Technology Sustainment

This program develops and transitions AFRL readiness technologies for fielded and future Department of the Air Force systems. These technologies include corrosion/erosion prevention, maintenance/repair techniques, state awareness/non-destructive inspection, and health management and life prediction. Matured and demonstrated technologies increase lethality and readiness by improving the affordability and availability of aerospace weapon systems. This is achieved by reducing sustainment costs, extending service life, and maintaining mission readiness and capability. Studies are conducted to analyze processes and methodologies for applying these technologies to address sustainment issues across the force. These studies identify cross-cutting applications for fielded systems and opportunities for building sustainability into future weapon systems. This program also develops and demonstrates affordable advanced composites and specialty materials for current and future weapon systems. 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. Funds in this PE may be used to investigate specified technology advancements in air, space, 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 3, Advanced Technology Development because this budget activity includes development of subsystems and components and efforts to integrate subsystems and components into system prototypes for field experiments and/or tests in a simulated environment.