# Development Test and Evaluation

**R-2A activity** of project 804 — Development Test & Evaluation  
**Program element:** 0605804D8Z — Development Test & Evaluation  
**Component:** Defense-Wide · **Budget Activity:** 6  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605804D8Z/804/a0  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605804D8Z/804

## Summary

This activity requests $19.1M in FY2027, 100% of project 804, down 3.8% on FY2026. The R-2A exhibit describes it across FY2025–FY2027, including what the FY2027 money is planned to buy.

## What the FY2027 request buys

**FY2027 planned work.** - Continue to work with Acquisition Program Managers, Chief Developmental Testers, and Lead Development Test and Evaluation (DT&E) organizations to improve DT&E planning and develop comprehensive and efficient DT&E strategies/plans through the use of disciplined Developmental Evaluation Framework matrices and Scientific Test and Analysis Techniques (STAT). - Continue to support rapid prototyping, rapid fielding, and technology demonstrations efforts in the development of tailored comprehensive, efficient, and innovative DT&E strategies/plans. - Continue to implement the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering (OUSW(R&E)) 'Shift Left' initiative that focuses on ensuring DT&E strategies are developed in advance of releasing Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction (TMRR) and Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) Request for Proposals (RFPs), and increasing the amount and quality of data available to support production decisions with specific focus on cybersecurity, interoperability, and reliability. - For Acquisition Category (ACAT) ID programs, review/approve all Test and Evaluation Master Plans (TEMPs) submitted to support milestone reviews. For ACAT IB and IC programs, review the DT&E strategy/plans within the TEMP and provide a recommendation to the Service Milestone Decision Authority as to whether or not the strategy is adequate. - For ACAT ID programs, publish independent DT&E Sufficiency Assessments prior to Milestone B and C decisions with the goal of reducing discovery of performance issues later in the acquisition cycle. - For ACAT IB and IC programs, publish independent DT&E assessments at the development RFP release decision point and Milestone B and C decisions with the goal of reducing discovery of performance issues later in the acquisition cycle. - When requested by the Secretary or Deputy Secretary of War, provide independent developmental test assessments in support of the Under Secretary of War Acquisition and Sustainment (USW(A&S) and Service Milestone Decision Authorities. - Refine DT&E policies and guidance addressing DT&E across all Adaptive Acquisition Framework programs. - Promote the application of sound DT&E and related technical disciplines across the Department's acquisition community and programs. - Implement initiatives that evolve the DT&E 'state of practice' to keep pace with emerging technologies and improve test efficiency to field systems faster.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** Decrease due to Contract Service Reductions in the amount of $0.748 million.

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** - Continue to work with Acquisition Program Managers, Chief Developmental Testers, and Lead Development Test and Evaluation (DT&E) organizations to improve DT&E planning and develop comprehensive and efficient DT&E strategies/plans through the use of disciplined Developmental Evaluation Framework matrices and Scientific Test and Analysis Techniques (STAT). - Continue to support rapid prototyping, rapid fielding, and technology demonstrations efforts in the development of tailored comprehensive, efficient, and innovative DT&E strategies/plans. - Continue to implement the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering (OUSW(R&E)) 'Shift Left' initiative that focuses on ensuring DT&E strategies are developed in advance of releasing Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction (TMRR) and Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) Request for Proposals (RFPs), and increasing the amount and quality of data available to support production decisions with specific focus on cybersecurity, interoperability, and reliability. - For Acquisition Category (ACAT) ID programs, review/approve all Test and Evaluation Master Plans (TEMPs) submitted to support milestone reviews. For ACAT IB and IC programs, review the DT&E strategy/plans within the TEMP and provide a recommendation to the Service Milestone Decision Authority as to whether or not the strategy is adequate. - For ACAT ID programs, publish independent DT&E Sufficiency Assessments prior to Milestone B and C decisions with the goal of reducing discovery of performance issues later in the acquisition cycle. - For ACAT IB and IC programs, publish independent DT&E assessments at the development RFP release decision point and Milestone B and C decisions with the goal of reducing discovery of performance issues later in the acquisition cycle. - When requested by the Secretary or Deputy Secretary of War, provide independent developmental test assessments in support of the Under Secretary of War Acquisition and Sustainment (USW(A&S) and Service Milestone Decision Authorities. - Refine DT&E policies and guidance addressing DT&E across all Adaptive Acquisition Framework programs. - Promote the application of sound DT&E and related technical disciplines across the Department's acquisition community and programs. - Implement initiatives that evolve the DT&E 'state of practice' to keep pace with emerging technologies and improve test efficiency to field systems faster.

**FY2025 accomplishments.** - Continue to work with acquisition Program Managers, Chief Developmental Testers, and Lead Development Test and Evaluation (DT&E) organizations to improve DT&E planning and develop comprehensive and efficient DT&E strategies/plans through the use of disciplined Developmental Evaluation Framework matrices and Scientific Test and Analysis Techniques (STAT). - Continue to support rapid prototyping, rapid fielding, and technology demonstrations efforts in the development of tailored comprehensive, efficient, and innovative DT&E strategies/plans. - Continue to implement the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)) 'Shift Left' initiative that focuses on ensuring DT&E strategies are developed in advance of releasing Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction (TMRR) and Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) Request for Proposals (RFPs), and increasing the quality of data available to support production decisions with specific focus on cybersecurity, interoperability, and reliability. - For Acquisition Category (ACAT) ID programs, review/approve all Test and Evaluation Master Plans (TEMPs) submitted to support milestone reviews. For ACAT IB and IC programs, review the DT&E strategy/plans within the TEMP and provide a recommendation to the Service Milestone Decision Authority as to whether or not the strategy is adequate. - For ACAT ID programs, publish independent DT&E Sufficiency Assessments prior to Milestone B and C decisions with the goal of reducing discovery of performance issues later in the acquisition cycle. - For ACAT IB and IC programs, publish independent DT&E assessments at the development RFP release decision point and Milestone B and C decisions with the goal of reducing discovery of performance issues later in the acquisition cycle. - When requested by the Secretary or Deputy Secretary of Defense, provide independent developmental test assessments in support of the Under Secretary of Defense Acquisition and Sustainment (USD(A&S) and Service Milestone Decision Authorities. - Refine DT&E policies and guidance addressing DT&E across all Adaptive Acquisition Framework programs. - Promote the application of sound DT&E and related technical disciplines across the Department's acquisition community and programs. - Implement initiatives that evolve the DT&E 'state of practice' to keep pace with emerging technologies and improve test efficiency to field systems faster.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 19.9 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 19.9 |
| FY2027 | Request | 19.1 |

> Prior, current and budget year only — an R-2A activity carries no five-year plan. It sums exactly into its project in the request year and not necessarily in any other.

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Office of the Secretary of Defense RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibit R-2A, PE 0605804D8Z project 804 (PB PB2027). Narrative is the government's own text.
- **No marks, no contractors at this grain** — congressional marks land on the program element and R-3 performers on the project.
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_activity`.

*HitchAI is an independent intelligence service, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense. Budget figures are requests/estimates, not obligations.*