The Protection Division quickly plans to launch its Nationwide Protection Science and Expertise Technique, or NDSTS. However components of that as but unreleased technique figured into the event of parts of the division’s fiscal yr 2024 price range request, mentioned the undersecretary of protection for analysis and engineering.
“We’re implementing this technique within the president’s FY 24 [fiscal year 2024] price range request, which continues historic ranges of funding in analysis and growth,” mentioned Heidi Shyu throughout testimony earlier than the Home Armed Providers Committee Subcommittee on Cyber, Modern Applied sciences and Data Methods on Thursday. “It prioritizes supply of near-term capabilities at velocity and scale; direct help to joint warfighting ideas; and constructing the science and expertise basis for tomorrow.”
Shyu informed lawmakers that, in dealing with the strategic challenges posed by China, she believes the American folks ought to be assured of two issues: First, the Protection Division understands the challenges it faces and the necessity to transfer with velocity and dedication to fulfill them; second, the U.S. at the moment has “an plain benefit over any potential adversary.”
Whereas China seeks to problem the U.S. for superiority, it has not succeeded in that purpose.
“Our activity in my workplace and in and the broader innovation enterprise is to make sure that we preserve our enduring benefit,” Shyu informed lawmakers.
The Nationwide Protection Science and Expertise Technique, she mentioned, lays out three strains of effort to assist the division make sure the U.S. maintains its benefit. That features:
- A deal with the joint mission.
- The creation and fielding of capabilities at velocity and scale.
- The creation of an everlasting benefit, which includes the cultivation of expertise, the strengthening of infrastructure, the pursuit of fundamental analysis, and a rise in collaboration with U.S. companions and allies.
“We’re implementing this technique within the president’s FY 24 price range request, which continues historic ranges of funding in analysis and growth,” she mentioned. “It prioritizes supply of near-term capabilities at velocity and scale; direct help to joint warfighting ideas; and constructing the science and expertise basis for tomorrow.”
Final yr, Shyu recognized 14 areas of expertise the Division will emphasize. These applied sciences embody issues akin to biotechnology, trusted synthetic intelligence and renewable vitality era and storage. Shyu mentioned the FY 2024 price range makes investments in every of these expertise areas.
New applied sciences imply nothing for the nation’s protection, Shyu mentioned, except they will rapidly be moved into the fingers of warfighters. In submitted written testimony, Shyu mentioned the division’s efforts to speed up important capabilities into the fingers of warfighters have resulted in directed vitality methods being made obtainable this yr to each the Military and Navy. Additionally this yr, she mentioned, the division will launch hypersonic and ballistic monitoring house sensors.
To construct an everlasting benefit, Shyu mentioned new university-affiliated analysis facilities and packages — just like the Science, Arithmetic, and Analysis for Transformation, or SMART, scholarship program — strengthen America’s science and engineering workforce.
“The price range helps workforce packages, such because the SMART Scholarship,” she mentioned. “[And] with congressional help, earlier this yr, we introduced our first College Affiliated Analysis Middle at a traditionally Black college, at Howard College, and have included vital funding within the FY 24 request to do extra with minority establishments.”
Additionally part of creating an everlasting benefit, Shyu mentioned, is nearer collaboration with companions.
“Our robust collaboration with allies and companions will allow accelerated functionality supply and interoperability within the contested battlespace,” she mentioned. “Collectively, we will probably be far stronger.”