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Updated October 21, 2021
Defense Primer: RDT&E
Advanced technology plays a critical role in ensuring U.S.
national security. To maintain technological superiority on
Defense Appropriations Act Titles That Fund RDT&E
the battlefield, the Department of Defense (DOD) relies on
Title IV: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation
scientific and technical knowledge developed in large
ArmyNavy
measure through research, development, test, and
Air Force
evaluation (RDT&E) funded by the department and
Space Force
performed by industry, universities, federal laboratories,
Defense-wide
and others. DOD also relies increasingly on technology
Operational Test and Evaluation
developed by the private sector for commercial markets.
Title V: Revolving and Management Funds
This In Focus describes DOD’s RDT&E appropriations
National Defense Sealift Fund
structure and funding levels.
Title VI: Other Defense Programs
Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction
DOD appropriations are provided annually through the
Defense Health Program
defense appropriations act, one of the 12 regular
Inspector General
appropriations acts. DOD RDT&E funding is generally
provided in three of this act’s titles (see box). Congress also
RDT&E by Character of Work
sometimes provides DOD RDT&E funding through
supplemental appropriations acts. DOD reports FY2021
While DOD Title IV funds are appropriated only by
organization, DOD budget justifications and congressional
total obligational authority (enacted) of $110.8 billion.
appropriations reports and explanatory statements also
RDT&E by Organization
typically describe this funding by the character of the work
to be performed. This characterization consists of eight
RDT&E Appropriations Under Title IV
categories, each with a budget activity code (6.1 through
6.8) and a description. (See Table 1.)
Approximately 97% of DOD’s RDT&E funding is
appropriated in Title IV (Research, Development, Test, and
Table 1. DOD RDT&E Budget Activity Codes
Evaluation), which includes appropriations for the Army,
Code
Description
Navy, Air Force, Space Force, a Defense-wide RDT&E
account, and the Director of Operational Test and
6.1
Basic Research
Evaluation. Space Force is a new account included in the
6.2
Applied Research
FY2021 request. The Defense-wide account includes the
Missile Defense Agency (MDA), Defense Advanced
6.3
Advanced Technology Development
Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Office of the
6.4
Adv. Component Development and Prototypes
Secretary of Defense, and 15 other DOD organizations.
Within each of these accounts are program elements (PEs)
6.5
System Development and Demonstration
that provide funding for particular activities.
6.6
RDT&E Management Support
RDT&E Under Other Titles
6.7
Operational Systems Development
RDT&E funds are also appropriated for programs in other
6.8
Software and Digital Technology Pilot Programs
titles of the defense appropriations act. For example,
Source: Department of Defense, Financial Management Regulation
RDT&E funds are also appropriated in Title VI as part of
(DoD 7000.14-R), Volume 2B, November 2017.
the Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction Program,
the Defense Health Program, and the Inspector General. In
Funding in codes 6.1 to 6.3 is referred to by DOD as the
some years, RDT&E funds have been provided in Title V
science and technology (S&T) budget. This portion of DOD
as part of the National Defense Sealift Fund.
RDT&E is often singled out for attention by analysts, as it
is seen as the pool of knowledge necessary for the
In recent years, RDT&E funds have also been appropriated
development of future military systems. In contrast, 6.4,
in Title IX as part of DOD’s funding for Overseas
6.5, and 6.7 funds are focused on the application of existing
Contingency Operations (OCO). Typically, the RDT&E
scientific and technical knowledge to meet current or near-
funds appropriated for OCO activities support specified PEs
term operational needs. The funds in 6.6 are for RDT&E
in Title IV, though they are requested and accounted for
management and support work in any of the other RDT&E
separately. Alternatively, they may be provided to a transfer
budget accounts. DOD added budget activity 6.8 in its
fund. Congress establishes transfer funds for a particular
FY2021 budget request to support software and digital
purpose, and may authorize DOD to transfer a portion of
technology pilot programs .
these funds to other accounts, such as RDT&E, to help
achieve that purpose. President Biden’s budget request does
Within the S&T program, basic research (6.1) receives
not include OCO funding for FY2022.
special attention, particularly by the nation’s universities.
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Defense Primer: RDT&E
DOD spends nearly half of its basic research budget at
Figure 3 illustrates FY2021 Title IV RDT&E funding by
universities. DOD is a substantial source of federal
character of work. DOD S&T funding (6.1-6.3) accounted
university R&D funding for disciplines such as aerospace,
for $16.8 billion (15.6%) of this funding. RDT&E funds
aeronautical, and astronautical engineering (60%);
provided in other DOD appropriations titles and
electrical, electronic, and communications engineering
supplemental acts are not included in this analysis as they
(58%); industrial and manufacturing engineering (48%);
are not parsed by character of work.
mechanical engineering (46%); computer and information
sciences (44%); metallurgical and materials engineering
Figure 3. Title IV RDT&E by Character of Work,
(39%); and materials science (33%).
FY2021
Total obligational authority, in billions of current dollars
Funding Profile of DOD RDT&E
Total DOD RDT&E for FY2021 is $110.8 billion, of which
Title IV funding accounts for $107.5 billion (97.0%). (See
Figure 1.)
Figure 1. Title IV Share of Total DOD RDT&E,
FY2021
Source: CRS analysis of FY2022 DOD R-1.
Note: Funding for the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation is
included in 6.6; funding for classified research is included in 6.7.
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)
Source: CRS analysis of FY2022 DOD R-1.
CRS Products
Note: Percentages may not add to 100% due to rounding.
CRS Report R44711, Department of Defense Research,
The composition of FY2021 DOD RDT&E provided by
Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E): Appropriations
Title IV is shown by organization in Figure 2.
Structure, by John F. Sargent Jr.
Figure 2. Title IV and Title IX (OCO) RDT&E by
CRS Report R46341, Federal Research and Development (R&D)
Organization, FY2021
Funding: FY2021, coordinated by John F. Sargent Jr.
CRS Report R45403, The Global Research and Development
Landscape and Implications for the Department of Defense, by
John F. Sargent Jr. and Marcy E. Gal o.
CRS Report R44010, Defense Acquisitions: How and Where
DOD Spends Its Contracting Dol ars, 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), FY2022
John F. Sargent Jr., Specialist in Science and Technology
Source: CRS analysis of FY2022 DOD R-1.
Policy
Note: Percentages may not add to 100% due to rounding; dol ar
figures may not sum to total due to rounding.
IF10553
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Defense Primer: RDT&E
Disclaimer
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