Defense Research Sciences

Defense Research Sciences under the Air Force, aims to support basic broad-based scientific and engineering research critical to the five core technical competencies of the United States Space Force. This includes extramural research activities in academia and industry, as well as intramural research performed within the Department of the Air Force (DAF), including the Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Force Institute of Technology, and the United States Air Force Academy. The program's objectives include building capacity in academia and cultivating the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) pipeline while subjecting all research areas to long-range planning and technical review by both DAF and tri-Service scientific planning groups. Additionally, efforts in this program are coordinated through the Department of Defense (DoD) Science and Technology (S&T) Executive Committee process to harmonize efforts and eliminate duplication.

The program element PE 0601102SF may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver S&T capabilities. It is specifically focused on investigating specified science advancements primarily targeted to challenges in the space domain and multi-domain research with space-domain application. The program falls under Budget Activity 1, Basic Research, which includes scientific study and experimentation directed toward increasing fundamental knowledge and understanding in fields related to long-term national security needs. The budget allocation for FY 2023 includes a Congressional Add of $25 million for program increase in Basic Research. The planned programs for FY 2023 include conducting Congressionally directed efforts as part of the program's accomplishments.