Emerging Capabilities Technology Development

Abstract

The ECTD funding supports projects that reduce technology risk of emerging capabilities by advancing conceptual and operational prototypes in support of near- and mid-term operational engagements and stability operations. With an emphasis on interagency and joint partnerships, ECTD matures capability options to anticipate and inform formal joint and interagency requirements and acquisition processes. Individual projects generally span one to three years through efforts that emphasize affordability, typically at a cost of less than $6.000 million. The ECTD program focuses on rapid prototyping of emerging technologies to accelerate capabilities to the joint warfighter, including electromagnetic spectrum-agile capabilities; multi-domain, autonomous systems; counter-weapons of mass destruction capabilities; and, dismounted soldier systems. Project selection is guided by Department-level strategies and priorities, such as the Chairman’s Gap Assessment, USD(R&E) strategic guidance, and CCMD Integrated Priority Lists (IPLs). In anticipation of a heightened emphasis by the new USD(R&E) on outpacing threats and seizing technical opportunities, ECTD is structured to mature emerging technologies and highlight their military capabilities through joint demonstrations and ECTD sponsored venues for defense-wide experiments and demonstrations. These include Stiletto, a maritime experimentation and demonstration platform; Thunderstorm, an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance venue; and, other tailored experimentation and demonstration events. Together, these events enable newly-developed capabilities to be showcased in realistic environments with operational user involvement. The ECTD program supports red teaming efforts to identify vulnerabilities in emerging technologies early, ensuring follow-on systems are resilient to adversaries. In response to changing Department of Defense priorities, two new project lines are being added to the ECTD PE. The high energy laser (HEL) project will begin development work to integrate a HEL onboard an AC130 aircraft. This will enhance special operations forces’ ability to provide precision fires. The red teaming project line will assess the susceptibility and vulnerability of emerging technologies. This will enable the new Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering to make informed decisions on building new capabilities.

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Document Details

Document Type
R2 Budgetary Justification
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2019
Source ID
0603699D8Z_3_0400_PB_2019
Change Summary Explanation
The FY 2017 funding increase of $6.000 million was provided by Congress to support high energy density composites and air base resiliency. The FY 2019 baseline adjustment reflects the net of other DoD requirements and funding for the Red Teaming project code.
Service Agency Name
Office of the Secretary Of Defense

Entities

Organizations

  • Office of the Secretary of Defense

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Autonomy
  • Counter WMD
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Engineered Resilient Systems
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Sensors
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Autonomous Systems
  • Cognitive Systems Engineering
  • Control Systems
  • Department Of Defense
  • Detection
  • Electromagnetic Spectra
  • Electronic Warfare
  • Navigation
  • Software Prototyping
  • Unified Combatant Commands
  • United States Special Operations Command
  • Unmanned Aerial Systems
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  • Unmanned Underwater Vehicles
  • Urban Areas
  • Warfare

Readers

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

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy
  • Autonomy - UAVs
  • Directed Energy

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