Combating Terrorism Technology Support (CTTS)
Abstract
At the direction of the former Acting Secretary of Defense, the Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office (CTTS program) remains in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict (OASD SO/LIC), but was transitioned to be the Irregular Warfare Technical Support Directorate (IWTSD). The FY 2020 NDAA directed an independent study by the Center for Naval Analyses that stated the optimum location for IWTSD (formerly CTTSO) was to remain in the OASD SO/LIC and that CTTSO fulfills a unique niche in DOD’s research and development landscape, meeting needs other organizations do not. During the transition, IWTSD reviewed the subgroup focus areas and some of the subgroups were renamed. IWTSD supports the National Defense Strategy (NDS), the Irregular Warfare Annex, and will give those identified peer-to-peer high interest areas increased priority. IWTSD also recognizes that many of the existing requirements already supports many of the high interest areas; to include, increasing lethal capability of U.S. forces at the squad and small unit level; countering Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (drones) overseas and domestically; tunnel detection and mapping in theater; novel body and vehicle armor; detecting, protecting against, and mitigating novel and wartime chemical threats; telematics; covert communications; and of special interest, the use of machine learning and artificial intelligence to enhance the capability of systems used by the military and lesson the workload on the individual users. IWTSD will continue to focus its R&D activities to rapidly fill the immediate and critical capability gaps of military operators, intelligence analysts, and first responders that are at the leading edge of the fight or response. The FY21 Congressionally directed and funded cooperative 50-50 cost sharing of RDT&E projects with Israel to address countering small unmanned aerial vehicles and enhance detection of and operations in tunnels will continue in FY22 or until the funds are expended. Although COVID 19 has greatly impacted the nation, IWTSD was able to immediately transition to a telework environment and continue to collaborate and coordinate with users and industry using the virtual environment. While not optimum, this capability allowed IWTSD to continue to fill our user’s capability gaps and help keep small businesses operating. From a broader perspective, projects remain distributed among ten mission categories, in line with the interagency Technical Support Working Group (TSWG): Advanced Analytic Capabilities; Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives; Improvised Device Defeat/Explosives Countermeasures; Investigative and Forensic Science; Irregular Warfare and Evolving Threats; Personnel Protection; Physical Security; Surveillance, Collection, and Operations Support; Tactical Operations Support; and Training Technology Development. Each of these programs have long held and strong partnerships with the components of USSOCOM, the Services; and a large number of Defense Agencies. While supporting the NDS, the IWTSD program will also continue to identify capabilities to combat terrorism and irregular adversaries and quickly delivers these capabilities to U.S. Defense and interagency users, as well as international partners through rapid research and development, advanced studies, and technical innovation. IWTSD continues to expand its partnerships with other Defense and Interagency, as well as with our foreign partners’ rapid development and acquisition organizations to leverage their expertise and prevent duplication as it tries to expedite and transition new and innovative capabilities for Defense and interagency users. IWTSD is unique in its approach, annually obtaining joint requirements directly from military and law enforcement operators, intelligence analyst, and first responders and discussing those requirements with industry even before released in a Broad Area Announcement (BAA). The IWTSD program is a diverse, advanced technology development effort that capitalizes on interagency and international participation to demonstrate the utility and effectiveness of technology when applied to combating peer or near-peer forces, emerging threats, and combating terrorism requirements. This includes rapid technology capability development, testing products, proof-of-concept demonstrations in field applications, operational test and evaluations of prototypes, and coordinating the transition from development to operational use. For FY 2022, the time from requirements to contracts has been shortened in order to provide solutions even more rapidly to the users and to ensure IWTSD is addressing the most near-term needs. As such, the Program Requirements Meetings with users will not occur until January, 2021 and contracts awards beginning by October or November 2021 (the start of FY 2022). IWTSD normally manages approximately 220 individual projects; while also reviewing proposals and negotiating contracts for another 70 requirements prior to the next fiscal year. The IWTSD program identifies the projects fully or partially funded by Congressional appropriations for the IWTSD program. However, IWTSD also develops technology and provides support using external funds provided by other DoD and federal departments and international partnerships. These projects and support activities are not necessarily reflected in this justification R-2; but the number of activities do reflect positively on the trust and competence that IWTSD has earned throughout the Department of Defense and interagency to rapidly conduct critical RDT&E and provide innovative products. The available funding and number of requirements from users that IWTSD needs to address in FY 2022 has been reduced by 33% in accordance with the Defense Wide Review. Due to the Defense Wide Review budget reductions, IWTSD will ask Defense and Interagency partners to increase their funding contributions to help IWTSD address and fill their critical capability gaps.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2022
- Source ID
- 484_0603122D8Z_3_0400_PB_2022
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- Root: Combating Terrorism Technology Support
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