Emerging Capabilities Technology Development

Abstract

In alignment with the National Defense Strategy (NDS), the Emerging Capabilities Technology Development (ECTD) Program Element supports the USD(R&E) with experimentation and mid-term, mission-focused capability development that crosses functional domains and enhances warfighter lethality, technical superiority, adaptability, and resilience. ECTD funding supports joint prototype development, joint experimentation for CONOPs development, and red teaming validations that enable disruptive innovation to sustain the United States' operational superiority. Joint demonstrations and ECTD-sponsored venues of defense-wide experiments provide opportunities for emerging technologies to succeed, or fail fast. The demonstration venues include: Stiletto, a maritime experimentation and demonstration platform; Thunderstorm, a multi-domain venue focused on small and non-traditional businesses; Silent Hammer, an advanced electronic warfare venue that transfers to ECTD in FY 2020; and, other tailored experimentation and demonstration events. The red teaming funding line explores vulnerabilities in emerging technologies and enables USD(R&E), and the broader defense science and technology community, to make informed decisions before investing in new capabilities. Red teaming enables adaptation to unforeseen vulnerabilities or opportunities early in capability development when design changes are cost effective and programs can be re-directed if developmental dead ends are discovered. ECTD prototypes, demonstrations, experimentations, and red teaming validations enable developers to showcase new and maturing capabilities in realistic environments and against realistic threats with operational user involvement. ECTD prototyping projects increase the speed of technology innovation by reducing technology risk for emerging capabilities. With an emphasis on joint and interagency partnerships, ECTD matures capability options to anticipate and inform new acquisition pathways in addition to formal requirements and acquisition processes. Although projects are selected in the year of execution, anticipated FY 2020 technology areas include employment of directed energy from aircraft; multi-domain, autonomous learning systems; enabling technologies for missile defense; and, increased soldier lethality systems. Project selection is guided by Department-level strategies and priorities, such as the National Defense Strategy, the Chairman’s Capability Gap Assessment, and DoD modernization priorities.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2020
• Source ID: 0603699D8Z_3_0400_PB_2020
• Change Summary Explanation: The FY 2020 baseline increase is the result of the transfer in of funds from the Quick Reaction Fund in Program Element 0603826D8Z (Quick Reaction Special Projects) for additional risk-reducing joint prototyping, joint red teaming for validation of emerging technologies, and funding for experimentation venues.
• Service Agency Name: Office of the Secretary Of Defense

Entities

Organizations

• Office of the Secretary of Defense

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Air Platforms
• Autonomy
• Cyber
• Energy and Power Technologies
• Engineered Resilient Systems
• Human Systems
• Sensors
• Space
• Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Air Force
• Command And Control
• Control Systems
• Data Analysis
• Detectors
• Fabrication
• Global Positioning Systems
• Microelectromechanical Systems
• National Security
• Navigation
• Test And Evaluation
• Unified Combatant Commands
• United States Special Operations Command
• Unmanned Aerial Systems
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
• Warfare
• Warning Systems

Readers

• Defense Technology Research and Development.
• Military Science and Technology Research and Modernization.

Technology Areas

• Directed Energy
• Microelectronics