Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E)
Abstract
The Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) was created by Congress in 1983. The Director is prescribed, by authority of the Secretary of Defense, policies and procedures for the conduct of operational test and evaluation (OT&E) in the Department of Defense (DOD). The Director provides guidance to and consult with the Secretary of Defense, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, and the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and the Secretaries of the military departments with respect to OT&E in the DOD in general and to specific OT&E to be conducted in the department. Generally, there are about 235 programs on the oversight list including all Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAP) and programs across each of the six adaptive acquisition pathways. Programs identified as MDAPs for the purposes of test and evaluation may not proceed beyond low-rate initial production (BLRIP) until OT&E of the program is complete. DOT&E is involved early in the planning phase of each program to ensure adequate testing is planned and executed. Key elements of DOT&E's oversight authority include: - Approval of component Test and Evaluation Master Plans (TEMPS). - Approval of component OT&E Test Plans (TPs). - Oversight of military department preparation and conduct of field operational tests; analysis and evaluation of the resultant test data; the assessment of the adequacy of the executed test and evaluation; and assessment of the operational effectiveness, lethality, and suitability of the weapon systems. - Reporting results of OT&E that support BLRIP decisions to the Secretary of Defense and Congress, and providing an annual report summarizing all OT&E activities and the adequacy of test resources within DOD during the previous fiscal year. - Review of DOD budgets and financial matters related to OT&E, and recommendations to the Secretary of Defense on all matters relating to operational test facilities and equipment. DOT&E also oversees and resources OT&E community efforts to plan and execute joint cybersecurity assessments of fielded systems and networks during major Combatant Command (CCMD) and Service exercises, and reports the trends and findings in the annual report. DOT&E is also involved in assessing and increasing the capacity of realistically advanced cyber warfighting capabilities to keep pace with heightened demand, advancing technologies and the growing cyber threat. This Program Element includes funds to obtain Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) support in performing the described tasks, travel funds to carry out oversight of the OT&E and cyber assessment programs, funds for Service teams performing information assurance and interoperability assessments during exercises, administrative support services, DFAS support, and engineering and technical support services.
Document Details
- Document Type
- R2 Budgetary Justification
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2023
- Source ID
- 0605118OTE_6_0460_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. Increased funding that begins in FY 2023 will expand cybersecurity assessments of artificial intelligence (AI) enabled technologies deployed to CCMDs under the Department’s Advanced Data Analytics initiative, increase coverage for Persistent Cyber Operations (PCO) activities, and increase cyber threat realism.
- Service Agency Name
- Operational Test and Evaluation, Defense
Entities
Organizations
- Operational Test and Evaluation Force
Related Documents
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- Child Accomplishment: Operational Test and Evaluation