RDT&E Program Areas

The RDT&E Program brings value to the organization by investing in new ideas and technologies to help the Coast Guard better perform its missions in the future. Programs typically fall into five main program areas:

  • Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR)
    The C4ISR Branch supports maritime domain awareness, command and control, tactical communications and cybertechnology programs.

  • Environment and Waterways (E&W)
    The E&W Branch supports aids to navigation, pollution and non-indigenous species prevention and response, and Automatic Identification System (AIS) programs.

  • Modeling and Simulation Center of Expertise (MSCOE)
    The MSCOE provides decision-makers with responsive, low-cost, low-risk modeling support for Coast Guard and external customers. It produces tools that support fleet mix analysis, tactical mission engagement scenarios, sensor optimization, resource allocation, game theory-based scheduling tools, and systemwide trade-off studies to support strategic capability and acquisition decision-making.

  • Surface
    The Surface Branch provides program support to Arctic missions as well as programs to enhance vessel technology, port security, law enforcement, alternative energy, and weapons of mass destruction identification and prevention capabilities.

  • Systems and Unmanned Technology
    The Systems and Unmanned Technology Branch provides investigations of sensor and airborne platform technologies, mission-relevant test and evaluation, performance measurement and analysis, and performance model validation programs. This branch also produces analysis products that address specific questions for decision-makers, including requirements and alternatives analysis, mission analysis, risk analysis and life cycle cost analysis.