Department of Defense Corrosion Program

Abstract

This program supports the Department's initiative to Build Sustainable and Long-Term Advantage. The Department of Defense (DoD) initiated the Corrosion Program in 2003 in response to 10 U.S.C. 2228, which requires the Secretary of Defense to accomplish a number of actions including the implementation of a corrosion prevention/mitigation strategic plan for the DoD equipment and infrastructure. The DoD Corrosion Prevention and Control Strategy was revised and signed in January 2021. Corrosion remains a significant contributor to maintenance costs for the DoD equipment and facilities. The average annual cost of corrosion to the DoD Major Weapon Systems between 2004 and 2021 was greater than $16 billion. Between 16% and 25% of total maintenance costs are attributable to corrosion, depending on the type of system. As a result, corrosion also directly contributes to weapon system downtime, reducing system availability. The DoD Corrosion Program’s strategic goal is to demonstrate targeted and effective material and nonmaterial solutions that reduce the corrosion impacts on availability and affordability of the DoD weapon systems and infrastructure. The goal can be achieved through the implementation of changes or solutions in one or more of the following focus areas: accountability; technology development and transition; policy; updated specifications and standards; and workforce development and outreach. To implement the DoD Corrosion Strategy, the DoD Corrosion Program focuses on (a) Activities and (b) Technology Development and Implementation. Technology development and implementation includes demonstrating and validating mature technologies and advanced research on technologies aimed at reducing cost and increasing availability of the DoD weapon systems and facilities. Activities include research studies and technical support. Demonstration/validation projects are specific corrosion prevention/mitigation efforts funded by the CPO in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) with the objective of developing, testing, qualifying, and implementing new technologies. A number of low-risk, high-payoff technologies promise to vastly improve the service life and significantly reduce the maintenance costs and improve the availability and safety of weapon systems and facilities essential to maintain support for the warfighter. A total of 85 projects have been completed including a follow-on assessment of their return-on-investment estimates. The overall return on investment as estimated by the Military Departments is 17:1 Advanced research includes Test and Evaluation projects, research studies, and research performed by academic institutions to include the Armed Forces’ Academies. The primary objectives are: (1) generate products that contribute to the scientific understanding of material degradation and protection mechanisms, (2) explore the feasibility of technologies or processes for future demonstration/implementation projects, (3) generate knowledge products that contribute to ability to make data-driven decisions to prioritize corrosion prevention investments. Research areas include: •Improved and validated data analytics and predictive modeling •Accelerated corrosion test method development •Improved surface treatments and coatings •New materials and materials processing techniques

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2023
• Source ID: 0604016D8Z_4_0400_PB_2023
• Change Summary Explanation: FY 2023 funding increase reflects the fact that the FY 2022 President's Budget request did not include out-year funding.
• Service Agency Name: Office of the Secretary Of Defense

Entities

Organizations

• Office of the Secretary of Defense

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Additive Manufacturing
• Air Force
• Corrosion
• Corrosion Inhibition
• Cost Reductions
• Covid-19
• Data Analysis
• Department Of Defense
• Fighter Aircraft
• Maintenance
• Maintenance Costs
• Material Degradation Processes
• Materials
• Materials Processing
• Predictive Modeling
• Test And Evaluation
• Test Methods

Readers

• Defense Acquisition Program Management
• Life Cycle Cost Analysis
• Materials Science and Engineering.