The Department of War has released DOW Manual 5000.103, establishing policy and procedures for cyber developmental test and evaluation, or cyber DT&E, across all department systems.
The Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Cyber Summit on May 21 will address the rising tide of global cyber threats and the urgency of meeting the 2027 zero trust deadline. Sign up now to join the discussion.
According to the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering, the Cyber DT&E manual was approved by Under Secretary Emil Michael, effective Feb. 25.
Table of Contents
What Does the Cyber DT&E Manual Require?
The guidance directs DOW components to plan, fund, execute and report cyber DT&E activities across a system’s lifecycle, from science and technology through production, fielding, sustainment and post-deployment updates. It applies to pre-acquisition efforts, major acquisition programs, adaptive pathways and systems in sustainment.
Cyber DT&E evaluates a system’s ability to prevent, detect, analyze and recover from cyber events, generating data to inform risk decisions, design trades and production approvals. It requires programs to obtain Risk Management Framework authorization decisions and integrates testing into mission engineering, prototyping and operations.
What Is the Manual’s Impact on the DOW Cyber Community?
The manual institutionalizes mission-focused cyber testing across acquisition, sustainment and technology efforts, requiring cyber validation before operational reviews and tying performance directly to production, fielding and risk decisions. Cyber DT&E now measurably informs Risk Management Framework determinations, including interim authority to test and authorization to operate decisions.
The guidance formalizes the use of cyber ranges, digital engineering, and adversarial testing, and expands the focus on attack surface and supply chain risk. It also increases workforce and funding requirements for qualified personnel, tools and infrastructure to support lifecycle testing.
How Are Responsibilities Assigned?
The USW(R&E) oversees implementation and approves cyber test plans for select programs. The under secretary for acquisition and sustainment, chief digital and AI officer, and DOW chief information officer align the policy with cybersecurity, intelligence and AI strategies.
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