From R&D to Readiness: Navigating Technology Transitions with the Naval Power and Energy Systems Technology Development Roadmap

Abstract

"Power and energy will remain fundamental to maintaining the U.S. Navy’s decisive maritime advantage, enabling advanced sensors, electronic warfare, directed-energy weapons, resilient power and propulsion systems, and operationally dominant integrated combat system capabilities. In an increasingly competitive and rapidly evolving threat environment, the Navy will chart a course to strengthen today’s Fleet and accelerate capability delivery for next-generation surface ships and systems. The Naval Power and Energy Systems Technology Development Roadmap (NPES TDR) should serve as a strategic mechanism to synchronize research and development (R&D) across the acquisition community, ensuring that emerging capabilities will mature in lock step with the operational requirements. By applying insights from established roadmapping theory, this paper demonstrates how the next NPES TDR should guide gap analyses, stakeholder collaboration, and iterative technology readiness evaluations. Through an illustrative case study, a laser weapon system, part of the Navy’s solid-state laser technology maturation effort, it explains how the roadmap could streamline technology transition timelines, minimize risk, and align with complex budget cycles. The analysis also addresses enduring challenges, such as bridging the extended expected service life of naval platforms. Concluding with targeted recommendation—such as conducting regular roadmap updates, adopting scenario-based planning, and deepening public-private partnerships—this paper asserts that technology roadmaps such as the NPES TDR are essential to increasing lethality, accelerating warfighting capabilities, and improving readiness amidst fast-changing technical and strategic conditions."