Defense Lab R&D Projects

Implementation of 10 U.S.C. Section 2363, amendment to PL 110-417, 10 U.S.C. Section 2358 and 10 U.S.C. 2805(d)(1)(B), to fund: innovative basic and applied research conducted at the defense laboratory and supports military missions; development programs supporting the transition of technologies developed by the defense laboratory into operational use; workforce development activities improving the capacity of the defense laboratory to recruit and retain personnel with necessary scientific and engineering expertise that support military missions; and the repair or minor military construction of the laboratory infrastructure and equipment. The Air Force is dependent on technological advances in response to emerging threats and to maintain a competitive advantage. Air Force has a comprehensive and deliberative planning process to identify and fund research that is expected to have the greatest benefit to the Air Force and the warfighter. 10 U.S.C. Section 2363 provides the Commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), in consultation with the Air Force Science and Technology (S&T) Executive, a degree of flexibility to rapidly exploit scientific breakthroughs or respond to emerging threats, to include developing a skilled workforce and necessary infrastructure. This flexibility increases the rate of innovation and accelerates the development and fielding of needed military capabilities to address current and future problems. The Air Force has established PE 0602212F, where the 10 U.S.C. Section 2363 funds are internally reprogrammed to this program element in the year of execution after receipt of the appropriation. This allows increased transparency to Congress on 10 U.S.C. Section 2363 funding and additional execution flexibility for 10 U.S.C. Section 2363 activities to cross all technology areas. 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.