Node A6 · Acronym decoder
RDT&E
Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation
What it actually means
The appropriation account that funds development work — from basic research (6.1) through operational systems development (6.7), the famous "budget activity" numbering. Like all appropriations it has color-of-money rules: RDT&E can't buy production quantities, and using the wrong pot is a legal problem, not a bookkeeping one.
Where you'll meet it
Budget exhibits (R-docs), program funding profiles, and appropriations discussions.