SED Research Areas

SED research helps the Department of Defense and other government organizations develop, test, buy, or use systems.  Examples of systems include offensive or defensive weapons; aircraft, spacecraft, vehicles, and vessels; communications equipment; computer models and information technology software; and the components of these systems (such as individual sensors) or combinations of these systems (such as a family of integrated air defense systems).  Since SED is independent of the companies and laboratories that develop defense systems and of the government organizations that acquire systems, we are able to provide unbiased system evaluations to our government sponsors.  SED’s product is analysis, as documented in briefings, memos, and reports.  SED generally does not operate laboratories or develop hardware or software products except as internal analysis tools.

SED’s system evaluations are tailored to answer the specific questions posed by our government sponsors and inform their key decisions.  In order to make our analyses relevant for decision-making, we apply the best technical data on both U.S. and foreign systems and technologies in the context of military doctrine and operational plans, accounting for cost and policy implications as necessary.  Our research occurs at the nexus between government decision-makers, military warfighters, and technical experts in industry, academia, and government laboratories; our research staff members often serve as reservoirs of institutional knowledge about long-standing national security issues.

SED research areas are highlighted at the right.


SED researchers discussing a project