Before you can build anything, your scientists must understand the technology.
In XCOM: Enemy Unknown , "producing a piece" of equipment involves a multi-step pipeline requiring , Engineering , and Resource Management . Unlike conventional weapons that are always in stock, advanced alien-derived gear must be painstakingly unlocked and manufactured. 1. Research and Interrogations
Once a technology is researched, it becomes available for production in the department.
: Recover weapon fragments, alien alloys, and elerium from mission sites.
: Capturing live aliens with an Arc Thrower and interrogating them provides "Research Credits," which significantly speed up related technology paths. 2. Engineering and Manufacturing