh , and that is ,

59:48.949 --> 59:51.870
is , uh , uh , the best , the best from

59:51.870 --> 59:53.870
a subsystem perspective . So that's

59:53.870 --> 59:56.092
gonna help us on the second piece which

59:56.092 --> 59:58.426
is how do you manufacture these systems ,

59:58.426 --> 01:00:00.648
um , how do we make more than one ? How

01:00:00.648 --> 01:00:02.870
do we get out of prototyping and really

01:00:02.870 --> 01:00:05.510
push production of high energy lasers ,

01:00:06.110 --> 01:00:08.332
uh , and so that that'll help us , uh ,

01:00:08.332 --> 01:00:10.388
on that front because if you look at

01:00:10.388 --> 01:00:12.554
our previous prototypes . There are no

01:00:12.554 --> 01:00:14.840
two that are exactly the same . There

01:00:14.840 --> 01:00:16.562
may be a different camera or a

01:00:16.562 --> 01:00:19.199
different CCA board or or something

01:00:19.199 --> 01:00:21.830
else , but , but manufacturability

01:00:22.570 --> 01:00:24.514
requires quality control , quality

01:00:24.514 --> 01:00:26.514
assurance , and we think we can get

01:00:26.514 --> 01:00:28.626
there at the subsystem level building

01:00:28.626 --> 01:00:30.737
into the system . The second piece of

01:00:30.737 --> 01:00:32.737
that is . Um , the interoperability

01:00:32.737 --> 01:00:34.959
piece , making these systems as modular

01:00:34.959 --> 01:00:37.070
as possible . So in the past with our

01:00:37.070 --> 01:00:39.126
previous systems , we've asked laser

01:00:39.126 --> 01:00:41.510
providers to be vehicle integrators .

01:00:41.860 --> 01:00:43.749
Uh , what we've done now with the

01:00:43.749 --> 01:00:45.860
enduring high energy laser is we have

01:00:46.020 --> 01:00:48.659
We have decoupled the vehicle from the

01:00:48.659 --> 01:00:51.260
laser . So the laser or the or the

01:00:51.260 --> 01:00:53.204
vehicle rather is no longer on the

01:00:53.204 --> 01:00:55.427
critical path . So if the army wants to

01:00:55.427 --> 01:00:58.570
put it on a robot or a striker or a JAL

01:00:58.570 --> 01:01:00.403
TV , it doesn't , there are some

01:01:00.403 --> 01:01:02.348
modifications we'll have to make ,

01:01:02.348 --> 01:01:04.126
obviously there'll be some swap

01:01:04.126 --> 01:01:06.014
considerations , we'll have to do

01:01:06.014 --> 01:01:05.780
center of gravity , all of those

01:01:05.780 --> 01:01:07.860
important things , but the design is

01:01:07.860 --> 01:01:09.916
already inherent in the laser and so

01:01:09.916 --> 01:01:11.749
that's the important piece there

01:01:11.749 --> 01:01:14.027
because you can manufacture those , um .

01:01:14.239 --> 01:01:16.379
So lethality , producibility ,

01:01:16.459 --> 01:01:18.681
sustainability , and interoperability .

01:01:18.681 --> 01:01:21.169
I think just to close in on my comments ,

01:01:21.540 --> 01:01:24.219
in the past with our 17 systems we had

01:01:24.219 --> 01:01:26.510
proprietary designs . We're moving

01:01:26.510 --> 01:01:28.750
toward open interface designs , uh ,

01:01:28.820 --> 01:01:31.042
and those ICDs will be available in the

01:01:31.042 --> 01:01:33.264
next 60 days , so we invite industry to

01:01:33.264 --> 01:01:35.320
reach out to Richto , uh , and be on

01:01:35.320 --> 01:01:37.431
the lookout for those ICDs as well as

01:01:37.431 --> 01:01:39.340
an updated , uh , broad agency

01:01:39.340 --> 01:01:41.850
announcement . Uh , the second piece is

01:01:41.850 --> 01:01:44.409
in the past we've been , uh , focused

01:01:44.409 --> 01:01:47.820
on the assembly of parts , right ? High

01:01:47.820 --> 01:01:50.100
energy laser vendors have gathered as

01:01:50.100 --> 01:01:52.211
many optics and specialized equipment

01:01:52.211 --> 01:01:54.209
as they can and assembled that in

01:01:54.209 --> 01:01:56.153
preparation to build a prototype .

01:01:56.153 --> 01:01:58.989
We're moving toward manufacturing ,

01:01:59.290 --> 01:02:00.901
right , which is a different

01:02:00.901 --> 01:02:02.512
methodology and designed for

01:02:02.512 --> 01:02:04.734
manufacturing . Uh , and then thirdly ,

01:02:04.734 --> 01:02:07.139
expensive sustainment toward soldier

01:02:07.139 --> 01:02:09.949
right to repair sustainment LRUs , um ,

01:02:10.030 --> 01:02:12.197
and if you take anything away from the

01:02:12.197 --> 01:02:14.474
enduring high energy laser piece today ,

01:02:14.474 --> 01:02:16.419
I think that's , those are the big

01:02:16.419 --> 01:02:18.697
nuggets . Um , so appreciate your time .

01:02:18.697 --> 01:02:20.752
Thank you very much . Yeah , no , no

01:02:20.752 --> 01:02:22.989
thanks , Adam . Um , so just to recap ,

01:02:23.090 --> 01:02:25.370
kind of from my perspective , right ,

01:02:25.469 --> 01:02:27.469
the , the threat's not going away .

01:02:27.770 --> 01:02:30.399
This is the new IED threat of the 21st

01:02:30.399 --> 01:02:32.677
century , and it's only getting harder ,

01:02:32.810 --> 01:02:34.588
right ? Because it's in the 3rd

01:02:34.588 --> 01:02:38.399
dimension , um , and , uh . DE is not

01:02:38.399 --> 01:02:40.850
the , the , the silver bullet , but it

01:02:40.850 --> 01:02:43.290
is a significant contributor to how we

01:02:43.290 --> 01:02:45.610
can employ and be more effective on the

01:02:45.610 --> 01:02:47.332
battlefield from a war fighter

01:02:47.332 --> 01:02:49.820
perspective . Um , there are , there's

01:02:49.820 --> 01:02:51.820
a ton of excitement for where we're

01:02:51.820 --> 01:02:53.987
going on , uh , what's going on in the

01:02:53.987 --> 01:02:56.264
material development , uh , space . So ,

01:02:56.264 --> 01:02:58.487
as , you know , I , I talked to Adam in

01:02:58.487 --> 01:03:00.598
the , in the Richter team and the PEO

01:03:00.598 --> 01:03:02.820
missiles space team . One of the things

01:03:02.820 --> 01:03:04.820
that I always remind him is , hey ,

01:03:04.820 --> 01:03:06.653
this weapon system has got to be

01:03:06.653 --> 01:03:08.939
repaired by a 19 year old in the mud ,

01:03:09.060 --> 01:03:11.699
in the rain , in the snow , and we

01:03:11.699 --> 01:03:14.580
can't afford to have a huge logistics

01:03:14.580 --> 01:03:17.500
tail like a level 2 clean room to to

01:03:17.500 --> 01:03:19.699
support that at the tactical edge . So

01:03:19.699 --> 01:03:22.260
as we continue to develop and and .

01:03:23.169 --> 01:03:25.689
Design these capabilities , um , that's

01:03:25.689 --> 01:03:27.800
something I always talk to Adam about

01:03:27.800 --> 01:03:29.800
just to make sure that , you know ,

01:03:29.800 --> 01:03:31.800
we're keeping our , our 19 year old

01:03:31.800 --> 01:03:33.856
sons and daughters in mind on that .

01:03:33.856 --> 01:03:36.022
And then , What Adam brought up , uh ,

01:03:36.022 --> 01:03:37.967
is this , the sled concept or what

01:03:37.967 --> 01:03:40.189
we're calling a sled concept . So we do

01:03:40.189 --> 01:03:42.522
have that capability of interchangeable ,

01:03:42.522 --> 01:03:44.522
uh , capabilities , right ? Whether

01:03:44.522 --> 01:03:46.770
it's a striker , a JLTV or an ISV , we

01:03:46.770 --> 01:03:48.659
want to get to a point where it's

01:03:48.659 --> 01:03:50.826
platforming , it's platform agnostic ,

01:03:50.889 --> 01:03:52.820
but we're payload , we're payload

01:03:52.820 --> 01:03:55.042
specific , right ? Uh , and then how do

01:03:55.042 --> 01:03:56.987
those payloads integrate with each

01:03:56.987 --> 01:03:59.010
other to provide that range of

01:03:59.010 --> 01:04:02.919
capabilities . Um , and then The last

01:04:02.919 --> 01:04:04.919
thing I just , I , I , I think it's

01:04:04.919 --> 01:04:06.863
important that we highlight is the

01:04:06.863 --> 01:04:09.030
material development is only one piece

01:04:09.030 --> 01:04:10.919
of this , right ? So there may be

01:04:10.919 --> 01:04:13.520
partners out and at this , at this uh

01:04:13.520 --> 01:04:15.949
symposium that are not in the directed

01:04:15.949 --> 01:04:18.060
energy laser space but they're in the

01:04:18.060 --> 01:04:20.899
AI enabled decision aid space , right ?

01:04:20.959 --> 01:04:24.530
Or they're in the um They're in a , uh ,

01:04:24.540 --> 01:04:26.540
a cognitive space that will help us

01:04:26.540 --> 01:04:29.020
lessen the cognitive burden on this .

01:04:29.060 --> 01:04:31.227
So as , as we're talking , it's , it's

01:04:31.227 --> 01:04:34.379
truly a , a holistic enterprise

01:04:34.379 --> 01:04:36.490
approach that we need to take to this

01:04:36.490 --> 01:04:38.490
to make sure that we're making it .

01:04:38.490 --> 01:04:41.760
Very simple , very cognitively , uh ,

01:04:41.919 --> 01:04:44.510
less taxing on our soldiers , and it

01:04:44.510 --> 01:04:46.566
could be done , it could be repaired

01:04:46.566 --> 01:04:48.621
and employed in a very simple manner

01:04:48.621 --> 01:04:50.843
and achieve the effects that we need to

01:04:50.843 --> 01:04:52.899
achieve on the battlefield , uh , to

01:04:52.899 --> 01:04:54.899
take down this emerging threat . So

01:04:54.899 --> 01:04:57.419
thank you . Uh , let me just say thanks

01:04:57.419 --> 01:04:59.308
to all the panel members for your

01:04:59.308 --> 01:05:01.530
thoughtful comments and for your , uh ,

01:05:01.530 --> 01:05:03.641
dedication and , and time and work in

01:05:03.641 --> 01:05:05.641
these , uh , problems and more than

01:05:05.641 --> 01:05:07.820
just problems but bring in , uh , new

01:05:07.820 --> 01:05:10.080
war fighting capability and new , new

01:05:10.080 --> 01:05:12.550
tools into the tool kit and no weapon

01:05:12.550 --> 01:05:15.500
system is perfect ever and , uh , I

01:05:15.500 --> 01:05:17.611
think sometimes we , as we go through

01:05:17.611 --> 01:05:19.722
test and development programs , we go

01:05:19.722 --> 01:05:21.944
to these extremes and we , and we think

01:05:21.944 --> 01:05:24.111
that , uh . You know , we're not gonna

01:05:24.111 --> 01:05:26.333
get what we need out of it ever , but ,

01:05:26.333 --> 01:05:29.929
um , I'm always a proponent for uh more

01:05:29.929 --> 01:05:32.969
weapons are better than less as , as

01:05:32.969 --> 01:05:34.913
long as we're not overwhelming the

01:05:34.913 --> 01:05:37.025
force and the more complimentary type

01:05:37.025 --> 01:05:39.770
capabilities to make it more complex on

01:05:39.770 --> 01:05:42.280
the enemy's side than it is on our side ,

01:05:42.699 --> 01:05:44.790
uh , is always good so I I really

01:05:44.790 --> 01:05:46.957
appreciate the team and the comments ,

01:05:46.957 --> 01:05:49.179
Colonel Miller , Colonel Paini , Doctor

01:05:49.179 --> 01:05:51.401
Mason . And , uh , Mr . Garrity , I , I

01:05:51.401 --> 01:05:53.290
really appreciate you guys , uh ,

01:05:53.290 --> 01:05:55.346
working this with us and joining the

01:05:55.346 --> 01:05:55.239
panel today if you guys would give them

01:05:55.239 --> 01:05:56.461
a round of applause .

01:06:04.090 --> 01:06:06.201
Thank you , panelists . We appreciate

01:06:06.201 --> 01:06:08.423
it . Thank you , Barry , for moderating

01:06:08.423 --> 01:06:10.368
today . um , in your honor , we're

01:06:10.368 --> 01:06:12.479
going to , uh , provide a donation to

01:06:12.479 --> 01:06:14.646
still serving veterans , uh , for your

01:06:14.646 --> 01:06:16.812
participation today in your honor . So

01:06:16.812 --> 01:06:18.312
thank you so much for your

01:06:18.312 --> 01:06:20.312
participation . Thank you , Barry ,

01:06:20.312 --> 01:06:22.368
again . Uh , we will adjourn for the

01:06:22.368 --> 01:06:24.590
morning session . We'll head to lunch .

01:06:24.590 --> 01:06:26.757
Lunch will start , uh , promptly at 12

01:06:26.757 --> 01:06:28.179
noon . And