Warfighter Sustainment Applied Research

The Warfighter Sustainment Applied Research program, managed by the Navy, focuses on advancing technologies to enhance the performance and protection of U.S. Sailors and Marines. Its primary objectives include developing artificial intelligence-enabled decision aids, autonomy, human-machine teaming, and protective equipment to ensure superiority in maritime environments. Additionally, it supports advancements in biocentric and advanced materials technologies to improve warfighter capabilities and platform performance. The Office of Naval Research (ONR) plays a crucial role in facilitating these developments by connecting international research communities with Naval forces and other government agencies.

A key component of the program is the development of advanced naval materials. This involves researching high-performance structural materials, corrosion mitigation strategies, and acoustic transducers to enhance platform survivability and performance at reduced costs. The program also explores nanostructured materials processing to produce novel components with improved resilience for naval systems. These efforts aim to refine platform design and engineering, focusing on advanced structural materials that improve undersea platform survivability.

The program emphasizes biocentric technologies to develop bioinspired materials, synthetic biology applications, and bioenergy solutions that enhance operational capabilities. This includes research on bio-inspired autonomous systems for underwater propulsion and control, as well as microbial sensors for environmental monitoring. Additionally, it investigates warfighter augmentation technologies to improve situational awareness and resilience in challenging environments.

Furthermore, the program supports human factors and organizational design research to optimize decision-making processes in complex operational settings. This involves studying human-machine interaction methodologies, developing collaborative AI decision support tools, and enhancing team performance through social network analysis. It also includes medical and human performance technologies aimed at sustaining warfighter endurance and readiness through innovative medical solutions and performance optimization strategies.