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1 [1] (November 19, 2024)

handle is hein.crs/goverik0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressionol Research Service Informing the IegisI9tive debate since 1914 S Updated November 19, 2024 Defense Primer: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Advanced technology plays a critical role in ensuring U.S. national security. To maintain technological superiority on the battlefield, the Department of Defense (DOD) relies on scientific and technical knowledge developed in large measure through research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) funded by the department and performed by industry, universities, federal laboratories, and others. DOD also relies increasingly on technology developed by the private sector for commercial markets. This In Focus describes DOD's RDT&E appropriations structure and funding levels. DOD appropriations are provided annually through the defense appropriations act, 1 of the 12 regular appropriations acts. DOD RDT&E funding is generally provided in three of this act's titles (see text box). Congress also sometimes provides DOD RDT&E funding through supplemental appropriations acts. In FY2024, the total obligational authority (enacted) for RDT&E through regular appropriations was $152.3 billion. P.L. 118-50 provided $640.4 million in supplemental appropriations for DOD RDT&E in support of Ukraine. RDT&E by Organization RDT&E Appropri ations Under Title IV Approximately 97% of DOD's RDT&E funding is appropriated in Title IV (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation), which includes appropriations for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force (under the Air Force account), a Defense-wide RDT&E account, and the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation. The Defense- wide account includes the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Office of the Secretary of Defense, and 15 other DOD organizations, as well as classified funding. Within these accounts are program elements (PEs) that provide funding for particular activities. RDT&E Under Other Titles RDT&E funds are also appropriated for programs in other titles of the defense appropriations act. For example, RDT&E funds are also appropriated in Title VI as part of the Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction Program, the Defense Health Program, and the Inspector General. In some years, RDT&E funds have been provided in Title V as part of the National Defense Sealift Fund. In recent years, RDT&E funds have also been appropriated in Title IX as part of DOD's funding for Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO). Typically, the RDT&E funds appropriated for OCO activities support specified PEs in Title IV, though they are requested and accounted for separately. Alternatively, they may be provided to a transfer fund. Congress establishes transfer funds for a particular purpose and may authorize DOD to transfer a portion of these funds to other accounts, such as RDT&E, to help achieve that purpose. President Biden's budget request does not include OCO funding for FY2025. Defense Appropriations Act Titles That Fund RDT&E Title IV: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation * Army * Navy * Air Force * Space Force * Defense-wide * Operational Test and Evaluation Title V: Revolving and Management Funds * National Defense Sealift Fund Title VI: Other Defense Programs * Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction * Defense Health Program * Inspector General R T by Character of ork While DOD Title IV funds are appropriated only by organization, DOD budget justifications and congressional appropriations reports and explanatory statements also typically describe this funding by the character of the work to be performed. This characterization consists of eight categories, each with a budget activity code (6.1 through 6.8) and a description. (See Table 1.) Table I. DOD RDT&E Budget Activity Codes Code Description 6.1 Basic Research 6.2 Applied Research 6.3 Advanced Technology Development 6.4 Advanced Component Development and Prototypes 6.5 System Development and Demonstration 6.6 RDT&E Management Support 6.7 Operational Systems Development 6.8 Software and Digital Technology Pilot Programs Source: Department of Defense, Financial Management Regulation (DoD 7000.14-R), Volume 2B, September 2022. Funding in codes 6.1 to 6.3 is referred to by DOD as the science and technology (S&T) budget. This portion of DOD RDT&E is often singled out for attention by analysts, as it is seen as the pool of knowledge necessary for the development of future military systems. In contrast, 6.4, 6.5, and 6.7 funds are focused on the application of existing scientific and technical knowledge to meet current or near- term operational needs. The funds in 6.6 are for RDT&E management and support work in any of the other RDT&E budget accounts. DOD added budget activity 6.8 in its

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