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JIFX promotes experimentation in alternative methods toenable rapid technological development by cultivating a community of interestand hosting broadly scoped quarterly collaborative field events. JIFX enablesDoD, US government, and allied stakeholders to identify, influence, andaccelerate early-stage technology development that address national andcollective security challenges.
By utilizing the space at the NPS Field Experimentation Laboratoryat Camp Roberts, JIFX offers ample open space for ground experimentation, arange, an advanced Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) site, and over40 square miles of restricted air space with a 15,000 foot ceiling for unmannedaerial system experimentation. In addition, the event offers opportunities toreceive feedback from government stakeholders, as well as adversarial radio andcyber assessments provided by the Joint Vulnerability Assessment Branch.
For over twenty years NPS field experimentation hasserved as a testbed that accelerates and de-risks emerging technologies. Fromtesting of early predators drones in the 1990s to the development ofmission-critical systems like Institu’s ScanEagle and Persistent System’shigh-bandwidth mesh networks, the program has accelerated the maturation ofnumerous defense and commercial technologies.
By utilizing an open and collaborative technology testbed, JIFX seeks to accelerate and de-risk emerging technologies.
17 NOV 2025 to 5 JAN 2026 – JIFX 26-2 Submissions open
5 JAN 2026 to 23 JAN 2026 – Government review
After 23 JAN 2026 – Final approvals and planning
Coordination calls will be held every wednesday for 30 days prior to the start of JIFX 26-2.
5 January 2026
Q: What is the NPS Joint Interagency Field Experimentation (JIFX) event?
A: Hosted by the Naval Postgraduate School is a quarterly collaborative field event that cultivates a community of interest to promote rapid technological development. It provides a fail-friendly environment with very low overhead, allowing experimenters to design and execute tests without the heavy bureaucracy of typical exercises. For organizations driving naval innovation, like FLEETWERX, JIFX serves as a critical testbed to accelerate early-stage technologies that address national security challenges.
Q: What kind of testing environments are available for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and maritime tech?
A: The NPS Field Experimentation Laboratory at Camp Roberts offers expansive facilities tailored for multi-domain testing. Experimenters have access to:
Q: How do I submit an experiment proposal, and what is the review process?
A: Technologists can submit an experiment proposal directly on the JIFX website.
Q: What are the regulatory requirements for transmitting radio frequencies (RF) or flying at the event?
A: While JIFX provides excellent spectrum management and air operations support, participants must meet specific compliance standards:
Q: How does participating in JIFX position my technology for defense transition and opportunities like FAR contracts or OTA agreements?
A: For over twenty years, the program has accelerated the maturation of numerous defense and commercial technologies, from early Predator drones to persistent mesh networks. JIFX provides direct opportunities to receive feedback from DoD, US government, and allied stakeholders. Additionally, experimenters can opt into adversarial radio and cyber assessments provided by the Joint Vulnerability Assessment Branch to harden their systems. This rigorous, real-world testing environment provides the validated performance data often required to successfully compete for a Navy OTA or broader defense contract.
https://nps.edu/web/fx/experiment-proposal
