Non-Kinetic Countermeasure Support

The Non-Kinetic Countermeasure Support program, identified in the Department of Defense budget as PE 0302315N, is a Navy research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) initiative focused on advancing non-kinetic countermeasure capabilities. The primary goal of this program element is to develop, demonstrate, and support technologies and systems that provide the Navy with enhanced means to counter threats without the use of traditional kinetic (explosive or projectile-based) weapons. The program is structured under Budget Activity 5, which emphasizes system development and demonstration, indicating its focus on maturing advanced concepts toward operational use.

The specific objectives of the Non-Kinetic Countermeasure Support program are classified, and detailed information is submitted annually to Congress in the classified budget justification books. Based on the unclassified summary, the program is intended to support the Navy's efforts to address emerging threats in the maritime domain through non-lethal, non-destructive means. This could include electronic warfare, cyber operations, directed energy, or other advanced technologies designed to disrupt, deceive, or disable adversary systems and sensors.

Within this program element, the sole project line item is focused on non-kinetic countermeasure support. The project's funding is dedicated to classified product development activities, which are managed through various contract methods and performing activities, all of which are also classified. The increase in funding over time signals an expansion of activity or acceleration of development efforts.

The justification for the Non-Kinetic Countermeasure Support program is rooted in the need for the Navy to maintain technological superiority and operational flexibility in contested environments. Non-kinetic countermeasures provide critical options for commanders to respond to threats in ways that minimize collateral damage, reduce escalation risks, and preserve valuable assets. These capabilities are increasingly important as potential adversaries develop sophisticated anti-access and area-denial (A2/AD) systems that challenge traditional kinetic responses.

The program's objectives likely include the research and development of new countermeasure techniques, the integration of these technologies into naval platforms, and the demonstration of operational effectiveness in realistic scenarios. The classified nature of the program suggests that it addresses sensitive capabilities that could provide the Navy with a strategic advantage in electronic warfare, information operations, or other non-kinetic domains.

No additional program funding summaries or acquisition strategy details are available in the unclassified documentation, and all remarks indicate that further specifics are contained in classified submissions to Congress. This approach is typical for programs that involve advanced or sensitive technologies with national security implications.