The Defense Technology Area Plan (DTAP) is issued by the Director of Defense Research and Engineering (DDR&E) to guide the Department's Applied Research (6.2) and Advanced Technology Development (6.3) investment decisions.

This edition of the DTAP has been prepared by the ten Defense S&T Reliance panels overseen by us, the Reliance Executive Committee. This Plan Documents our vision, strategy, goals, Defense Technology Objectives (DTOs) and technology roadmaps being pursued during the FY97 budget and Future Years Defense Plan. The DTAP also identifies the funding allocated for DTOs and the Fiscal Year when these technologies may be transitioned to development to create new warfighting capabilities.

The DTAP provides a means to communicate our objectives and work to our customers: the development community, warfighters, and Congress. Adherence to this DTAP will ensure that the Department's investment in S&T is responsive to out customers, properly focused, affordable, and well executed.

	George T. Singley Chairman Reliance Executive Committee
A. Fenner Milton Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research and Technology	Marc Pelaez Rear Admiral, USN Chief of Naval Research
Helmut Hellwig Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Science, Technology, and Engineering	Lee Buchanan Deputy Director Defense Advanced Projects Agency
Dwight Duston Assistant Deputy for Technology Ballistic Missile Defense Organization	George Ullrich Deputy Director Defense Nuclear Agency