Policy R&D Programs

The Policy R&D Programs, managed by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, support initiatives to defend the homeland and deter aggression. These efforts align with the National Defense Strategy by providing critical analysis to address military security challenges. The focus is on understanding dynamic global environments, including military structures, foreign cultures, and ethnic issues. Objectives include examining demographic data, investigating future global security challenges, and developing insights to inform national security decisions.

A key component is the Future Security Challenges initiative, which offers program management oversight and technical support to identify current and emerging security challenges. It emphasizes international cooperation with allies and partners for effective confrontation of these challenges. The initiative anticipates technology exploitation and collaborates with international commercial sectors and academia to understand adversaries' technological applications. It also explores processes and policies to integrate international capabilities across various security challenges.

Another significant aspect is the Long Term Competitions (LTC) Program, providing analytical support to senior leadership. This program aims to understand long-term developments in the global security environment and develop competitive strategies for addressing these challenges. It involves collaboration with external experts through task force working groups, strategy review teams, contract studies, wargaming, and workshops. The program assesses future forces' ability to achieve objectives at the campaign level using qualitative and quantitative analytic methods.

Additionally, classified activities under Defense Planning Scenarios are included in the Policy R&D Programs. These efforts provide strategic insights into defense planning scenarios that inform senior leader decision-making. While specific details remain classified, they play a crucial role in shaping defense strategies by identifying risks and potential trade-offs among force structure, capabilities, and readiness. The Policy R&D Programs are integral in enhancing national defense capabilities through comprehensive research and strategic analysis.