Counter Weapons OF MASS Destruction Applied Research

Nuclear Technologies and Capabilities Development encompasses the following related areas: RDT&E to identify, develop, and exploit signatures associated with nuclear threats in support of U.S. capabilities that detect and interdict such threats; and locate, identify, and track special nuclear material and improve detection factors such as range, time, sensitivity, and accuracy to enhance Service and Special Mission Unit capabilities. These efforts support Department of War (DoW) requirements for counterproliferation, nonproliferation, countering emerging threats, and homeland defense. RDT&E to study signatures associated with adversary nuclear programs and nuclear detonations to gain knowledge or understanding necessary to: determine technical capabilities needed to improve DoW contingency planning activities; improve DoW situational awareness on the nuclear battlefield; and improve capabilities to attribute the source of a nuclear detonation. Research and development of innovative technologies for the protection of mission-essential personnel, critical military and national defense capabilities, and associated control and support systems during a nuclear event. Research under this project supports the mission critical systems identified under DoD Instruction 3150.09, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Survivability Policy. System vulnerability research develops nuclear assessment capabilities to support operational planning, weapons effects predictions, and strategic system design. This activity also provides the DoW’s nuclear design and protection standards for new and existing systems, e.g., command and control facilities and aircraft. Key systems include the Nuclear Command and Control System, the net-centric thin-line, and both military and civilian satellites and associated support systems. Experimental capabilities research provides the warfighter with unique x-ray, gamma ray, and electromagnetic pulse test capabilities in support of system survivability development, certification, and sustainment. These efforts also support international collaboration, user groups, case study reviews, and the Joint Atomic Information Exchange Group. The human survivability effort conducts research to develop and validate mortality and morbidity models associated with radiological and nuclear weapon effects.

Counter Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Technologies and Capabilities Development encompasses the following areas: Defeat Technologies supports Combatant Commands through research, development, and transition of offensive weapons and other capabilities to counter Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) while mitigating collateral contamination effects. Technology development focuses on the physical or functional defeat of WMD threat materials, an adversary's ability to deliver the same, and the physical and nonphysical support networks enabling both. It does so through the systematic identification and maturation of technologies capable of defeating WMD agents or agent-based processes and selecting technologies for integration into weapons, delivery systems, or rapid WMD elimination capabilities. This effort includes developing specific WMD agent/agent-based process simulants, sub-scale test infrastructure, and sampling capability required for effective development, testing, and evaluation of next-generation CWMD capabilities. The project places a high priority on understanding, characterizing, and validating potential weapon effects within mathematical confidence as it relates to the unintended release of hazardous threat materials. Energetics research develops materials and weapon design technology providing defeat capabilities for engaging hard and deeply buried targets that are beyond current high explosive blast/fragmentation warhead technology. Technologies with the potential for weapon and capability integration are transitioned to Budget Activity 3, Advanced Technology Development efforts. On a limited basis, technology test data is shared with coalition partners. WMD counterforce technologies research develops weapons effects modeling algorithms, full and sub-scale test series required to investigate CWMD weapon effects and sensor performance, and visualization and situational awareness tools to support the next generation Technical Reachback cell. These activities are critical enablers for the development of advanced CWMD planning tools. This effort couples long-range fundamental and applied research with technology development in the physical, life, and computational sciences to support kill chain activities in countering emerging WMD threats.

The CWMD Test and Evaluation project provides a unique national test capability for simulated WMD facilities and processes. This capability provides DTRA's structured and systematic end-to-end test event planning, preparation, management, execution, and data analysis. It also offers test instrumentation (data acquisition systems and optics), scientific analysis and predictions, test article construction, test article/test bed remediation, tunnel mining, architectural and engineering design, systems engineering and integration, and test data management. The project leverages 50 years of expertise in investigating weapons effects and target response across the spectrum of hostile environments that could be created by proliferate nations or terrorist organizations with access to advanced conventional weapons or WMD. Subject matter experts design full and sub-scale testing strategies focusing on weapon-target interaction with fixed soft and hardened facilities to include above ground facilities, cut-and-cover facilities, and deep underground tunnels.

The Counter Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Cross-Cutting Technical and Information Sciences project develops concepts and technologies in the areas of high-speed information processing, modeling and simulation, signal detection, and data-driven decision analysis in support of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency's (DTRA's) technical reachback teams. This project develops and maintains continuously improving collaborative architectures and Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) modeling and simulation codes that drive an integrated suite of decision support tools serving the Combatant Commands, other Department of War (DoW) agencies, and national and international CWMD partners. Prior to FY 2027, this effort also funds research activities that benefit the public through analysis and engagement to reduce and counter threats posed by WMD via the Strategic Trends Research Initiative. Strategic Trends Research Initiative cultivates national and international research community partnerships across domains, bringing scientific, technical, and social science experts together to help understand and anticipate WMD capabilities and threats.