Chapter II. Science and Technology Integration With Army XXI
Army Science and Technology Master Plan (ASTMP 1997)

3. Science and Technology Support to Requirements Determination

The Army S&T program is the breeding ground for innovative technological warfighting insights. Moreover, the S&T program supports our goal of rapid requirements determination by recognizing that there are different research timelines associated with every technology, e.g., it does not impose the same timelines on software development as it does for precision guided munitions.

A series of reviews of current and proposed S&T activities guide focused research. The first is a TRADOC annual assessment of all proposed Army-funded S&T projects. It is conducted based on an appreciation of current capabilities, ongoing S&T activities, and their applicability to the future capabilities described in TP 525-66. (See Figure II-4 and Section B of this chapter.)

TP 525-66 also guides IR&D. By providing the private sector an unclassified, descriptive list of desired future capabilities, the Army is able to tap into a wealth of information and new ideas on different means to achieve those capabilities. The Army encourages industry to share these ideas with appropriate combat or training development organizations. A special program -- the Advanced Concept and Technology II (ACT II) program -- provides "seed money" to actually demonstrate the various ideas.