TACTICAL TECHNOLOGY

Abstract

This program element is budgeted in the Applied Research Budget Activity because it supports the advancement of concepts and technologies to enhance the next generation of tactical systems. The Tactical Technology program element funds a number of projects in the areas of Naval Warfare, Advanced Land Systems, Advanced Tactical Technology, Aeronautics Technology and Network Centric Enabling Technology. The Naval Warfare Technology project develops advanced technologies for application to a broad range of naval requirements. Enabling and novel technologies include concepts for expanding the envelope of operational naval capabilities such as drag reduction, ship stability, hypersonic missiles, logistically friendly distributed lighting systems, ship self-defense techniques, novel underwater propulsion modalities, vessels for estuary and riverine operations, high speed underwater vessels, improved techniques for underwater object detection and discrimination, long endurance unmanned surface vehicles, and high bandwidth communications. The Advanced Land Systems project is developing technologies for enhancing U.S. military effectiveness and survivability in operations ranging from traditional threats to military operations against irregular forces that can employ disruptive or catastrophic capabilities, or disrupt stabilization operations. The emphasis is on developing affordable technologies that will enhance the military's effectiveness while decreasing the exposure of U.S. or allied forces to enemy fire. This project will also explore novel design technologies for the manufacture of ground vehicles and new tools for systems assessments of emerging DARPA technologies. The Advanced Tactical Technology project focuses on broad technology areas including: a) compact, efficient, frequency-agile, diode-pumped, solid-state lasers for infrared countermeasures, laser radar, holographic laser sensors, communications, and high-power laser applications; and b) new tactical systems for enhanced air vehicle survivability, precision optics, electronic warfare, and advanced air breathing weapons. Aeronautics Technology efforts will address high payoff opportunities that dramatically reduce costs associated with advanced aeronautical systems and/or provide revolutionary new system capabilities for satisfying current and projected military mission requirements. This includes advanced technology studies of revolutionary propulsion and vehicle concepts, sophisticated fabrication methods, and examination of novel materials for aeronautic system applications. The Network Centric Enabling Technology project develops network-centric mission applications that integrate information arising from: 1) sensors and signal/image processors; 2) collection platforms and weapon systems; 3) intelligence networks; and 4) open and other external sources. Technical challenges include the need to process huge volumes of diverse, incomplete, and uncertain data streams in tactically-relevant timeframes. Processing here includes a number of critical steps including conditioning of unstructured data, content analysis, behavioral modeling, pattern-of-life characterization, economic activity analysis, social network analysis, anomaly detection, and visualization. Operational benefits include deeper understanding of the evolving operational environment tailored to the needs of commanders at every echelon. Promising technologies are evaluated in the laboratory and demonstrated in the field to facilitate transition.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2015
• Source ID: 0602702E_2_0400_PB_2015
• Change Summary Explanation: FY 2013: Decrease reflects Congressional reductions for Sections 3001 & 3004 and directed reductions, sequestration adjustments, and the SBIR/STTR transfer offset by reprogrammings. FY 2014: Decrease reflects a program cancellation offset by a program increase. FY 2015: Increase reflects additional emphasis placed on Network Defense, Big Data, Land System Technologies, and Aeronautics programs.
• Service Agency Name: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency

Entities

Organizations

• Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Autonomy
• Cyber
• Electronic Warfare
• Engineered Resilient Systems
• Ground and Sea Platforms
• Space
• Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Accuracy
• Battle Management
• Cognitive Systems Engineering
• Command And Control
• Control Systems
• Data Processing
• Department Of Defense
• Detection
• Humanitarian Assistance
• Military Organizations
• Naval Warfare
• Payload
• Reliability
• Test And Evaluation
• Unmanned Surface Vehicles
• Unmanned Systems
• Warfare

Readers

• Distributed Systems and Data Platform Development
• Military Science and Technology Research and Modernization.

Technology Areas

• Autonomy
• Autonomy - UAVs
• Directed Energy
• Hypersonics
• Microelectronics