The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) manages a budget of $7.5 billion to discover, manufacture, and integrate warfighting capabilities and technologies for the U.S. Air Force and Space Force. DARPA had a budget of $4.1 billion in 2023. AFRL is close to double the budget of DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency).
AFRL RESEARCH AREA 13 – Artificial Intelligence/Autonomy
The objective of this work is to design, develop, and demonstrate a machine learning capability that will facilitate a swarm of Networked Collaborative and Autonomous weapon systems. Technology must demonstrate the ability to reconcile prescribed targets within a dynamic battlespace.
The Department of the Air Force’s (DAF) research and development (R&D) budget for 2023 was $49.2 billion, or 25% of the total DAF budget. This budget is divided between $33.4 billion for the Air Force and $15.8 million for the Space Force. The US military spends about $95 billion annually on research and development (R&D). In 2024, the total US government budget proposal includes about $209.7 billion for R&D. The US as whole (fed government, state government, and commercial) is spending about $700 billion on R&D.
Research Area 1 – Modeling, Simulation, & Analysis (MS&A)
Research Area 2 – Innovative Aircraft Integration Technologies
Research Area 3 – Find Fix Target Track (F2T2) & Datalink Technologies
Research Area 4 – Engagement Management System Technologies
Research Area 5 – High Velocity Fuzing
Research Area 6 – Missile Electronics
Research Area 7 – Missile Guidance and Control Technologies
Research Area 8 – Advanced Warhead Technologies
Research Area 9 – Advanced Missile Propulsion Technologies
Research Area 10 – Control Actuation Systems
Research Area 11 – Missile Carriage and Release Technologies
Research Area 12 – Missile Test and Evaluation Technologies
Research Area 13 – Artificial Intelligence / Autonomy
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