Since World War II, owning the technology advantage has been a cornerstone of our national military strategy. Technologies like radar, jet engines, nuclear weapons, night vision, Global Positioning System, smart weapons, and stealth have changed warfare dramatically. Today's technological edge allows us to prevail across the broad spectrum of conflict decisively and with relatively low casualties. Maintaining this technological edge has become even more important as the size of U.S. Forces decreases and high technology weapons are now readily available on the world market. In this new environment, it is imperative that U.S. forces possess technological superiority to prevail. The technological advantage we enjoyed in Desert Storm and still enjoy today is a legacy of decades of investment in Science and Technology (S&T). Likewise, our future warfighting capabilities will be substantially determined by today's investment in S&T.
In peace, technological superiority is a key element of deterrence. In crisis, it provides a wide spectrum of options to the National Command Authorities and Commanders in Chief, while providing confidence to our allies. In war, it enhances combat effectiveness, reduces casualties and minimizes equipment loss. In view of declining defense budgets and manpower reductions, advancing military technology is a national security obligation of ever greater importance.
To fulfill this obligation, the Director, Defense Research and Engineering has continually enhanced the strategic planning process for Defense Science and Technology (S&T). The foundation of this process is the Defense S&T Strategy that is supported by the Basic Research Plan, Joint Warfighting S&T Plan, and this Defense Technology Area Plan. These documents present the DoD S&T vision, strategy, plan, and objectives for the planners, programmers, and performers of Defense S&T. Revised annually, these documents are a collaborative product of the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), Joint Staff, Military Services, and Defense Agencies. The Strategy and Plans are fully responsive to the White House National Security S&T Council National Security S&T Strategy and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff's Vision and Joint Vision 2010 as shown in Figure 1.1. The Strategy and Plans and supporting individual S&T Master Plans of the Military Services and Defense Agencies guide the annual preparation of the Defense Program and Budget. The Strategy and Plans are made available to the United States Government, defense contractors, and our allies with the goal of better focusing our collective efforts on superior joint warfare capabilities and improving interoperability between the United States and our allies.
The Basic Research Plan (BRP) presents the DoD objectives and investment strategy for DoD sponsored research performed by universities, industry, and Service laboratories. In addition to presenting the planned investment in 12 broad research areas,
this year's plan highlights six strategic research objectives holding great promise for the development of enabling breakthrough technologies for revolutionary 21st Century military capabilities.
The Joint Warfighting S&T Plan (JWSTP) takes a joint perspective horizontally across the Services and Defense Agencies to ensure that the requisite technology and advanced concepts for superior joint and coalition warfighting are supported. It ensures that the near-, mid-, and long-term needs of the joint warfighter are properly balanced and supported in the S&T planning, programming, budgeting and assessment activities of the DoD. The JWSTP is focused around 12 Joint Warfighting Capability Objectives. These objectives support the Joint Warfighting Capabilities Assessment and the four leveraged concepts emphasized in the Joint Vision 2010: dominant maneuver, precision engagement, full-dimension protection and focused logistics. A significant feature of the JWSTP is the identification of mechanisms for the timely transition of technology to the warfighter in the field before it is obsolete or found in the hands of our adversaries. Accordingly, JWSTP Defense Technology Objectives (DTOs) include the objectives of the Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) program, as well as the Advanced Technology Demonstrations (ATD) critical to achieve the Joint Warfighting capabilities.
This Defense Technology Area Plan (DTAP) presents the DoD objectives and investment strategy for technologies critical to DoD acquisition plans, Service Warfighter Capabilities and the Joint Warfighting S&T Plan. The DTAP also takes a horizontal perspective across the Service and Defense Agency efforts, thereby charting the total DoD investment for a given technology. The DTAP documents the focus, content, and principal objectives of the overall DoD science and technology efforts. This plan provides a sound basis for acquisition decisions and is structured to respond to the DDR&E emphasis on rapid transition of technology to the operational forces.
The DTAP identifies the anticipated return on the S&T investment through nearly 200 DTOs in ten broad technology areas. Sixty-six of these DTOs support the JWSTP. Each DTO identifies a specific technology advancement that will be developed and/or demonstrated, the anticipated date of technology availability, and the specific benefits resulting from the technology advance. These benefits not only include increased military operational capabilities, but also address other important areas including affordability and dual use applications, which have received special emphasis in the Defense S&T Strategy.
The JWSTP and the DTAP document the focus, content and principal objectives of the overall DoD technology efforts (budget categories 6.2 & 6.3). These plans are presented in separate documents under their respective titles. This document presents the full text of all the DTOs, along with summary charts of each of the ACTDs and ATDs addressed in the JWSTP.