The Defense Technology Area Plan (DTAP) is issued by the Director of Defense Research and Engineering (DDR&E) to guide the Department's Applied Research (6,2) and Advanced Technology Development (6.3) investment decisions.

This edition of the DTAP has been prepared by the ten Defense Science and Technology (S&T) Reliance panels overseen by us, the Reliance Executive Committee. This plan documents our vision, strategy, goals, Defense Technology Objectives (DTOs) and technology roadmaps being pursued during the FY 98 budget and Future Years Defense Plan. The DTAP also identifies the funding allocated for DTOs and the Fiscal Year when these technologies may be transitioned to development to create new warfighting capabilities.

The DTAP provides a means to communicate out objectives and work to our customers: the development community, warfighters, and Congress. Adherence to this DTAP will ensure that the Department's investment in S&T is responsive to our customers, properly focused, affordable, and well executed.

George T Singley, III Chairman Reliance Executive Committee
A. Fenner Milton Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research and Technology	Paul Gaffney, II Rear Admiral, USN Chief of Naval Research
Helmut Hellwig Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Science, Technology and Engineering	Lee Buchanan Deputy Director Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Dwight Duston Assistant Deputy for Technology Ballistic Missile Defense Organization	George Ullrich Deputy Director Defense Special Weapons Agency
John Mazzuchi Deputy Assistant Secretary for Clinical Services (OASD (HA) / CS) (ASBREM)	Theodore Prociv Deputy for Chemical/Biological Matters (OATSD (NCB))
Richard Riddell Rear Admiral, USN Director, Test and Evaluation and Technology Requirements (OPNAV (N091))	Richard Paul Major General, USAF Director, Science and Technology (HQ AFMC/ST)
Roy Beauchamp Major General, USA Deputy Chief of Staff for Research, Development and Acquisition (AMCRDA)	Robert Wolff, PE Director, Plans and Integration DCS/Installation and Logistics (Joint Engineers)
Murray Rowe Technical Director, Navy Personnel Research and Development Center