Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E)

Abstract

The Office of 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 consults 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 Service Secretaries with respect to OT&E. DOT&E's oversight list fluctuates, but generally has around 235 programs, including Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAP) and programs from 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 for 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, suitability, and survivability of the defense business and 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 the 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. DOT&E funded cyber assessments provide assistance for the remediation of mission-critical vulnerabilities as rapidly as possible. 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.

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Document Details

Document Type
R2 Budgetary Justification
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2025
Source ID
0605118OTE_6_0460_PB_2025
Change Summary Explanation
Transfer of funds from R-1 Program Element 0605118OTE to 0605131OTE ($2.524M) and 0605814OTE ($43.445M) for the better alignment of resource execution, and continuing efforts from prior year Congressional adds in test capability acceleration for areas of direct energy, hypersonic, space systems, targets, artificial intelligence/autonomous systems, and data management innovations.
Service Agency Name
Operational Test and Evaluation, Defense

Entities

Organizations

  • Operational Test and Evaluation Force

Tags

Readers

  • Aerospace Test and Evaluation
  • Defense Financial Management and Audit.
  • Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.

Technology Areas

  • Cyber

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