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Updated September 7, 2022
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
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 FY2022
While DOD Title IV funds are appropriated only by
total obligational authority (enacted) of $122.9 billion.
organization, DOD budget justifications and congressional
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
Approximately 97% of DOD’s RDT&E funding is
6.8) and a description. (See Table 1.)
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 (under the Air Force
account), a Defense-wide RDT&E account, and the
6.1
Basic Research
Director of Operational Test and Evaluation. Space Force is
6.2
Applied Research
a new account included in the FY2021 request. The
Defense-wide account includes the Missile Defense Agency
6.3
Advanced Technology Development
(MDA), Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
6.4
Adv. Component Development and Prototypes
(DARPA), Office of the Secretary of Defense, and 17 other
DOD organizations. Within these accounts are program
6.5
System Development and Demonstration
elements (PEs) 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 FY2022 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 $18.8 billion (15.8%) of this funding. RDT&E funds
aeronautical, and astronautical engineering (64%);
provided in other DOD appropriations titles and
industrial and manufacturing engineering (60%); electrical,
supplemental acts are not included in this analysis as they
electronic, and communications engineering (59%);
are not parsed by character of work.
mechanical engineering (49%); computer and information
sciences (47%); metallurgical and materials engineering
Figure 3. Title IV RDT&E by Character of Work,
(42%); and materials science (39%).
FY2022
Total obligational authority, in bil ions of current dol ars
Funding Profile of DOD RDT&E
Total DOD RDT&E for FY2022 is $122.9 billion, of which
Title IV funding accounts for $119.3 billion (97.0%). (See
Figure 1.)
Figure 1. Title IV Share of FY2022 Total DOD RDT&E
Source: CRS analysis of FY2023 DOD R-1.
Notes: 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
Source: CRS analysis of FY2023 DOD R-1.
Engineering)
Note: Percentages may not add to 100% due to rounding.
The composition of FY2022 DOD RDT&E provided by
Title IV is shown by organization in Figure 2.
CRS Products
CRS Report R44711, Department of Defense Research,
Figure 2. FY2022 Title IV and Title IX (OCO) RDT&E
Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E): Appropriations
by Organization
Structure, by John F. Sargent Jr.
CRS Report R47161, Federal Research and Development (R&D)
Funding: FY2023, coordinated by Laurie A. Harris
CRS Report R45403, The Global Research and Development
Landscape and Implications for the Department of Defense, by
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), FY2023
John F. Sargent Jr., Specialist in Science and Technology
Policy
Source: CRS analysis of FY2023 DOD R-1.
Notes: Percentages may not add to 100% due to rounding; dol ar
IF10553
figures may not sum to total due to rounding.
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Defense Primer: RDT&E
Disclaimer
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