Foreign Comparative Testing

Abstract

This program supports the Department's initiatives to Defend the Homeland, Deter Strategic and Regional Aggression, and Build a Resilient Joint Force and Defense Ecosystem. 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 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. In FY 2025, the FCT Program will expand with a campaign of cooperative/collaborative experimentation with allies and partners to evaluate applications of innovative foreign capabilities in response to changes in the global security environment. The focus and intent of these cooperative/collaborative efforts is to develop flexible deterrent options that prioritize interoperability while increasing resiliency in the defense ecosystem by working even more closely with our network of allies and partners around the globe. The FCT Program’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 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 for which FCT provides an avenue. 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 the National Defense Strategy and the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD R&E) Critical Technology Areas. 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), International Prototypes and Experiments (IP&E) Office and projects are jointly conducted by the Military Services and USSOCOM. Measurable Outcomes: Over its 43-year history, FCT has a transition rate of 52 percent (399 out of 774) for completed projects. Of the 399 projects that tested successful, 306 or 77 percent resulted in follow-on procurements of over $12.625 billion.

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Document Details

Document Type
R2 Budgetary Justification
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2025
Source ID
0603133D8Z_3_0400_PB_2025
Change Summary Explanation
FY 2023 change in Current President's Budget from Previous President's Budget is due to SBIR/STTR (-$0.489 million) and Cancelled Accounts (-$0.003 million) reductions. A planned funding increase of $23.806 million in FY 2025 has been reduced by $21.000 million and realigned to Service RDT&E and Procurement PEs to fund DoD selected efforts needed to meet operational needs. A reduction of (-$0.514 million) was applied to meet DoD overall funding reductions, which were spread to mitigate impact. A funding increase of $0.103 million for Economic Assumptions was applied. Remaining $2.395M increase advances the National Defense Strategy goal of Building Enduring Advantages by bolstering international engagement and collaboration with allies and partners to fortify our defense ecosystem (funding realigned from Technology Innovation Program Element 0603375D8Z and Trusted & Assured Microelectronics Program Element 0605294D8Z).
Service Agency Name
Office of the Secretary Of Defense

Entities

Organizations

  • Office of the Secretary of Defense

Tags

Readers

  • Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
  • International Relations and European Studies
  • Military Science and Technology Research and Modernization.

Technology Areas

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

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