Implementation of the third generation of the Defense Research and Engineering Network (DREN), appropriately named “DREN III”, is now underway.  DREN III continues the High Performance Computing Modernization Program (HPCMP) networking mission to provide robust, high-capacity, low-latency connectivity between the HPCMP DoD Supercomputing Resource Centers (DSRCs) and user sites.  DREN III also supports the DoD scientific research and development as well as test and evaluation missions. 

Capabilities provided by DREN III include digital data transfer services at speeds from 50 Mbps through 100 Gbps.  DREN III is also fully IPv6 enabled, with legacy support for IPv4.  DREN III complies with all DoD Security Regulations, and provides secure transport for data between Service Delivery Points (SDPs) at each connected location.

DoD agencies and all end user locations are required to submit formal justification for DREN connectivity, and must complete the DREN Service Agreement package, prior to connecting to the network.

DREN III also provides secure data transfer with NIPRNet and other Federal and academic research networks at multiple peering locations within the continental United States and Hawaii. 

The Secret DREN (SDREN) is a virtual private network overlay of the DREN using SDREN Service Delivery Routers (SDR) and NSA Type 1 encryptors with a common key.  SDREN is not synonymous with classified communications across the DREN backbone using keys other than the common SDREN key. 

For more information, please review the DREN Service Agreement and/or contact the DREN Operations Team at dren-ops [at] dren.mil.