CAMP DAWSON, W.Va. –(*26*) In the mountains of West Virginia, the long run of navy protection towards chemical, organic, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats took heart stage because the Joint Science and Technology Office (JSTO) hosted the Science & Technology CBRN-Capability Operational User Trial 2026 (SCOUT 26), a big and informative discipline experiment.From March 20 to 26, greater than 100 members of the Joint Forces, main scientists, and business specialists converged to check and consider chopping-edge applied sciences in practical, peer-menace situations.
This 12 months’s train aimed to strengthen biodefense and deterrence, particularly for the INDOPACOM area. The occasion had three predominant elements: massive-scale discipline situations to check capabilities in actual-world settings, a targeted experiment to develop fast diagnostic instruments for frontline medical assist, and a showcase for brand new applied sciences the place customers might give fast suggestions. This three-half strategy helps JSTO discover new concepts, take a look at essential ideas, and supply helpful suggestions to speed up the deployment of new instruments to the navy.
Joel Schleicher, theProgram Managerfor SCOUT 26 at JSTO, known as the occasion a giant step ahead for protection innovation. “We have moved beyond a simple technology showcase,” Schleicher defined. “SCOUT is now a thorough experimentation campaign designed to scout promising technologies, assess their integration potential, and provide the data-driven insights needed to accelerate the entire capability pipeline. Our goal is to assess next-gen technologies that will make our response faster and more decisive.”
A key half of SCOUT 26 was three dwell situations during which warfighters participated in difficult discipline workout routines utilizing 18 superior prototypes. These workout routines simulated actual threats, akin to a drone dropping an unknown chemical on a provide level, radiological hazards used to dam motion, and a posh CBRN assault on a mock U.S. port.
“It’s a big deal to get to touch new technology at this stage,” stated Staff Sergeant Christopher Kingham with the 56 CRC from Fort Campbell, Kentucky. “We can give this feedback to the techs that are working on this equipment. So, when it gets back to us, you can see that they listen.” Kingham additionally appreciated working with different branches, saying, “No other training exercise I’ve done has been like this one so far. We’ve been able to collaborate with the other services that are here.”
At the identical time because the situations, a crew ran a targeted experiment on battlefield medication. Fifteen specialists from the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) and different skilled teams labored to create a PCR-primarily based diagnostic take a look at for a brand new biothreat in lower than 10 hours. This experiment exhibits whether or not it’s potential to make customized, on-demand diagnostics within the discipline, which might assist keep away from harmful delays in sending samples and provides.
“The ability to have diagnostic tools far forward without having to reach back to CONUS, which may not be possible, is significant,” stated U.S. Army Lt. Col. Brandon Pybus, a biochemist with the Army’s 1st Global Field Medical Laboratory, as he mentioned the worth of having medical diagnostics obtainable within the discipline. “It is a real enabler for commanders because they’ll have that information to make force protection decisions. This frees up the forces for movement, maneuver, power projection, etc.”
The third half of the marketing campaign, known as the “Concepts Crucible,” gave warfighters the chance to offer direct suggestions on 16 new and early-stage applied sciences. Researchers and builders offered early-stage ideas and obtained essential consumer enter lengthy earlier than main funding selections are made. The applied sciences included a chip-primarily based scent-detection system that works like a mammal’s nostril to detect airborne chemical threats, and a “BioDome” idea that might create actual-time medical countermeasures towards CBRN threats within the discipline.
The week ended with a Distinguished Visitor Day, throughout which senior leaders from the Department of War and different authorities companies noticed the experiments and spoke with individuals. The occasion supplied a giant-image view of the applied sciences and the helpful information they produce, exhibiting how SCOUT helps information essential navy efforts and meets key wants.
Dr. Robert Kristovich, Director of the Joint Science and Technology Office on the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, summed up the week by highlighting the occasion’s strategic significance.
“SCOUT 26 embodies our mandate to deliver capability at the speed of relevance,” Dr. Kristovich acknowledged. “What we witnessed here at Camp Dawson wasn’t merely a test of technology, but a powerful demonstration of collaboration. By bringing warfighters, scientists, and industry partners together into this innovation ecosystem, we are not only de-risking future investments but are actively forging the tools that will ensure our nation’s dominance and safety against any CBRN threat, anywhere in the world. The actionable data and direct user feedback generated this week will accelerate our efforts for years to come.”