The US Department of Defense released its 2023 National Science and Technology Strategy (NDSTS) on May 9, identifying the US military's science and technology priorities, goals and investments.
Heidi Shyu, the Department of Defense's Chief Technology Officer, indicated that critical emerging technologies should be leveraged to achieve the objectives identified in the latest National Defense Strategy published in 2022. The release of the National Defense Science and Technology Strategy, according to Shyu, will help the government "make carefully crafted decisions" that bolster US comparative advantages instead of engaging in wasteful technology races. "We will emphasize developing asymmetric capabilities that will help ensure our national security over the long term," Shyu indicated.
Who creates cutting-edge technologies?
The National Science and Technology Strategy notes how the US Department of Defense's leadership in science and technology has, in the past, provided the country with "unmatched capabilities," but the advantage has been eroded as advanced science and technology becomes available worldwide. "Infused with private investment, companies around the world conduct R&D with dual-use commercial and defense applications," the strategy observed, concluding that such changes in commercial markets have altered the dynamics of who creates cutting-edge knowledge and tools for the military and how countries access them.
In response, the strategy calls for the US Department of Defense to not only strengthen its connections to the country's science and technology foundation, but also to change its internal processes of identifying technologies and see them progress through acquisition into fielded capabilities. The abilities to "incentivize the design of open systems that can rapidly incorporate cutting-edge technologies" and rewards "rapid experimentation, acquisition, and fielding" are emphasized by the strategy, which also highlights the three "valleys of death" during defense innovation acquisition as technologies move from lab to prototype, prototype to product, and product to volume production.
14 critical technology areas identified
Specifically mentioning the "pacing challenge" posed by the People's Republic of China, the strategy also reiterates the 14 "critical technology areas" previously identified by the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering in a strategic vision released in February 2022. They are grouped in three categories that represent the approaches required to advance technologies crucial to the Department of Defense:
The first category represents seed areas of emerging opportunity, including biotechnology, quantum science, future-generation wireless, and advanced materials. The second category represents effective adoption areas where there is "vibrant existing commercial activity," including trusted artificial intelligence and autonomy, integrated networked systems-of-systems, microelectronics, renewable energy generation and storage, advanced computing and software, and human-machine interfaces. Finally, the third category touches on defense-specific areas, including directed energy, hypersonics, and integrated sensing, and cyber.
AUKUS and Quad gain further importance, but no "Chip 4" in sight
Notably, the strategy emphasizes the need to strengthen US science and technology defense cooperation with allies and partners through bilateral and multilateral initiatives. These initiatives include the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Australian-UK-US (AUKUS) partnership, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Australia, India, Japan, and the US), and the so-called "Five Eyes" alliance (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and the US). The so-called "Chip 4" alliance that is taking shape among Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and the US was not mentioned, but it remains to be seen where it will stand in future strategic roadmaps as the US Department of Defense seeks tighter relations with the microelectronics industry.
