A New Way to Justify Test and Evaluation Infrastructure Investments

Abstract

In 2013, the Congress directed that a study be conducted on the ability of the national test and evaluation infrastructure to effectively and efficiently mature technologies for defense-related hypersonic systems development through 2030. It further required that a report be submitted to the Congress on the study results, along with a plan identifying the capability needs and proposed defense-related investments. The Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) supported both congressionally directed efforts and was subsequently tasked with providing a business case analysis for the proposed investments. This article describes the IDA-developed methodology used to successfully justify and secure full funding for the proposed five-year, $350 million Department of Defense Test and Evaluation infrastructure investment augmentation.