Foreign Comparative Testing

Abstract

The Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT) Program Element funding supports projects that test and evaluate innovative technologies already developed by Partner Nations, and in doing so, directly aligns to the National Defense Strategy through increasing joint lethality in contested environments, strengthening partnerships, and fostering reform through delivery of capability at the speed of relevance. Beginning in FY 2025, the FCT Program will also embark on cooperative/collaborative experimentation with allies and partners to evaluate applications of innovative foreign capabilities in response to changes in the global security environment. The focus and intent of these cooperative/collaborative efforts is to develop flexible deterrent options and increase resiliency in the defense ecosystem by working even more closely with our network of allies and partners around the globe. FCT individual projects typically average less than $1.000 million each and complete within 12-36 months. Cooperative/collaborative experimentation projects typically will average between $1.000 and $3.000 million each and complete within 24 – 36 months. Projects are proposed by the Military Services and U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and are selected using a merit-based process that identifies the most promising, innovative, and cost-effective solutions to validate warfighter requirements, with an emphasis on transitioning technologies into current or future programs of record. Project selection is based on potential to yield cost, schedule, or performance improvements over the status quo.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2025
• Source ID: 313_0603133D8Z_3_0400_PB_2025

Tags

Readers

• Defense Technology Research and Development.
• International Relations and European Studies
• Military Science and Technology Research and Modernization.

Technology Areas

• Fully Networked C3
• Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control