BROOMFIELD, CO, July 8, 2025 – The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has awarded BAE Systems a contract to advance battlefield medical technology through continued development and deployment of the Battlefield Assisted Trauma Distributed Operations Kit (BATDOK) under the Force Optimization through Rapid-prototyping, Gear Enhancements & Innovative Technology (FORGE-IT) program. Together, BATDOK and FORGE-IT will help military teams care for injured service members on the battlefield. They will also support ongoing treatment after initial care.
BATDOK is an AFRL application developed with the support from BAE Systems. It creates a record of injuries and treatments, starting at the point of injury and continuing through recovery. BATDOK replaces paper battlefield medical records with electronic ones, allowing nurses and doctors to access patient care details for ongoing treatment.
FORGE-IT will build on BATDOK, continuing to enhance remote patient monitoring and improving medical care in the field through clinical decision support powered by embedded artificial intelligence capabilities.
“At BAE Systems, our goal has always been to protect those who protect us,” said Nathaniel Wiesner, vice president and general manager of ground systems & services for BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems. “Through projects like FORGE-IT, we’re augmenting the abilities of our nation’s warfighters to provide critical medical care in high-threat scenarios and ensure that those who are wounded are given effective treatment in the field.”
BATDOK and FORGE-IT will share their data with the Joint Operational Medicine Information Systems (JOMIS), the platform used by the Department of Defense. This setup allows both deployed and home station medical teams to access, track, and update health records for U.S. Armed Forces patients. By integrating these systems, clinicians can treat patients with current information, and every injury is recorded.
Source: BAE Systems
About BAE Systems
BAE Systems Inc., founded in 1999 and based in Falls Church, VI, is the U.S. subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, a global defense and aerospace company. It develops and manufactures systems for military and government applications, including electronic warfare, armored vehicles, naval vessels, munitions, aerospace components, cybersecurity solutions, and intelligence systems. The company operates under a Special Security Agreement, allowing it to support U.S. defense programs. BAE Systems Inc. employs about 41,000 people across 38 U.S. states and several international locations. BAE Systems Inc. supports U.S. defense programs such as the F-35 fighter electronics, armored combat vehicles, and naval ship maintenance. It also holds over 2,000 patents and works with the Department of Defense across multiple technology and manufacturing areas.
About AFRL
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in OH, serves as the R&D organization for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force. Established in 1997 through the consolidation of several laboratories, AFRL’s origins date back to 1917. The organization employs approximately 12,500 personnel, including military and civilian, and manages an annual science and technology budget of about $7B. AFRL conducts R&D in aerospace systems, propulsion, sensors, directed energy, materials, munitions, information technologies, human performance, and space vehicles. It also oversees the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. AFRL’s work supports the development and transition of technologies for air, space, and cyberspace operations. The laboratory partners with universities, industry, and government agencies on projects such as hypersonics, energy systems, nanosatellites, and spaceplane technologies, contributing to defense modernization initiatives.