Work
Work That Ships.
From a SBIR award to a 605-unit fleet: here's how six DES programs went from concept to fielded hardware, challenge, approach, and outcome included.
Every program left the building; to a unit, a test range, or a partner integrator. We've broken out the challenge, the approach, and the outcome for each one. Names or classified details, by design. Just the work.
Armor & Survivability
Armored Systems Built for Active Theater.
The challenge
A theater-bound platform needed up-armoring that met survivability requirements without exceeding the program timeline.
The approach
DES carried the program from engineering through fabrication entirely in-house — structural analysis, armor integration, and assembly under one roof, with no handoff between design and production.
outcome
Delivered to spec, on schedule, and fielded to protect the people who need it most.
Advanced Manufacturing
Manufacturing Capability, Forward Deployed.
The challenge
Navy EOD operations needed manufacturing capability that could travel with the mission, not sit in a fixed facility back home.
The approach
DES designed and built custom additive manufacturing containers — a deployable production line that goes wherever the mission goes.
outcome
Forward-deployed manufacturing capability supporting Navy EOD operations in the field.
Systems Integration
Autonomous Integration. Fort Bragg Tested.
The challenge
Emerging autonomous technology needed a platform that could make it actually work under real operational conditions, not just in a lab.
The approach
DES built custom integration platforms purpose-designed to carry and support autonomous systems through field testing.
outcome
Validated integration of autonomous technology in a real operational test environment.
SBIR · Survivability
Blast Mitigation, From SBIR to Fielded Kit.
The challenge
The Army needed to adapt a proven, generic Active Blast Mitigation System (ABMS) integration approach into a fully compliant solution for a specific platform: the MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle (MATV).
The approach
After completing SBIR Phase I and a Phase I Option, DES was awarded a Phase II contract to adapt the generic ABMS integration design for the MATV, including modeling and simulation (M&S) and a Level 2 Technical Data Package (TDP).
outcome
A relatively low-cost, lightweight vehicle upgrade kit designed to improve blast survivability for MATV crews.
SBIR · Power Systems
Solid-State Power for Army Aviation.
The challenge
Modern Army aviation platforms needed advanced power management capable of switching electrical loads on and off quickly and reliably, without pilot input, to keep pace with growing platform and payload demands.
The approach
DES won a direct-to-Phase-II SBIR award to develop and demonstrate solid-state circuit breaker technology for Army aviation, partnering with UEC Electronics to apply solid-state switching technology already proven on Marine Corps vehicle platforms.
outcome
A demonstrated solid-state circuit breaker technology positioned to modernize power management on Army aviation platforms.
Rapid Scaling
605 Units.
Months, Not Years.
Months, Not Years.
The challenge
A robotic breaching capability needed to go from a single concept to a fielded fleet fast enough to matter operationally — without the multi-year timeline that capability usually takes.
The approach
DES carried the trailer program from concept through production scale-up, owning engineering and fabrication under one roof to compress the timeline.
outcome
Concept to overseas deployment in a matter of months, supporting force protection operations in theater.
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