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 12 months 2024 finances request, mentioned the undersecretary of protection for analysis and engineering.
“We’re implementing this technique within the president’s FY 24 [fiscal year 2024] finances request, which continues historic ranges of funding in analysis and growth,” mentioned Heidi Shyu throughout testimony earlier than the Home Armed Companies Committee Subcommittee on Cyber, Revolutionary Applied sciences and Data Techniques on Thursday. “It prioritizes supply of near-term capabilities at velocity and scale; direct assist to joint warfighting ideas; and constructing the science and expertise basis for tomorrow.”
Shyu advised lawmakers that, in dealing with the strategic challenges posed by China, she believes the American folks must be assured of two issues: First, the Protection Division understands the challenges it faces and the necessity to transfer with velocity and willpower to satisfy them; second, the U.S. at present has “an simple benefit over any potential adversary.”
Whereas China seeks to problem the U.S. for superiority, it has not succeeded in that objective.
“Our job in my workplace and in and the broader innovation enterprise is to make sure that we preserve our enduring benefit,” Shyu advised lawmakers.
The Nationwide Protection Science and Expertise Technique, she mentioned, lays out three traces of effort to assist the division make sure the U.S. maintains its benefit. That features:
- A give attention to the joint mission.
- The creation and fielding of capabilities at velocity and scale.
- The creation of a permanent benefit, which entails the cultivation of expertise, the strengthening of infrastructure, the pursuit of primary analysis, and a rise in collaboration with U.S. companions and allies.
“We’re implementing this technique within the president’s FY 24 finances 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 assist to joint warfighting ideas; and constructing the science and expertise basis for tomorrow.”
Final 12 months, Shyu recognized 14 areas of expertise the Division will emphasize. These applied sciences embody issues resembling biotechnology, trusted synthetic intelligence and renewable power era and storage. Shyu mentioned the FY 2024 finances makes investments in every of these expertise areas.
New applied sciences imply nothing for the nation’s protection, Shyu mentioned, except they’ll rapidly be moved into the arms of warfighters. In submitted written testimony, Shyu mentioned the division’s efforts to speed up essential capabilities into the arms of warfighters have resulted in directed power techniques being made accessible this 12 months to each the Military and Navy. Additionally this 12 months, she mentioned, the division will launch hypersonic and ballistic monitoring house sensors.
To construct a permanent benefit, Shyu mentioned new university-affiliated analysis facilities and applications — just like the Science, Arithmetic, and Analysis for Transformation, or SMART, scholarship program — strengthen America’s science and engineering workforce.
“The finances helps workforce applications, such because the SMART Scholarship,” she mentioned. “[And] with congressional assist, earlier this 12 months, 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 a permanent 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.”