HBCU University Affiliated Research Center (UARC)
The Tactical Autonomy University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) supports a consortium performing innovative research to advance the state of the art as well as cultivate awareness of and expertise in the field of tactical autonomy. Research topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following: Trust in Mission Autonomy, Collaboration between Platforms, and Human Machine Teaming. This program is accomplished by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). AFRL is focused on high-impact, multi-domain science & technology (S&T) solutions that drive innovation now while laying the groundwork for the Air and Space Force to win the future fight. AFRL effectively synchronizes the Department of the Air Force (DAF) S&T enterprise and workforce to align towards the most consequential DAF priorities and accelerate the delivery of game-changing S&T. This research initiative supports the Department of War (DoD) and DAF Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Strategic Plans by establishing sustained research expertise in tactical autonomy through a consortium of leading universities. It will advance autonomous systems critical for future conflicts, especially where conventional strength is contested or command and control is degraded by cyber or electronic warfare. In addition to advancing defense technology, it will strengthen university research capacity, support early-career STEM development, and grow a pipeline of graduates equipped with national security expertise to serve in both government and the defense industrial base. Funds in this program element are planned to investigate, design, develop, digitize, and/or analyze specified technology advancements in air, space, ground, sea, and/or cyber domains. In order to manage, execute, and deliver science and technology capabilities, this program element may include: necessary civilian pay expenses; expenses to support the operation and maintenance of facilities; as well as expenses related to travel, supplies, IT hardware, software and support, etc. This program is in Budget Activity 2, Applied Research because this budget activity includes studies, investigations, and non-system specific technology efforts directed toward general military needs with a view toward developing and evaluating the feasibility and practicality of proposed solutions and determining their parameters.
FY2027 planned work Effort will end in FY 2026.
FY2026 to FY2027 change FY 2027 decreased compared to FY 2026 by $6.208 million due to terminating all university consortium activities under the University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) for Tactical Autonomy effort. This reduction reflects programmatic adjustments to the DAF Science and Technology portfolio for strategic realignment to optimize core research areas and improve resource efficiency.
FY2026 plans — current year Continue developing technologies and tools to enable autonomous systems to act with delegated and bounded authority of humans in support of tactical, short-term actions, associated with longer-term strategic needs to: -Develop and demonstrate trusted autonomous technologies operating with minimal supervision from human operators in complex and unpredictable environments. Plans are to apply research to the management of autonomous prototypes entering production and testing in the acquisition pathway. -Support the long-term strategic objective through the UARC consortium of expanding the air and space defense engineering pipeline to government and private industry. The program will raise the…