U.S. Conventional Prompt Global Strike: Issues for 2008 and Beyond (NSB)

Released 08.21.08

In its FY2007 budget request, the Department of Defense sought funding to develop a capability to strike within a few hours any point in the world with conventional weapons.  That prompt global strike (PGS) capability would have been implemented by replacing the nuclear warhead on selected Trident missiles with a conventional explosive warhead.  Congressional concerns about the PGS concept resulted in a request to the NRC in the 2007 Defense Appropriations Act to analyze a broad range of technical and policy aspects about the DOD proposal including consideration of a range of other options.  This is the final report of this study and presents an introduction to the PGS concept; an analysis of the military issues; an examination of political, international, policy, doctrinal, and technology issues; an assessment of conventional PGS options; a discussion of key questions; and major findings and recommendations. 

Emerging Cognitive Neuroscience and Related Technologies (AFSB)

Released 08.13.08

In 2004, the NRC set up a standing committee to report on emerging scientific and technological trends that would be of critical importance to the nation's intelligence community (IC).  One such area is cognitive neuroscience and neurotechnology.  Deciding what information in those areas has national security information and assigning priorities, however, is a daunting challenge.  To help with this task, the NRC was asked by the Defense Intelligence Agency to identify those areas that will develop over the next 20 years and could have national security implications and be of interest to the IC.  This report begins with a discussion of questions about cognitive neuroscience and related technologies that may be important for the decision maker.  It then presents an assessment of selected areas of interest in cognitive science research and technology; an examination of emerging areas; an analysis of cultural and ethical underpinnings; and an assessment of potential intelligence and military applications of these areas.

Preliminary Observations on DoD Software Research Needs and Priorities: A  Letter Report (CSTB)

Released 05.22.08

The nation's defense systems depend critically on advanced software, a dependency that will grow in both extent and complexity. Yet the Department of Defense is increasingly concerned for a number of reasons about its ability to meet these growing software needs. The help address these concerns, DoD asked the NRC to assess the nature of the national investment in software research and consider ways to revitalize the knowledge and human resource base needed to assure the needed software-intensive systems. To provide preliminary feedback on DoD software research needs and priorities and suggestions for a research agenda, DoD asked the NRC for an interim letter report. The letter report addresses three key technology areas: the management of engineering risk; software quality assurance; and the reduction of requirements-related risk without excessive sacrifice in systems capability. These and other areas will be discussed in greater detail in the final report. 

Integrated Computational Materials Engineering: A Transformational Discipline for Improved Competitiveness and National Security (NMAB)

Released 04.25.2008

Integrated computational materials engineering (ICME) is an emerging discipline that can accelerate materials development and unify design and manufacturing. Developing ICME is a grand challenge that could provide significant economic benefit. To help develop a strategy for development of this new technology area, DOE and DoD asked the NRC to explore its benefits and promises, including the benefits of a comprehensive ICME capability; to establish a strategy for development and maintenance of an ICME infrastructure, and to make recommendations about how best to meet these opportunities. This report provides a vision for ICME, a review of case studies and lessons learned, an analysis of technological barriers, and an evaluation of ways to overcome cultural and organizational challenges to develop the discipline.