Foreign Comparative Testing

Abstract

The Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT) Program increases Joint Force readiness and lethality by providing near-term solutions to existing and future Department of Defense (DoD) capability gaps by leveraging the Research & Development (R&D) investments of allied nations and coalition partners. The Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT) Program Element (PE) evaluates prototypes derived from allied and partner nation technologies to provide the U.S. Armed Services, U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), and Defense agencies capabilities to counter emerging threats. FCT’s broad reach across our allies and friendly foreign countries enables development of innovative, cost effective, and interoperable solutions to meet needs communicated by the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Combatant Commanders. FCT projects are jointly conducted with the Military Services and USSOCOM. FCT strengthens alliances by facilitating international collaboration and evaluating technologies that increase interoperability while serving as a catalyst for teaming and other business relationships between international and domestic industries. Partner nations recognize the long-term value of the "two-way street" for Defense procurements FCT provides. Numerous successful projects have resulted in the licensed production of a qualified foreign item in the United States, including the creation of jobs and contributions to local economies. To date, companies from 34 states have benefited from FCT projects. FCT supports DoD best practices by incentivizing the use of prototyping and experimentation in advancing technological solutions to warfighter problems and acts as a hedge against threat developments. FCT enhances affordability by reducing development costs and risk, accelerating acquisition timelines, and increasing competition. Through increasing Joint lethality and readiness, strengthening alliances, and delivering affordable performance on accelerated timelines, FCT supports all three lines of effort outlined in the 2018 National Defense Strategy. FCT supports the FY2020 Administration R&D Budget Priority of Partnering with Industry by enabling rapid fielding of innovative technologies from the private sector that are easily adaptable to DoD needs. Authorized by Title 10, U.S. Code, Section 2350a (g), the FCT program is managed by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD R&E), Comparative Technology Office (CTO). Measurable Outcomes: -FCT projects will demonstrate capability objectives within 24-36 months. -Over its 39 year history, FCT has a transition rate of 58% percent (355 out of 610) for completed projects. Of the 355 projects that tested successful, 278 (78%) resulted in follow on procurements of over $11.000 billion.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2020
• Source ID: 0603133D8Z_3_0400_PB_2020
• Change Summary Explanation: Congressional reductions were the result of directed efficiencies
• Service Agency Name: Office of the Secretary Of Defense

Entities

Organizations

• Office of the Secretary of Defense

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Advanced Electronics
• Air Platforms
• Autonomy
• Biomedical
• Energy and Power Technologies
• Ground and Sea Platforms
• Space
• Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Air Force
• Brain Injuries
• Control Systems
• Detection
• Detectors
• Directed Energy Weapons
• Electronically Scanned Array
• Fighter Aircraft
• Fire Control Systems
• Laser Target Designators
• Target Recognition
• Test And Evaluation
• Tilt Rotor Aircraft
• Unmanned Aerial Systems
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
• Warfare
• Weapons Effects

Readers

• Defense Technology Research and Development.
• Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
• International Relations and European Studies

Technology Areas

• Fully Networked C3
• Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control