Combating Terrorist Use of Explosives in the U.S.
This project concluded in July 2024.
So What?
Terrorists continue to use improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to cause destruction, harm, and disruption. The threat is also evolving as violent extremists develop new methods of IED design and use. Efforts to counter terrorist IED attacks in the United States are inhibited by knowledge and capability gaps. The related operational challenges can be addressed by the scientific community through targeted research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) initiatives.
Project Summary
In 2008, the federal government published Research Challenges in Combating Terrorist Use of Explosives in the United States, which has served as a landmark reference in the field ever since. The DHS Science & Technology Directorate (S&T), in partnership with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Office for Bombing Prevention (OBP) and the U.S. interagency counter-IED community, tasked NCITE with developing an updated report outlining 10 challenge areas in which concentrated research can be most beneficial when combating terrorist use of IEDs in the homeland.
Purpose/Objectives
The purpose of the report is to identify pathways to mitigate the persistent and evolving terrorist IED threat through targeted RDT&E. This includes the identification and prioritization of the knowledge and capabilities needed to disrupt the chain of events leading up to an IED attack, protect vulnerable targets, and effectively respond to IED incidents. This report is meant to aid efforts to coordinate, synchronize, and deconflict the array of interconnected RDT&E efforts funded across the U.S. government.
Method
NCITE project team conducted a systematic review of the academic and grey literatures on IEDs and counter-IED approaches. Building from this foundation, the team conducted interviews across the interagency mission community with select academic subject matter experts. NCITE researchers led an interagency workshop, which focused on prioritizing across the numerous operational challenges identified by the project team. These prioritized challenges are reflected in the final report.
Reports and Publications
Research Challenges in Combating Terrorist Use of Explosives in the United StatesThis full report outlines 10 challenge areas where concentrated research can be most beneficial when combating terrorist IED use in the homeland. |
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Research Challenges in Combating Terrorist Use of Explosives: Key Science and Technology ContributionsThis handout highlights the key research priorities – identified in the full report – for counterting terrorist use of explosives. |
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Understanding Terrorist Use of Explosives
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The Future of Terrorist Use of Improvised Explosive Devices: Getting in Front of an Evolving ThreatNCITE researchers Austin Doctor and Sam Hunter authored this article for the CTC Sentinel, which examines the emerging IED threat landscape. |
Austin Doctor, Ph.D.
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Sam Hunter, Ph.D.
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Gina Ligon, Ph.D.
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