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Updated April 29, 2020
Defense Primer: RDT&E
Advanced technology plays a critical role in ensuring U.S.
Defense Appropriations Act Titles That Fund RDT&E
national security. To maintain technological superiority on
the battlefield, the Department of Defense (DOD) relies on
Title IV: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation
scientific and technical knowledge developed in large
Army
measure through research, development, test, and
Navy
evaluation (RDT&E) funded by the department and
Air Force
performed by industry, universities, federal laboratories,
Space Force
and others. DOD also relies increasingly on technology
Defense-wide
developed by the private sector for commercial markets.
Operational Test and Evaluation
This In Focus describes DOD’s RDT&E appropriations
Title V: Revolving and Management Funds
structure and funding levels.
National Defense Sealift Fund
Title VI: Other Defense Programs
DOD appropriations are provided annually through the
Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction
defense appropriations act, one of the 12 regular
Defense Health Program
appropriations acts. DOD RDT&E funding is generally
Inspector General
provided in four of this act’s titles (see box). Congress also
Title IX: Overseas Contingency Operations
sometimes provides DOD RDT&E funding through
Any of the above
supplemental appropriations acts. DOD reports FY2020
Transfer Funds
total obligational authority (enacted) of $108.6 billion.
RDT&E by Organization
RDT&E by Character of Work
While DOD Title IV funds are appropriated only by
RDT&E Appropriations Under Title IV
organization, DOD budget justifications and congressional
appropriations reports and explanatory statements also
Approximately 97% of DOD’s RDT&E funding is
typically describe this funding by the character of the work
appropriated in Title IV (Research, Development, Test, and
to be performed. This characterization consists of eight
Evaluation), which includes appropriations for the Army,
categories, each with a budget activity code (6.1 through
Navy, Air Force, Space Force, a Defense-wide RDT&E
6.8) and a description. (See Table 1.)
account, and the Director of Operational Test and
Evaluation. Space Force is a new account included in the
Table 1. DOD RDT&E Budget Activity Codes
FY2021 request. The Defense-wide account includes the
Missile Defense Agency (MDA), Defense Advanced
Code Description
Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Office of the
6.1
Basic Research
Secretary of Defense, and 15 other DOD organizations.
Within each of these accounts are program elements (PEs)
6.2
Applied Research
that provide funding for particular activities.
6.3
Advanced Technology Development
RDT&E Under Other Titles
6.4
Adv. Component Development and Prototypes
RDT&E funds are also appropriated for programs in other
6.5
System Development and Demonstration
titles of the defense appropriations act. For example,
6.6
RDT&E Management Support
RDT&E funds are also appropriated in Title VI as part of
the Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction Program,
6.7
Operational Systems Development
the Defense Health Program, and the Inspector General. In
6.8
Software and Digital Technology Pilot Programs
some years, RDT&E funds are also provided in Title V as
part of the National Defense Sealift Fund.
Source: Department of Defense, Financial Management Regulation
(DoD 7000.14-R), Volume 2B, November 2017.
In some years, RDT&E funds have also been appropriated
in Title IX as part of DOD’s funding for Overseas
Funding in codes 6.1 to 6.3 is referred to by DOD as the
Contingency Operations (OCO). Typically, the RDT&E
science and technology (S&T) budget. This portion of DOD
funds appropriated for OCO activities support specified PEs
RDT&E is often singled out for attention by analysts, as it
in Title IV, though they are requested and accounted for
is seen as the pool of knowledge necessary for the
separately. Alternatively, they may be provided to a transfer
development of future military systems. In contrast, 6.4,
fund. Congress establishes transfer funds for a particular
6.5, and 6.7 funds are focused on the application of existing
purpose, and may authorize DOD to transfer a portion of
scientific and technical knowledge to meet current or near-
these funds to other accounts, such as RDT&E, to help
term operational needs. The funds in 6.6 are for RDT&E
achieve that purpose.
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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Defense Primer: RDT&E
FY2021 budget request; no description was available at
Figure 3 illustrates FY2020 Title IV and Title IX (OCO)
time of publication. Within the S&T program, basic
RDT&E funding by character of work. DOD S&T funding
research (6.1) receives special attention, particularly by the
(6.1-6.3) accounted for $16.12 billion (15.3%) of this
nation’s universities. DOD spends nearly half of its basic
funding. RDT&E funds provided in other DOD
research budget at universities. DOD is a substantial source
appropriations titles and supplemental acts are not included
of funds for university R&D in certain fields, such as
in this analysis as they are not parsed by character of work.
aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering
(40%); electrical, electronic, and communications
Figure 3. Title IV and Title IX (OCO) RDT&E by
engineering (40%); industrial and manufacturing
Character of Work, FY2020
engineering (29%); mechanical engineering (28%); and
Budget authority, in bil ions of current dol ars
metallurgical and materials engineering (24%); and
computer and information sciences (30%).
Funding Profile of DOD RDT&E
Total DOD RDT&E for FY2020 is $108.6 billion, of which
Title IV and Title IX (OCO) funding accounts for $105.4
billion (97.0%). (See Figure 1.)
Figure 1. Title IV/Title IX (OCO) Share of Total DOD
RDT&E, FY2020
Source: CRS analysis of FY2021 DOD R-1.
Note: Percentages may not add to 100% due to rounding. Funding
for the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation is included in 6.6;
funding for classified research is included in 6.7. There is no funding
for 6.8 in FY2020.
Relevant Statutes
Title 10, U.S. Code, Chapter 139—Research and
Development
Title 10, U.S. Code, Chapter133—Under Secretary of
Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics
Title 10, U.S. Code, Chapter138(b)(8)—Assistant Secretaries
of Defense–Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and
Engineering)
CRS Products
Source: CRS analysis of FY2021 DOD R-1.
Note: Percentages may not add to 100% due to rounding.
CRS Report R44711, Department of Defense Research,
Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E): Appropriations
The composition of FY2020 DOD RDT&E provided by
Structure, by John F. Sargent Jr.
Title IV and Title IX (OCO) is shown by organization in
CRS Report R45715, Federal Research and Development (R&D)
Figure 2.
Funding: FY2020, coordinated by John F. Sargent Jr.
CRS Report R45403, The Global Research and Development
Figure 2. Title IV and Title IX (OCO) RDT&E by
Landscape and Implications for the Department of Defense, by
Organization, FY2020
John F. Sargent Jr. and Marcy E. Gallo.
CRS Report R44010, Defense Acquisitions: How and Where
DOD Spends Its Contracting Dollars, by John F. Sargent Jr. and
Christopher T. Mann.
Other Resources
Under Secretary of Defense (Comptrol er), DOD Budget
Request
Department of Defense Research, Development, Test, and
Evaluation Programs (R-1), FY2020
Source: CRS analysis of FY2021 DOD R-1.
John F. Sargent Jr., Specialist in Science and Technology
Note: Percentages may not add to 100% due to rounding; dol ar
Policy
figure may not sum to total due to rounding
IF10553
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Defense Primer: RDT&E
Disclaimer
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