Royal Decree 454/2012 of 5 March, for which the basic organic structure of the Ministry of Defence is developed, is set out in Article 3. 1 that the Secretariat of State of Defense is responsible for, among other things, the direction, impetus and management of the policies of armaments and material, research, development and innovation. In article 4.2.g), the General Directorate of Armament and Material is responsible for proposing, and directing the plans and programs of research and development of systems of weapons and equipment of interest to the national defense, in coordination with national and international bodies competent in this field.

Ministerial Order 37/2005 of March 30, which regulates the Defense Planning process, establishes in its third paragraph 3 that the Chief of Defense Staff (JEMAD) will determine military capabilities and assign its priority and that the Secretary of State of Defense (SEDEF) will determine the technological and industrial frameworks to achieve military capabilities and will direct the procurement and maintenance of armaments and material.

The creation of the Institute of Technology "La Maranosa" (ITM) by Order DEF/3537/2006, of November 13, has provided a great impetus to the R & D activities in this Ministry in order to identify, develop and validate technological capabilities and solutions. Also, the R & D activities that have been carried out by the autonomous organizations attached to the Ministry of Defense, National Institute of Aerospace Technique "Esteban Terradas" (INTA) and Canal de Experiences Hydrodynamics of El Pardo (CEHIPAR), have been very useful in R & D actions in this ministerial department.

Order DEF/1453/2010, of 25 May, which regulates the procedure for calling processes for the selection of R & D projects of interest to the defence, in the field of the Coincident programme, has established a a procedure for collecting existing information on the R & D landscape in the civil field with the ultimate intention that, if they were of interest to Defence, the procurement procedures necessary for its acquisition will be initiated.

Also, the Technology and Innovation for Defense (ETID) Strategy has been a valuable document, which has identified the Department's technological priorities, and has favored the orientation of the industrial and technological base.

On the other hand, the creation of the Technology Observation and Prospective System (SOPT) of the General Subdirectorate of Technology and Innovation (SDG TECIN) contributes to the development of R & D policy through the provision of strategic planning of R & D activities in the short, medium and long term and is assigned, inter alia, to the task of collecting and disseminating technological knowledge in the Ministry of Defence.

Law 14/2011, of June 1, of Science, Technology and Innovation, establishes the framework for the promotion of scientific and technical research and its instruments of general coordination. Its aim is to promote research, experimental development and innovation as elements on which economic development has to be established. This provision states the importance of coordinating scientific and technical research policies in the General Administration of the State and promoting internationalisation, especially in the field of the European Union. On the basis of this, it is considered appropriate to appoint a single interlocutor within this ministerial department.

Finally, the growing participation of the Ministry of Defense in international organizations, in the field of research and development, imposes the need to coordinate the presence and activities of the Department in these areas. forums where the need to adopt common strategies and guidelines is becoming increasingly apparent, in order to optimize costs and resources.

In accordance with the above, it is necessary to regulate and coordinate the investigation and development of systems of weapons and equipment of interest to the national defense in the field of the Ministry of Defense, determining competence, planning, management and coordination of R & D in this ministerial department.

In its virtue, I have:

Article 1. Object.

The purpose of this ministerial order is to regulate and coordinate the investigation and development of weapons systems and equipment of interest to the national defense in the field of the Ministry of Defense (MINISDEF).

Article 2. Competencies.

1. The Directorate General of Armament and Material (DGAM) regulates and coordinates the R & D of weapons systems and equipment of interest to the national defense in the Ministry of Defense. In addition, the DGAM is set up as the sole interlocutor for the Department's R & D activities.

2. The DGAM, for the development of the policy of R & D of weapons systems and equipment of interest to the national defense, has the advice of the System of Observation and Prospective Technological (SOPT) of the Subdirectorate General of Technology and Innovation (SDG TECIN), as well as the National Aerospace Technology Institute (INTA), in aerospace.

3. The R & D centers of weapons systems and equipment of interest to the national defense, constitute a unique asset of the Department and will develop the R & D activities that are assigned to them by virtue of the present disposition.

4. Any other Defense Ministry body that promotes R & D activities should inform the DGAM that these activities are related to the systems of weapons and equipment of interest to the national defense. The Secretary of State for Defence (SEDEF) shall, by means of Instruction, regulate the procedure for coordinating the coordination between the various management bodies of the Department in this field.

Article 3. Planning.

1. The planning of R & D should contribute to the procurement of material resources through research and development programmes.

2. The planning of R & D is part of the defense planning.

3. The guidelines set out in the Ministry of Defence's (ETID) Technology and Innovation Strategy will be considered a priority in the Department's R & D planning.

4. The SEDEF, as a material resource planning authority, is responsible for the planning of R & D in the Ministry of Defense.

For the realization of the planning the SEDEF will take into account:

a) The needs proposed and prioritized by the Chief of Defense Staff (JEMAD).

(b) The commitments made at international level and the results obtained.

c) The expected economic availabilities.

d) The lines of action envisaged in the Technology and Innovation for Defence (ETID) Strategy.

e) The technological areas that are set as priorities.

f) Existing industrial and technological capabilities.

g) The Ministry of Defense's catalogue of R & D activities.

h) The proposals and needs of the centers that carry out R&D in the field of the Ministry of Defense.

i) The activities and capacities of other MINISDEF agencies, industry and universities.

5. The R & D planning shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the planning process for financial and material resources, and in the process of obtaining material resources from the Secretary of State of Defense.

6. The DGAM will carry out the R & D programming, which is the subject of this order, in accordance with the process of planning the financial and material resources, proposing the research and development programs to be carried out by the Department. This programming will include the proposals made by the centres which carry out R & D, which are dependent on SEDEF, will determine the participation in international R & D organisations in the field of systems and equipment of interest to the defence and the activities to be carried out in them, and, through the SDG TECIN, shall manage the annual procurement plan for that R & D.

Article 4. Management of R & D programmes

1. The Director General of Armament and Material (DIGAM) will determine the responsibility of the management of all R & D programs of weapons systems and equipment of interest to the national defense. It will propose to the SEDEF those that must be assigned to the INTA for its execution or will assign them directly to the SDG TECIN, to the Technological Institute "La Maranosa" (ITM) or to the Canal of Hydrodynamic Experiences of El Pardo (CEHIPAR) when it corresponds. In the case of international programmes, they shall be governed by the specific agreements concluded by the participating countries (MOU, s).

2. In relation to the R & D programmes of weapons systems and equipment of interest to the national defence, assigned to INTA, the provisions of the Statute of the said autonomous body shall be taken into account.

3. In relation to R & D programmes allocated to CEHIPAR, account shall be taken of the provisions governing the said autonomous body.

Article 5. Coordination.

1. The Advisory and Coordination Council for R & D. is created in the General Directorate of Armament and Material.

2. The Council has the following tasks assigned:

a) Advise in the elaboration of the regulations that regulate the activities of R & D of weapons systems and equipment of interest to the national defense in the Ministry of Defense.

b) Coordinate the R & D activities of weapons systems and equipment of interest to the national defense in the Ministry of Defense.

c) Orienting companies in the sector in the field of R & D systems of weapons and equipment of interest to national defense, to collect the R & D experiences of the industry in this field and to assess their applicability in the activities of the Department.

d) To act as a single interlocutor on R & D issues of weapons systems and equipment of interest to the national defense, with public and private institutions and agencies, national and international, to carry out activities in the field of scientific and technical research.

3. The composition and functions of the Advisory and Coordination Council shall be developed by instruction of SEDEF.

Article 6. I + D. Intangible Asset File

The DGAM General Technology and Innovation Subdirectorate is created in the Intangible Asset Archive of weapons systems and equipment of interest to the national defense, in which it will have to be documentation and rights generated in each of these R & D programmes, after completion. For the SDG TECIN, monitoring should be carried out on the usefulness reported by each of these R & D programmes.

Single repeal provision. Regulatory repeal.

Order 45/1985, dated July 29, is hereby repealed, regulating the processing and approval of the Weapons and Material Research Programs.

Also, how many provisions of equal or lower rank are opposed to what is established in this ministerial order.

Final disposition first. Powers of development.

The Secretary of State of Defense and the Director General of Armament and Material are empowered to draw up the necessary provisions in the field of their respective powers in the development of the provisions of this order. ministerial.

Final disposition second. Entry into force.

This ministerial order shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the "Official State Gazette".

Madrid, March 28, 2012. -Minister of Defense Pedro Morenes Eulate.