On Nov. 17, Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering Emil Michael announced a trimmed-down list of six Critical Technology Areas (CTAs) as priorities for R&D and demonstration. Eight areas were dropped or incorporated within the new list.
In a published statement, the six CTAs—Applied Artificial Intelligence (AAI), Biomanufacturing (BIO), Contested Logistics Technologies (LOG), Quantum and Battlefield Information Dominance (Q-BID), Scaled Directed Energy (SCADE), and Scaled Hypersonics (SHY)—are designed to address the most pressing challenges facing the modern battlefield.
“These six Critical Technology Areas are not just priorities; they are imperatives,” Michael said.