Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) are a technology
management tool that provides a measurement to assess the maturity
of evolving technology. The Ministry of Defence defines these
levels as:[221]
| TRL 1 | Basic principles observed and reported.
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| TRL 2 | Technology concept and/or application formulated.
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| TRL 3 | Analytical and experimental critical function and/or characteristic proof-of-concept.
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| TRL 4 | Technology basic validation in a laboratory environment.
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| TRL 5 | Technology basic validation in a relevant environment.
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| TRL 6 | Technology model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment.
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| TRL 7 | Technology prototype demonstration in an operational environment.
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| TRL 8 | Actual Technology completed and qualified through test and demonstration.
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| TRL 9 | Actual Technology qualified through successful mission operations.
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