This page contains an overview of The Technical Cooperation Program (TTCP). A downloadable document: "TTCP '101' - A Beginner's Guide to The Technical Cooperation Program" is also available.
Historical Background
On 25 October 1957, the President of the United States and the Prime Minister of Great Britain made a Declaration of Common Purpose containing the following words:
"The arrangements which the nations of the free world have made for collective defense and mutual help are based on the recognition that the concept of national self sufficiency is now out of date. The countries of the free world are interdependent and only in genuine partnership, by combining their resources and sharing tasks in many fields, can progress and safety be found. For our part we have agreed that our two countries will henceforth act in accordance with this principle."
Immediately afterward, the Canadian Government subscribed to this principle of interdependence and declared itself ready to join in the common effort. The United States and United Kingdom Governments agreed that Canada should participate. The resulting organization was called the Tripartite Technical Cooperation Program (TTCP).
As a result, an exchange of notes was made which reconstituted the Combined Policy Committee (CPC) which comprised the Foreign and Defense Ministers of the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada and also the heads of the atomic energy agencies of the three nations. It was further decided that two Subcommittees of the CPC should be established: one to deal with matters in the atomic field and the other to facilitate cooperation in non-atomic research and development. The latter body, eventually named the Subcommittee on Non-Atomic Military Research and Development (NAMRAD), was composed of the heads of defense research and development organizations in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. Australia joined the NAMRAD Subcomittee in 1965, and New Zealand joined in 1969. These five nations form the current membership, and the organization governed by the Subcommittee is now called The Technical Cooperation Program.
From 1958 until 1971, TTCP grew from an original 8 Groups to 17 Groups. These 17 Groups oversaw a total of 57 Working Panels and 43 Working Groups. Based on a conviction that the program had grown too large and that it encompassed some activities of marginal value, a complete review of TTCP was carried out in late 1971. In March 1972, a policy statement was issued which revised the scope, structure, and mode of operation of TTCP to ensure that the manpower and other resources expended on the program would be limited to areas of high potential for mutual benefit.
In 1983, TTCP celebrated its 25th anniversary. Some historical comments and background on TTCP were prepared for the 25th Anniversary Meeting of the NAMRAD Principals.
In 1994, the TTCP participants were advised of a United States legal interpretation requiring all United States defense agreements, including the former TTCP Declaration of Common Purpose, to be formalized by way of a memorandum of understanding (MOU). The required MOU was signed by each of the TTCP nations in Australia in October 1995, Amendment One was signed in the UK in October 2000 and Amendment Two was signed on October 15, 2005 in Canada.
At the 1995 NAMRAD annual meeting, the Principals asked the Deputies to investigate the structure and operations of TTCP. This study led to the second major revision of the organization, adopted at the NAMRAD meeting held in the United Kingdom in October 1996. The major technical elements, known since the early days of the NAMRAD Subcommittee as Subgroups, were renamed as Groups. The two Subgroups that had focused, respectively, on radar and on optoelectronics and infrared technologies were combined into a Sensors Group; and a new Group called Joint Systems and Analysis was formed to perform system concept studies, analysis of joint operations and land operations, and operations research. After these revisions, there were ten Groups.
At the 2005 NAMRAD annual meeting, the Principals unanimously approved the formation of a Land Systems Group, thus bringing the total to 11 Groups.
Aims and Means
The central concept that led to the formation of TTCP was contained in the Declaration of Common Purpose. That declaration recognized that no member nation possesses the total resources to provide for its own defense research and development (R&D) needs. Each must assist the others by sharing resources and tasks in many fields so that progress and security can be found by all. The aim of TTCP, then, is to foster such cooperation in the science and technology (S&T) needed for conventional, i.e. non-atomic, national defense. The purpose is to enhance national defense at reduced cost.
TTCP encompasses basic research, exploratory development and demonstrations of advanced technology development. This scope includes the exploration of alternatives and concepts prior to development of specific weapon systems; feasibility demonstrations of innovative new concepts, techniques or equipment and their test and evaluation; the pursuit of alternate solutions to potential military problems; and generic systems. Specific systems may be utilized to gain an understanding of the state of the art and to derive the departure point for future activity.
Collaboration within TTCP provides a means of acquainting the participating nations with each other's defense R&D programs so that each national program may be adjusted and planned in cognizance of the efforts of the other nations. This process supplements each nation's program with the knowledge and resources of the others. It avoids unnecessary duplication among the national programs. It promotes concerted action and joint research to identify and close important gaps in the collective technology base. And it provides each nation with the best technical information available for advice to their governments and military forces on all matters related to defense R&D.
TTCP, being a program and not a corporate body, has no funding and acts by recognition of mutual defense requirements and the willingness of staff to collaborate in joint research activities through consultation, collective decisions, and formulating recommendations for operational requirements. Under the TTCP charter, member nations explain their national programs and objectives, in different key technology areas, in order to identify the scope for collaboration. Collaborative research, sharing of data and facilities, joint trials and exercises, etc. are all included in the cooperation.
Traditionally, TTCP has been very successful with scientists working under a 'best efforts' basis in which there has been no formal commitment by each nation to make available the resources or to perform the activities needed to accomplish the collaborative activity. The NAMRAD Principals fully endorse this approach and determine that it should remain the basis for most collaborative activities under TTCP. However, it is recognized that in some cases (e.g. major trials or exercises) the failure of one nation to complete its undertaking could significantly diminish the value of the joint activity and waste resources. In such cases, the TTCP MOU provides for a Project Arrangement (PA) under which each participating nation formally accepts a commitment with respect to specific resources and activities for the collaborative project.
For more details, see TTCP Activities.
Organization
In 1996 the NAMRAD Principals established a three-level structure. Level 1 is the strategic policy level. Level 2 is the program planning and oversight level. Level 3 is the science and technology operational level. These three levels are explained briefly in the following paragraphs.
Level 1 is composed of the Principals, the Washington Secretariat. The Principals act jointly as the NAMRAD Subcommittee to provide the policy, strategic vision and goals, and to give broad direction for achieving international Defense S&T collaboration. The Principals also determine the Level 2 structure, appoint Level 2 participants, review and approve or redirect the TTCP program, and define management procedures to facilitate operations. The Washington Deputies and Secretariat provide a supporting structure for the Principals to ensure development and implementation of the Principals' directives, maintain consistent operations across the Groups, explore the benefits of proposed new collaborations, promote cooperation among Groups, prepare for the annual meeting of the NAMRAD Principals and ensure continuity of operations.
The NAMRAD Principals have established eleven Groups to perform program planning and oversight of cooperative efforts in S&T. For convenience, each Group has been given a three character designator. A Group consists of an Executive Chair, National Representatives from the participating nations, and subordinate Level 3 bodies. Within its field, a Group undertakes studies and information exchange to produce a vision, technical goals, and a work program which is then approved by the Principals.
Each Group establishes Level 3 Subordinate Elements, made up of scientific and technical specialists from the participating nations, to undertake nearly all of the S&T activities. There are currently two types of Level 3 bodies - Technical Panels (TPs) and Action Groups (AGs). These elements are formed by the Group as needed, and are approved by the Principals. Most Groups have from six to ten TPs and AGs.
The NAMRAD Principals are as follows:
 Australia |
Chief Defence Scientist Department of Defence |
 Canada |
Assistant Deputy Minister for Science and Technology Department of National Defence |
 New Zealand |
Director, Defence Technology Agency New Zealand Defence Force |
 United Kingdom |
Director, Science and Technology Ministry of Defence |
 United States of America |
Director Defense Research and Engineering Department of Defense |
The NAMRAD Principals do not have a permanent head. The Principal from the nation hosting the annual NAMRAD meeting acts as chair of that meeting.
The NAMRAD Principals will make decisions unanimously except with respect to the authorization, amendment or termination of TTCP PAs as explained in MOU paragraph 4.2.6.
When the NAMRAD Principals are not in session, the powers and authorities of the NAMRAD Subcommittee, as defined in the TTCP MOU, are exercised by the Principals ex-committee with the support of the Deputies.
Each Deputy will appoint a staff member to coordinate administrative actions connected with the work of the NAMRAD Principals and to assist with the staff duties and correspondence of the Deputies. These staff members will be known collectively as the Washington Secretariat or the Secretariat.
Washington Contact Officers
Each Deputy may appoint a Washington Contact Officer (WCO) for each TTCP Group. Appointment of WCOs is optional and is a national decision.
The WCO will act as a Point of Focus for his national participants. In this role, he will facilitate contacts and exchanges and expedite correspondence, including the provision of a secure channel for exchange of classified material. He should provide support to his Deputy and Secretariat and to the Executive Chair of any assigned Group when that officer is appointed from his nation.