Organizational decisions, policies still under review for NAVAIR Rapid Capabilities Office

The establishment of a Naval Air Warfare Rapid Capabilities Office is still under way, after being included in the fiscal year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act.

The RCO will be headed by an executive oversight board made up of the vice chief of naval operations, the Marine Corps assistant commandant, the Navy assistant secretary for research, development and acquisition and the commander of Naval Air Systems Command, according to a Navy spokesperson.

The office has not yet been stood up and pursuant to this taking place, “specific organizational decisions and policies are currently under review by the commander of the Naval Air Systems Command,” the spokesperson added.

According to language in the FY-24 NDAA, the office will fulfill naval and joint military operational requirements by identifying and rapidly developing “a new naval aviation weapons and airborne electronic warfare capabilities, innovative applications for existing naval aviation weapons and airborne electronic warfare capabilities, and other innovative solutions to enhance the effectiveness of naval aviation weapons and airborne electronic warfare capabilities.”

The RCO will also complete “rapid experimentation, development, testing and fielding of unclassified and classified naval aviation weapons and airborne electronic warfare capabilities,” according to the NDAA.